Comparison

ShowPlay vs LightChannel

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

Head to head
About

ShowPlay

This app allows users to remotely control various media and communication elements for theatrical and event productions. It supports video, audio, images, colors, and simulated calls/messages via OSC. Media can be imported locally or synced from cloud storage.

Highlights
  • Remote media playback (video, audio, images)
  • Color control via RGB values
  • Simulate incoming calls and messages
  • OSC integration for control
  • Dropbox cloud synchronization
  • Connection re-establishment on weak networks
  • Access to message logs for troubleshooting
Features
Read full description

Connect. Play. ShowPlay connects to entertainment networks to remotely trigger video, audio, images and colours, and simulate incoming calls and messages using OSC (Open Sound Control). It is the ideal solution for theatre, movie, TV and event production. Import media from the local device, or synchronise with Dropbox cloud storage. ShowPlay actively re-establishes connections on weaker networks, and provides easy to access logs of incoming messages for troubleshooting. Video Play video files, and control audio levels and looping behaviour. Audio Play audio files, and control audio levels, speakers and looping behaviour. Images Display images, and control stretching behaviour. Colours Display colours by providing RGB values. Call Simulate incoming calls, and control ring/vibrate behaviour and caller identification text. Message Simulate incoming messages, and control ring/vibrate behaviour and messenger identification text.

About

LightChannel

Read full description

Make focus sessions a breeze! Keep track of what you have, and haven't focused. See what's left to do at a glance. No more missed units in busy rigs! End plan highlighter misery! Use the built in remote to bring up channels without having to check your lighting plan all the time! Import your rig data from your lighting plan, or make new rig data in the app. LightChannel sorts the rig by position, channel and unit number. LightChannel connects to Eos Lighting Consoles and acts as a handy super-simple remote (which also has a background mode so you can focus whilst allowing the programmer to get on with setup). LightChannel gives you at a glance information about each channel, what gel is needed, dimmer number, focus notes all on the same screen as the remote functions.. going to the next channel on the bar/pipe is as simple as hitting the arrow key! LightChannel is also great for error-checking your lighting plan pre-focus, simply import your data and you're good to go! ..and your LightChannel data backs up, and syncs across your devices if you use an iCloud account! Privacy Policy: https://lovely.lighting/lightChannel-privacy Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

ShowPlay3 screens
LightChannel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LightChannel at Free against ShowPlay's $9.99. LightChannel also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 months). ShowPlay's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On ads 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

LightChannel is free to download; ShowPlay costs $9.99 up front. LightChannel sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. ShowPlay asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ShowPlay ships an update every 4 months, LightChannel every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ShowPlay versus LightChannel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShowPlayLightChannel
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel MurfinColin Grenfell

In-app purchases

None

ShowPlay

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

LightChannel

Subscriptions1
  • Pro Tier Monthly Subscription14 Days trial$4.991 Month

Questions

Is ShowPlay free?
ShowPlay costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is LightChannel free?
LightChannel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ShowPlay or LightChannel have ads?
Neither ShowPlay nor LightChannel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ShowPlay or LightChannel?
ShowPlay ships an update every 4 months, and LightChannel every 10 days. Most recently, ShowPlay was updated on October 29, 2026 and LightChannel on October 27, 2026.

Other comparisons