NANLINK vs amaran
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NANLINK
Control lighting fixtures wirelessly via Bluetooth or 2.4G. Create complex lighting effects for film and video production by managing individual or multiple lights simultaneously. Enhance production efficiency with intuitive scenario and group-based controls.
- Wireless lighting control
- Bluetooth and 2.4G support
- Individual fixture control
- Synchronous multi-fixture control
- Scenario and group management
- Create lighting effects
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NANLINK APP, a wireless lighting control application designed and developed by Guangdong Nanguang Photo&Video Systems Co.,Ltd, allows for controlling light fixtures via Bluetooth Network and 2.4G Wireless Protocol. The APP is compatible with devices that run on IOS and iPadOS operating systems. Based on the design concept of scenario and group, NANLINK can assist gaffers and cinematographers with the creation of fascinating lighting effects through the full control of individual fixture and multiple fixtures synchronously, thus to achieve more production efficiency at the shooting scenes.
amaran
Control your lighting setup effortlessly with a user-friendly interface. Manage multiple fixtures, adjust brightness, and save custom configurations in real-time. This app is designed to simplify your creative process, whether on location or in the studio.
- Simplified lighting control
- Real-time adjustments
- Multi-light management
- Customizable shortcuts
- Save favorite setups
- Toggle lights on/off
- Adjust brightness
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Ready to light up your creative world with ease? The amaran app brings a simplified, user-friendly interface that makes lighting control easy and hassle-free, so you can focus on what you do best – creating your content! Whether you’re shooting on-the-go or working from your studio, the app can control all your Sidus-compatible amaran and Aputure fixtures, powered by the Sidus Mesh. With real-time control, multi-light management, customizable shortcuts for quick adjustments, and the ability to save your favorite setups with just a tap, the amaran mobile app ensures you spend less time setting up and more time on your creative process. You also have the ability to toggle your lights on and off, adjust the brightness, or quickly identify the status of each light — see what color they're set to or if they're displaying an effect — all straight from the device menu. Tailored specifically for creators, this app is the perfect tool to elevate your content creation experience. With a simplified interface that’s easier to navigate, the amaran app lets you manage multiple lights, save your favorite setups, and make real-time adjustments. Just dive in, explore its intuitive features, and watch your creativity shine. Real-time control over your creative environment is just a tap away!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: amaran at 3.5 against NANLINK's 2.1. amaran also leads on review sentiment (31% vs 19%). NANLINK's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
amaran holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 92 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of NANLINK's written reviews are positive against 31% of amaran's.
NANLINK ships an update fortnightly, amaran every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 19, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NANLINK | amaran |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.1 (92 ratings) | 3.5 (31 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 19.4% of reviews | 31.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 92 — better | 31 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 82 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Guangdong Nanguang Photo&Video Systems Co., Ltd | Sidus Link Ltd. |
Customer experience
NANLINK
amaran
Bugs and requests
NANLINK
Reported bugs
59 issues- Lights spontaneously lose connection
- Short delay between tapping light and settings appearing
- Presets buried several levels deep
- Lights spontaneously lose connection
- Short delay between tapping into a light and the settings coming up
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- Fixture groups not working after upgrading to Nanlink 2.0
- Lose signal if further than 8ft from unit
- App lagging and poorly working
- Constantly drops connection
- App constantly crashes
- Recent update erased presets
- Grouping issues after update
- Cannot add fixtures to groups
- App won't work without supplying personal info
- Layout doesn't adapt well to iPad, wasted space
- Login difficult, fields won't allow pasting from password manager
- No import of existing scenes on iPad
- App not working with Pavotubes
- Bluetooth not working for T8-7x
- Inconsistent operation, will not pair with lights
- Exiting and reopening app locks up trying to re-pair
- App asks for excessive permissions (photos, emails, texts)
- New update killed presets and dropped connection to all fixtures
- App doesn't work with new iPhones (dynamic island)
- Cannot go back from one tube's settings to the previous screen
- Settings don't seem to save
- CCT mode doesn't work at all
- Driving mode ambient dimming won't work
- Poor Bluetooth connection, short range
- Menu button placement issues (near phone's clock)
- Never saves profiles or auto-connects to fixtures
- App broken with iOS 16.2
- Most of the effects not working
- App can't find FS-150
- Cannot complete registration (activation code never emailed)
- App is abysmal, not user friendly
- Cannot connect to Forza 300b
- Settings changes on iPhone don't affect light
- Lose connection as soon as 2 lights are connected
- App is a complete waste of time, does nothing
- Never responsive, struggles to keep up with changing settings
- Server down, cannot create account or log in
- App crashes on login
- App crashes upon login attempt
- App crashes every time on sign in
- Overrides light values when connecting
- Impossible to fine-tune a light on a set unless connected beforehand
- Won't connect
- Fail connection in groups
- Slow app
- Doesn't see most fixtures
- Cannot get verification code to create an account
- App freezes repeatedly after entering name, password, and verification code
- Cannot login, stuck or frozen at login page
- App freezes repeatedly after entering name password and verification code
- App crashes on login with iPhone 13 pro
- App crashes at login
- App crashes upon login attempt
- App crashes every time on sign in
Requested features
13 requests- Allow individual light adjustment within groups
- Make connection more stable
- Make settings appear instantly
- UX overhaul, make important settings accessible
- Put preset saving feature front and center
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- Adaptive interface for iPads
- Master control to adjust all lights simultaneously
- Add a 'Streetlight' mode effect
- Allow users to choose between HSI & CCT control for transmitter box
- Add a demo mode
- Offline mode for app usage
- Gang effects across groups of lights for consistency
- Allow multicolor effects at assignable points
amaran
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NANLINK
No in-app purchases
amaran
No in-app purchases
