Comparison

DMXCalc vs CuePad

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

Head to head
About

DMXCalc

This app simplifies DMX address calculations for entertainment lighting equipment. It helps determine absolute addresses, manage fixture blocks, and convert DMX values to percentages and hexadecimal. It also includes a dip switch calculator for easy configuration.

Highlights
  • DMX address calculation
  • Universe and device address lookup
  • Increment/decrement by block size
  • Dip switch configuration tool
  • Block addressing for multiple fixtures
  • DMX level value reference
Features
Read full description

Entertainment lighting equipment uses a control system called DMX512. DMXCalc is a simple and elegant calculator which does address arithmetic for DMX equipment. You can enter a DMX universe number and a device address to have DMXCalc calculate the absolute address. Or enter an absolute address to see the universe and device address. The + and - buttons can be set to increment or decrement the address by any block size. Handy for addressing a sequence of moving lights. When there is not enough space in the current universe for another fixture, the Address and + values turn red. Some DMX equipment utilizes dip switches to configure the address. The dip switch page has switches which show the settings for the current address value, or you can set the switches to match those on a light and discover what its address is. The sound button "plays" dipswitch settings so you can set switches without looking at the display. The Block page can be loaded with a range of blocks, based on the block size and starting at the current address. Tapping any block on the list loads that address into the calculator and dip switches, and tapping the arrow shows a list of all locations in the block, with both local and absolute addresses. This feature is particularly useful for addressing a series of moving lights, dimmer packs, or LED fixtures. A fourth page has a quick reference list showing all DMX level values from 0 to 255, with corresponding percentage, hexadecimal, and MIDI values. Altogether indispensable for the entertainment lighting technician.

About

CuePad

Control CueServer lighting and show control processors remotely. Create custom button and slider layouts to trigger cues, run macros, or adjust DMX channels. Supports local network and remote access with live feedback.

Highlights
  • Customizable button and slider layouts
  • Trigger CueServer buttons
  • Run CueScript macros
  • Control DMX channels and submasters
  • Live LED indicator feedback
  • Local network and remote access
Features
Read full description

CuePad is a remote control application for the CueServer series of DMX Lighting and Show Control Processors from Interactive Technologies. With CuePad you can create multiple layouts of customizable buttons and/or sliders. Each button can operate as a remote CueServer button trigger or it can run a CueScript macro. Sliders can operate DMX channels, groups, or a playback's submaster. CuePad can also provide live LED indicator feedback on the buttons as well. Each layout can control different CueServers on your local network or remotely access a CueServer on a remote network. CuePad will control a CueServer on the local WiFi network or it can connect to a remote CueServer via the cellular data network (provided that the CueServer has a publicly accessible IP Address).

Screenshots

DMXCalc4 screens
CuePad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CuePad at 5.0 against DMXCalc's 3.6. CuePad also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 69%). DMXCalc's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $9.99) and update cadence (every 8 months vs every 19 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

DMXCalc costs $1.99 and CuePad $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CuePad holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DMXCalc has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of DMXCalc's written reviews are positive against 80% of CuePad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DMXCalc ships an update every 8 months, CuePad every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DMXCalc versus CuePad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDMXCalcCuePad
Price$1.99 — better$9.99
Rating3.6 (7 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.2% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 8 months — betterEvery 19 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB2 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperWest Side SystemsInteractive Technologies, Inc.

Customer experience

DMXCalc

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral23.1%
Negative7.7%

CuePad

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

DMXCalc

No in-app purchases

None

CuePad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DMXCalc free?
DMXCalc costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is CuePad free?
CuePad costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DMXCalc or CuePad?
CuePad is rated higher. DMXCalc averages 3.6 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while CuePad averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do DMXCalc or CuePad have ads?
Neither DMXCalc nor CuePad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DMXCalc or CuePad?
DMXCalc ships an update every 8 months, and CuePad every 19 months. Most recently, DMXCalc was updated on October 7, 2026 and CuePad on October 6, 2026.

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