# Magic vs Build

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Build at 100% against Magic's 30%. Build also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). Magic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (852 vs 6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Build sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Magic asks for nothing beyond the download.

Build holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic has 852 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Magic's written reviews are positive against 100% of Build's.

Magic ships an update every 5 weeks, Build every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magic | Build |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (852 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-lantern/id1479587050/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-a-bookie/id6746228299/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **852** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 29.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#181** | — |
| Size | 80 MB | 162 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [shenzhen ELK Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1491353983) | [Durham App Designs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1635683482) |

## What reviewers say

### Magic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-lantern/id1479587050)

**Currently charting:** #181 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Control your RGBIC LED strips with this app. Adjust brightness, colors, dynamic modes, and scenes. Sync lights to music, set timers, and customize pixel configurations for a personalized lighting experience.

**Highlights:** Color control, Dimming and grading, Dynamic modes and scenes, Music rhythm sync, Timer settings, Pixel and line sequence customization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great product
- 👍 Lots of color options and effects
- 🎨 Decent app functionality
- 💡 Music sync feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connection issues
- 🔌 Unreliable remote and app control
- 🎨 Limited color customization
- 🤔 Confusing UI and settings
- 🔒 Security/privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Colors not displaying correctly
- Lights not responding to app commands
- App crashing or not connecting
- Scheduled timers not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add holiday-themed color presets
- Allow custom color/pattern creation
- Improve music integration
- Add Siri/HomeKit support
- Provide better instructions and troubleshooting


### Build

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-a-bookie/id6746228299)

Create and join friendly competitions with friends using virtual points. Track outcomes, climb leaderboards, and compete on anything from sports to personal goals without real-money wagering.

**Highlights:** Create custom prediction groups, Track sports, habits, and personal goals, Live leaderboards and performance insights, Virtual points, no real-money wagering, Flexible scoring and competition formats, Invite friends and track progress together

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Team Builder | $4.99 | per month |
| League Builder | $19.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magic free?

Magic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Build free?

Build is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Magic or Build?

Build is rated higher. Magic averages 2.3 out of 5 from 852 ratings, while Build averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Magic or Build have ads?

Neither Magic nor Build shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Magic or Build?

Magic ships an update every 5 weeks, and Build every 5 days. Most recently, Magic was updated on November 3, 2026 and Build on October 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*