Comparison

Sidus Link vs DMXelf

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sidus Link

Control film lighting fixtures directly from your mobile device. This app offers advanced modes for white light, gels, color, and effects, with features for scene setup and collaboration. It supports over 100 fixtures and simplifies complex lighting workflows.

Highlights
  • Sidus Mesh Intelligent Lighting Network
  • White Light, Gel, Color, and Effect Modes
  • Unlimited Presets and QuickShots
  • On-set Workflow Management
  • Multi-device Control
  • Sidus Cloud and Creative Collaboration
Features
Read full description

Sidus Link provides a brand-new solution for film lighting control. Based on proprietary Sidus Mesh technology, it enables direct connection and control of over 100 film lighting fixtures using mobile devices like smartphones. Sidus Link integrates the most widely used and professional control functions and modes in the lighting field, including White Light Mode, Gel Mode, Color Mode, Effect Mode, and unlimited preset functions. With built-in Sidus Cloud and Creative Collaboration Group features, it simplifies workflows to help gaffers, DPs, and filmmakers quickly complete scene and lighting setups. Language Support: English Simplified Chinese Traditional Chinese Japanese Portuguese French Russian Vietnamese German 1. Sidus Mesh Intelligent Lighting Network 1.Decentralized film lighting network – No additional network equipment (gateways or routers) required; connect and control lighting fixtures directly via smartphones or other smart devices. 2.Multi-layer encryption ensures a secure and reliable lighting network, preventing interference and misoperation. 3.Supports 100+ professional lighting fixtures. 4.Multiple control devices (smartphones or other smart devices) can simultaneously control the same lighting network. 2. Basic Functions Supports four major control modes: White / Gel / Color / Effect. 2.1. White Light 1.CCT – Supports quick adjustment and touchpad-based control. 2.Source Type – Built-in common white light source library for fast selection. 3.Source Match – Quickly match any scene or cct 2.2. Gel Mode 1.Supports traditional CTO/CTB adjustments used in the film industry. 2.300+ Rosco® & Lee® lighting gels.Rosco® and Lee® trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners. 2.3. Color Mode 1.HSI & RGB modes for quick color adjustments. 2.XY Chromaticity Mode supports A Gamut (similar to BT.2020), DCI-P3, and BT.709 color spaces. 3.Color Picker – Instantly sample any visible color. 2.4. Effects Supports fine-tuning and control of all built-in lighting effects in Aputure fixtures. 2.5. Presets & QuickShots 1.Unlimited local presets. 2.QuickShot Scene Snapshots – Save and recall lighting setups instantly. 3. Advanced Effects Sidus Link App supports: PICKER FX MANUAL MUSIC FX Magic Program Pro/Go Magic Infinity FX 4. Compatibility 1.Sidus Link App supports connection and control of all new Aputure film lights, such as LS 300d II, MC, etc. 2.Legacy Aputure lights will require additional accessories for app connectivity and control.* 3.Supports OTA management – Network firmware and lighting updates for continuous optimization. 5. Sidus On-Set Lighting Workflow On-set workflow management – Create scenes, add devices, and quickly complete lighting setups. Console Workspace Mode – Quickly configure scenes and lighting. Group Management – Fast grouping and control of multiple fixtures. Power Management – Real-time monitoring of battery levels and remaining runtime. Device-Controller Parameter Sync – Instantly retrieve detailed device status and settings. QuickShot Scene Snapshots – Save and recall lighting setups. CC Collaboration Group Workflow Supports multi-user collaboration for controlling and adjusting lighting setups. 6. Sidus Cloud Services Free cloud storage for presets, scenes, and effects (requires compatible hardware/software; existing devices will be supported via firmware updates). CC Collaboration Group Workflow Share lighting networks with group members. Supports quick sharing via temporary verification codes. 7. UX Design Dual UI modes – Precise parameter control & WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). Fixture Locator Button – Added to device lists and group management for quick identification. Onboarding guides – Clear instructions on adding/resetting devices.

About

DMXelf

This app, paired with portable hardware, allows for easy detection, analysis, and control of DMX512 input/output devices like lighting fixtures and consoles. It provides a solution for testing DMX lighting equipment without needing complex control consoles.

Highlights
  • DMX512 device detection
  • Analyze DMX devices
  • Control DMX devices
  • Portable hardware integration
  • Test lighting fixtures
  • Eliminate complex consoles
Features
Read full description

DMXelf (领焰小精灵) 智能检测工具可以轻松检测、分析、控制任何DMX512输入输出设备,包括灯具和灯控台等,全套设备由一个便携硬件和App组成。 DMXelf解决了用户所面临的:在不使用复杂的灯光控制台的情况下打开和测试DMX照明设备的问题。

Screenshots

Sidus Link4 screens
DMXelf3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sidus Link at 62% against DMXelf's 0%. DMXelf's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidus Link ships an update every 2 weeks, DMXelf monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Sidus Link versus DMXelf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidus LinkDMXelf
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (626 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.8% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings626 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS1512.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size381 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSidus Link Ltd.江苏领焰智能科技有限公司

Customer experience

Sidus Link

All ratings626 ratings
Positive82.7%
Neutral3.0%
Negative14.2%
Written reviews380 reviews
Positive61.8%
Neutral5.0%
Negative33.2%

DMXelf

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Sidus Link

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Inability to save/restore light settings
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Artnet support for lighting automation
  • Siri/voice control integration
  • Dedicated desktop/tablet app
  • Improved background operation and reconnection
  • More comprehensive tutorials and documentation

DMXelf

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Sidus Link

No in-app purchases

None

DMXelf

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidus Link free?
Sidus Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DMXelf free?
DMXelf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sidus Link or DMXelf have ads?
Neither Sidus Link nor DMXelf shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidus Link or DMXelf?
Sidus Link ships an update every 2 weeks, and DMXelf monthly. Most recently, Sidus Link was updated on October 13, 2026 and DMXelf on October 2, 2026.

Other comparisons