# Photon 2 vs Elgato Stream Deck Connect

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Photon 2 at 81% against Elgato Stream Deck Connect's 14%. Photon 2 also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.7) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 8 months). Elgato Stream Deck Connect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photon 2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year. Elgato Stream Deck Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

Photon 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photon 2 has 72 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Photon 2's written reviews are positive against 14% of Elgato Stream Deck Connect's.

Photon 2 ships an update every 5 weeks, Elgato Stream Deck Connect every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photon 2 | Elgato Stream Deck Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-2-dmx-light-controller/id1545017671/reviews)** | [1.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elgato-stream-deck-connect/id6474433828/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **72** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | **80.8% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 46 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Photon Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/449592177) | [Corsair Memory, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/650718405) |

## What reviewers say

### Photon 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-2-dmx-light-controller/id1545017671)

This app provides a professional lighting console for controlling DMX and Philips Hue devices wirelessly. It allows users to create custom interfaces, manage lights, and synchronize effects to music for live events, performances, and filmmaking.

**Highlights:** Wireless Art-Net/sACN DMX control, Philips Hue Entertainment integration, Customizable user interface, Scene and sequence creation, Beat synchronization to music, MIDI controller support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photon+ Founder | $29.99 | per year |
| Photon+ | $59.99 | per year |
| Starter Plan | $44.99 | one-time |
| Pro Plan | $64.99 | one-time |
| Pro Plan | $79.99 | one-time |


### Elgato Stream Deck Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elgato-stream-deck-connect/id6474433828)

This application allows you to control compatible iPad apps using your Elgato Stream Deck device. It integrates your Stream Deck's tactile keys and dials with iPadOS, offering a new way to interact with your tablet's applications.

**Highlights:** Control iPad apps from Stream Deck, Integrates Stream Deck with iPadOS, Supports Elgato Capture app, Developer kit available for integration, Uses tactile keys and dials

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photon 2 free?

Photon 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Elgato Stream Deck Connect free?

Elgato Stream Deck Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Photon 2 or Elgato Stream Deck Connect?

Photon 2 is rated higher. Photon 2 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 72 ratings, while Elgato Stream Deck Connect averages 1.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do Photon 2 or Elgato Stream Deck Connect have ads?

Neither Photon 2 nor Elgato Stream Deck Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Photon 2 or Elgato Stream Deck Connect?

Photon 2 ships an update every 5 weeks, and Elgato Stream Deck Connect every 8 months. Most recently, Photon 2 was updated on October 14, 2026 and Elgato Stream Deck Connect on October 6, 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.*