Comparison

Sidus Link vs Häfele Connect Mesh Auto

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

Häfele Connect Mesh Auto

This app simplifies the setup of smart lighting networks for installers using pre-defined templates. It guides users through device configuration and automatically stores network data in the cloud for easy access by homeowners.

Highlights
  • Automated network setup
  • QR code template scanning
  • Guided device configuration
  • Network functionality testing
  • Cloud storage for networks
  • Homeowner network import
Read full description

The Häfele Connect Mesh Auto-Setup App allows installers to easily set-up Häfele Connect Mesh networks using pre-developed templates. Installers simply open the Auto-Setup App and scan the QR code that came with the installation to download the custom template. The Auto-Setup App will automatically begin configuring the Häfele Connect Mesh devices with the settings that were pre-defined in the network template.  Throughout the process, the Installer is guided through a simple, easy to-follow process for configuring each of the devices that will be used in the network.  As each device is added, Installers can easily test the functionalities of the network.  Once the installation is complete, the Auto-Setup App will automatically store the new network in the Häfele Connect Cloud so it can be easily accessed at a later time by the homeowner.  Homeowners can use the same QR code to import their network to the Häfele Connect Mesh App on their personal mobile devices. The Häfele Connect Mesh App gives homeowners the ability to control the lights with their mobile device , or modify the network settings for groups and scenes.

Screenshots

Sidus Link4 screens
Häfele Connect Mesh Auto4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sidus Link at 4.3 against Häfele Connect Mesh Auto's 3.0. Sidus Link also leads on ratings volume (626 vs 2). Häfele Connect Mesh Auto's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sidus Link holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sidus Link has 626 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sidus Link versus Häfele Connect Mesh Auto: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidus LinkHäfele Connect Mesh Auto
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (626 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews61.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings626 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS1511.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size381 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSidus Link Ltd.Haefele SE & Co KG

Customer experience

Sidus Link

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

Häfele Connect Mesh Auto

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Häfele Connect Mesh Auto

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Sidus Link

No in-app purchases

None

Häfele Connect Mesh Auto

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidus Link free?
Sidus Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Häfele Connect Mesh Auto free?
Häfele Connect Mesh Auto is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sidus Link or Häfele Connect Mesh Auto?
Sidus Link is rated higher. Sidus Link averages 4.3 out of 5 from 626 ratings, while Häfele Connect Mesh Auto averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Sidus Link or Häfele Connect Mesh Auto have ads?
Neither Sidus Link nor Häfele Connect Mesh Auto shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidus Link or Häfele Connect Mesh Auto?
Sidus Link ships an update every 2 weeks, and Häfele Connect Mesh Auto every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sidus Link was updated on October 13, 2026 and Häfele Connect Mesh Auto on October 8, 2026.

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