# PatchPrinter vs Blackout Next

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PatchPrinter at none against Blackout Next's 1. PatchPrinter also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.5 vs 18.0). Blackout Next's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (21 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Blackout Next sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PatchPrinter asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PatchPrinter against 5.0 for Blackout Next. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackout Next has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

PatchPrinter ships an update every 3 months, Blackout Next fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and June 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PatchPrinter | Blackout Next |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patchprinter/id1580200793/reviews) | [5.0 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackout-next/id6475490278/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **21** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 398 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.5** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bart van Stiphout](https://appshunter.io/developer/368100168) | [Blackout Lighting Console LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1635074667) |

## What reviewers say

### PatchPrinter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patchprinter/id1580200793)

View your preproduction files on your iOS device without needing hard copies. Easily open and share PatchPrinter files from various sources like email or Airdrop. Navigate between files seamlessly in the organized list.

**Highlights:** View preproduction files, Open from email attachments, Open from WhatsApp, Open via Airdrop, Easy file switching, Share files with colleagues

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Blackout Next

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackout-next/id6475490278)

This professional lighting console app offers an intuitive interface for controlling DMX, Art-Net, and sACN lighting systems. It features a vast cloud fixture database, custom fixture creation, and a robust multi-cuelist platform for organizing lighting looks.

**Highlights:** Cloud Fixture Database, Custom Fixture Creation, Intuitive Fixture Controls, Multi-Cuelist Platform, Dynamic Effects Engine, MIDI Support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic Plan | $799.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PatchPrinter free?

PatchPrinter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Blackout Next free?

Blackout Next is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PatchPrinter or Blackout Next?

PatchPrinter and Blackout Next are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 21 ratings respectively.

### Do PatchPrinter or Blackout Next have ads?

Neither PatchPrinter nor Blackout Next shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PatchPrinter or Blackout Next?

PatchPrinter ships an update every 3 months, and Blackout Next fortnightly. Most recently, PatchPrinter was updated on September 21, 2026 and Blackout Next on June 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*