Comparison

Sidus Link Pro vs Elgato Stream Deck Connect

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

Elgato Stream Deck Connect

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
Read full description

Control iPad from your Stream Deck Elgato Stream Deck Connect bridges your Stream Deck device with compatible iPad apps. Featuring a driver that integrates your Stream Deck device with iPadOS, it enables you to control supported apps like Elgato Capture using the tactile keys and dials you love. Developers can integrate Stream Deck support into their iPadOS apps with the Stream Deck Kit for iPad. For more information, see our documentation at https://docs.elgato.com/ipad For more details on Stream Deck, visit https://elgato.com/stream-deck Compatibility: Requires iPadOS 17.0 or later.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sidus Link Pro at 2.7 against Elgato Stream Deck Connect's 1.7. Sidus Link Pro also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (30 vs 9). Elgato Stream Deck Connect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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. Elgato Stream Deck Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sidus Link Pro holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Sidus Link Pro's written reviews are positive against 14% of Elgato Stream Deck Connect's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidus Link Pro ships an update monthly, Elgato Stream Deck Connect every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sidus Link Pro versus Elgato Stream Deck Connect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidus Link ProElgato Stream Deck Connect
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (30 ratings) — better1.7 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews — better14.3% of reviews
Number of ratings30 — better9
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size584 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSidus Link Ltd.Corsair Memory, Inc.

Customer experience

Sidus Link Pro

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

Elgato Stream Deck Connect

All ratings9 ratings
Positive11.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.9%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative85.7%

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

Elgato Stream Deck Connect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidus Link Pro free?
Sidus Link Pro 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, Sidus Link Pro or Elgato Stream Deck Connect?
Sidus Link Pro is rated higher. Sidus Link Pro averages 2.7 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Elgato Stream Deck Connect averages 1.7 from 9 ratings.
Do Sidus Link Pro or Elgato Stream Deck Connect have ads?
Neither Sidus Link Pro nor Elgato Stream Deck Connect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidus Link Pro or Elgato Stream Deck Connect?
Sidus Link Pro ships an update monthly, and Elgato Stream Deck Connect every 8 months. Most recently, Sidus Link Pro was updated on October 25, 2026 and Elgato Stream Deck Connect on October 24, 2026.

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