Comparison

Photon 2 vs FreeShow Remote

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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.

About

FreeShow Remote

Features
Read full description

A companion app for FreeShow. Remotely view and preview your shows from your phone or tablet.

Screenshots

FreeShow Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FreeShow Remote at none against Photon 2's 5. FreeShow Remote also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement 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. Photon 2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year. FreeShow Remote asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 17, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Photon 2 versus FreeShow Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhoton 2FreeShow Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (72 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings72 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhoton StudioLive Church Solutions

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Photon 2

Subscriptions2
  • Photon+ Founder$29.991 Year
  • Photon+$59.991 Year
One-time3
  • Starter Plan$44.99
  • Pro Plan$64.99
  • Pro Plan$79.99
None

FreeShow Remote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Photon 2 free?
Photon 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FreeShow Remote free?
FreeShow Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Photon 2 or FreeShow Remote have ads?
Neither Photon 2 nor FreeShow Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photon 2 or FreeShow Remote?
Photon 2 ships an update every 5 weeks, and FreeShow Remote every 5 weeks. Most recently, Photon 2 was updated on September 17, 2026 and FreeShow Remote on September 17, 2026.

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