Comparison

Sidus Link Pro vs QNAP Authenticator

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

Head to head
About

Sidus Link Pro

This powerful lighting control app transforms your iPad into a professional console. Wirelessly manage DMX and CRMX-enabled lights, automate setup, and design complex lighting sequences with ease. Achieve precise, real-time control for any production.

Highlights
  • Wireless DMX and CRMX control
  • Console-style lighting control on iPad
  • Visual Layout View for fixture arrangement
  • Lightning-fast auto-patching and configuration
  • Real-time cueing for DMX lights
  • Design and manage lighting shows and effects
  • Centralized control for multiple fixture manufacturers
Features
Read full description

Sidus Link Pro is a powerful lighting control workstation that runs on your iPad and Mac. Control Aputure lights wirelessly with Sidus Bluetooth and cue any DMX or CRMX-enabled light through sACN and Art-Net using the intuitive Sidus Link interface. Console-style lighting control has never been easier. ENAHANCED PIXEL TOOLS When selecting multi-pixel fixtures, inside the Pixel Window, there are tools for applying gradients across the fixtures, and easy selection tools for first half, second half, odd, even and invert. ACTION PANEL Turn your cues and Quickshots into big, simple “Go” buttons for fast, confident execution. With an optional passcode lock, Action Panel makes it easy to hand control to a client, operator, or venue team. MAC SUPPORT Plan, design, and refine your lighting setup on Mac with more screen space and keyboard-and-mouse precision. EASY, POWERFUL CONSOLE-STYLE CONTROL Sidus Link Pro brings the power of a modern lighting console to your iPad and Mac without the complexity, menu diving, or manual reading. Speed is everything on set. Sidus Link Pro is built to be speedy. All of your most used functions are accessible with just a few taps. DESIGN DAZZLING SHOWS AND EFFECTS WITH REAL-TIME CUEING. Send crisp, responsive cues to your DMX-enabled fixtures at the same time, with no Bluetooth delay. Create rich, synchronized lighting changes and organize them into cue stacks with precise timing, transitions, and loops. Drag and drop to reorder with the Cue Sequence Editor. CONTROL ANY CRMX-ENABLED LIGHT Sidus Link Pro speaks DMX and wireless CRMX, the control protocol that all lights use. Centralize control of your lighting network in Sidus Link Pro, no matter the fixture manufacturer. THE CENTER OF YOUR LIGHTING ECOSYSTEM Sidus Link Pro interfaces with hardware to control fixtures with wired DMX or wireless CRMX capability. Use with any transmitter, node, or router, or partner with Sidus Hardware to unlock powerful monitoring and setup functions. Sidus Link Pro transmits lighting control protocols sACN and Art-Net. SAVE DAYS WITH 3D VISUALIZER Plan your setup in a virtual environment. Create spaces, place lights, design looks, and explore ideas before touching physical fixtures. Since 3D Visualizer is built into your control workflow, cues and DMX settings move seamlessly from planning to execution. SAVE HOURS WITH LIGHTNING FAST AUTO-PATCHING AND AUTO-CONFIGURATION Skip the setup grind. Sidus Link Pro detects your Aputure lights and reduces your setup by up to hundreds of steps. Easily update fixture settings and DMX profiles from your iPad and Mac. SAVE MINUTES WITH LAYOUT VIEW Arrange fixtures in a visual grid to match your physical set. Layout View gives you a faster, more intuitive way to organize fixtures, select the right light, and preview lighting changes in real time. STABLE, LONG-RANGE CONTROL With DMX and CRMX workflows, Sidus Link Pro maintains reliable control. When used with Aputure fixtures and Sidus Hardware, gain additional range and real-time health alerts. FREE BLUETOOTH CONTROL AND FILMMAKING TOOLS The Free plan includes Bluetooth control for Aputure and amaran lights, plus access to our full library of Light Modes, FX, Quickshots, Magic Program Pro and Go, Magic Infinity FX, and Diagram Master. OTHER FEATURES • Dial in tone with color selection methods like CCT, HSI, CCT RGB, xy, and HSIC+ • Set DMX parameters like Intensity, +/- Green, Hue, Saturation, and Variable Crossfade • Access DMX profiles, import GDTF profiles, and create your own profiles • Preview changes before taking them live with the Backstage workspace • Streamline Bluetooth control with Sidus BT View • Save and recall presets for Aputure lights with Sidus BT Quickshots • Auto-Configure, monitor, and update Aputure light firmware in the Fixture Manager • Create lighting plots and sync with your team with Diagram Master • Reference Illumination Handbook to compare fixtures and calculate output

About

QNAP Authenticator

Enhance your account security with this mobile app that provides 2-Step Verification and Passwordless Login. It offers multiple verification methods, including login approval, QR code scanning, and online codes, with TOTP support for offline use and third-party accounts.

Highlights
  • 2-Step Verification
  • Passwordless Login
  • Login Approval
  • QR Code Verification
  • Online Verification Code
  • Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP)
  • Offline TOTP generation
Read full description

QNAP Authenticator is a free app that adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by using your mobile device to verify your login. You can authenticate your identity using 2-Step Verification or Passwordless Login and choose from multiple verification methods. 【Requirements】 - QNAP NAS running QTS 5.1.0 (or later) - iOS 15 (or later) 【Major features of QNAP Authenticator】 - Supports 2-Step Verification and Passwordless Login - Supports scanning a QR code to quickly add an account - Supports the following verification methods:  1.Login Approval: Approve a login request with just a tap  2.QR Code: Scan a QR code to verify a login request  3.Online Verification Code: Receive a code sent from your QNAP device for verification  4.Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP): Generate a code automatically renewed for verification Login Approval, QR Code, and Online Verification Code require a connection to your NAS, whereas TOTP can work offline. This method also supports verifying third-party accounts from Google, Microsoft, Facebook, GitHub, and other service providers that have implemented their authentication following the TOTP standard.

Screenshots

QNAP Authenticator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sidus Link Pro at 2.7 against QNAP Authenticator's 1.9. Sidus Link Pro also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). QNAP Authenticator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and 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

Both are free to download. Sidus Link Pro sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. QNAP Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sidus Link Pro holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Sidus Link Pro's written reviews are positive against 20% of QNAP Authenticator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidus Link Pro ships an update monthly, QNAP Authenticator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sidus Link Pro versus QNAP Authenticator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidus Link ProQNAP Authenticator
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (30 ratings) — better1.9 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings30 — better13
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size584 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSidus Link Ltd.QNAP Systems, Inc.

Customer experience

Sidus Link Pro

All ratings30 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative53.3%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative66.7%

QNAP Authenticator

All ratings10 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Sidus Link Pro

Subscriptions4
  • Pro (Monthly)$9.991 Month
  • Max (Monthly)$19.991 Month
  • Pro (Annual)$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Max (Annual)$199.991 Year
None

QNAP Authenticator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidus Link Pro free?
Sidus Link Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is QNAP Authenticator free?
QNAP Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sidus Link Pro or QNAP Authenticator?
Sidus Link Pro is rated higher. Sidus Link Pro averages 2.7 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while QNAP Authenticator averages 1.9 from 13 ratings.
Do Sidus Link Pro or QNAP Authenticator have ads?
Neither Sidus Link Pro nor QNAP Authenticator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidus Link Pro or QNAP Authenticator?
Sidus Link Pro ships an update monthly, and QNAP Authenticator every 3 months. Most recently, Sidus Link Pro was updated on October 22, 2026 and QNAP Authenticator on October 21, 2026.

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