Photon 2 vs G3Link
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Photon 2
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.
- Wireless Art-Net/sACN DMX control
- Philips Hue Entertainment integration
- Customizable user interface
- Scene and sequence creation
- Beat synchronization to music
- MIDI controller support
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Let's create your show with Photon 2. The next generation of professional DMX & Philips Hue lighting console has been rebuilt from the ground up for a better live experience. User-friendly and customizable, Photon 2 is perfect for musicians, nightclubs, live events, filmmakers, theater, stages… ◈ Wireless (Art-Net or sACN through WIFI) and ready to use, Photon reinvents the way to control DMX devices & Philips Hue*** with its single interface for all your lights. ◈ Create presets, combine them in sequences and synchronize your lights to music. Our beat tracker listens and animates your devices to the music rhythm. Live events will have no more secret for you. ◈ Want to turn your iPad into a real elegant personalized lighting control platform? The app features ground-breaking concepts that let you create your own user interface designed to make tasks practical and more intuitive. Connect external MIDI controllers like keyboards, pads, timecoders or others apps/softwares to control your fixtures. FEATURES (FREE VERSION) - 16 DMX channels - Multi-touch interface designed and optimized for iPad - Light group management. Link multiple lights together to perform the same action (colors, positions, brightness...) - Supports advanced controls (gobos/fog machine, focus) - Scene management: create presets, animate them in sequences - Create your dashboard and organize it as you wish - Art-Net/sACN/DMX channel monitor - Art-Net/sACN in multicast or unicast - Philips Hue Entertainment connection*** - Database with hundreds of pre-configured devices (fixtures) - Fixture creator to configure your devices STARTER (ONE-TIME PURCHASE) - 128 DMX channels - Create as many buttons (widgets) on your dashboard as you want - Enjoy the power of automatic BeatTracker and sync your lights to live music - Ableton Link support: sync your lights with your favorite DJ app or musical instruments - Background operation mode (Live Mode) PHOTON+ (SUBSCRIPTION) Everything in Starter included, plus: - 512 DMX channels (full universe) - Multi-Dashboard: create multiple dashboards to organize your widgets by lighting type, zone, or function. Swipe between them instantly during live performance - MIDI inputs: control dashboard buttons/faders with physical MIDI controllers (pads) or virtual ones (apps) - All next features on going * Requires an Art-Net to DMX bridge. Photon relies on Open Lighting Architecture (Open Lighting Project). *** Philips Hue Entertainment requires a Hue v2 or Pro bridge.
G3Link
Control essential grandMA3 lighting console functions remotely from your mobile device. Ideal for lighting programmers and technicians to adjust fixtures, recall presets, and send commands while on stage during pre-production and setup.
- Select Groups instantly
- Recall & update Presets
- Send Macros & Commands
- Check Patch
- Align Buttons with live feedback
- Status Feedback
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Walk the stage. Focus your fixtures. No console babysitter needed. G3Link puts the essential grandMA3 controls in your hand – so you can move freely on stage while setting up, focusing, and checking fixtures. Built for lighting programmers and technicians who want to work smarter during pre-production. BUILT FOR PRE-FOCUS - Select Groups instantly – no walking back to the console - Recall & update Presets on the spot – incl. All 1 / All 2 - Send Macros & Commands directly from the stage - Check your Patch – sync, save and load offline - Align Buttons with live feedback - Status Feedback – connection state, highlight, and more PERFECT FOR - Pre-focus and fixture alignment - Rehearsals and tech runs - Fixture checks and troubleshooting on stage - Theatre, opera & touring setups HOW IT WORKS 1. Connect your device to the same network as your grandMA3 2. Enter IP address and session in the Config tab 3. Walk on stage and start working FREE & PRO The free version covers basic operation – great for testing. Unlock the full experience with a one-time Pro purchase. The optional Supporter subscription gives access to experimental features like Gamepad integration and Developer Mode. REQUIREMENTS - grandMA3 console or onPC - Same local network (LAN or Wi-Fi) - OSC Send & Receive enabled in grandMA3 settings DISCLAIMER G3Link is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by MA Lighting Technology GmbH. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: G3Link at 5.0 against Photon 2's 4.5. G3Link also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Photon 2's advantage is ratings volume (73 vs 2). 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
Both are free to download. Photon 2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year and G3Link sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
G3Link holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photon 2 has 73 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Photon 2 ships an update every 5 weeks, G3Link every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Photon 2 | G3Link |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (73 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 73 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Photon Studio | Roger Imhof |
Customer experience
Photon 2
G3Link
In-app purchases
Photon 2
- Photon+ Founder$29.991 Year
- Photon+$59.991 Year
- Starter Plan$44.99
- Pro Plan$64.99
- Pro Plan$79.99
G3Link
- Supporter$5.991 Month
- G3Link Pro$17.99









