Gel Swatch Library vs Stagehand
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Gel Swatch Library
This app allows lighting professionals to easily browse, search, and compare over 1,600 gel color filters from major manufacturers. It offers detailed spectral data, CMY/RGB percentages, DMX values, and a live camera preview feature for visualizing colors.
- Browse 1,600+ gel color filters
- Search by name or number
- Compare similar and complementary colors
- View Spectral Energy Distribution graphs
- See CMY/RGB percentages and DMX values
- Live camera color preview
- Preview colors over photos
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The Gel Swatch Library by Crossroads Motorsport, LLC., lets lighting production personnel browse, search, and compare more than 1,600 gel color filters made by the most popular manufacturers: - Apollo - GAM - Lee - Rosco The Gel Swatch Library lets you: - Search for gels by name or number - Sort gels by number or how they're arranged in the physical swatchbook (forwards or backwards in the swatch book) - Compare similar and complementary colors - Examine each color's detailed Spectral Energy Distribution graphs by turning the iPhone or iPod touch sideways - View CMY/RGB percentages or DMX values for any color - See the last 21 colors visited with the "Recently Viewed Colors" list - Send comments directly to the developers with the "Feedback" button We have added two great new features we think you will love: 1. Live view of colors in the gel item or gel comparison view with either front or back cameras. 2. Or see the same gel views over any photo in your library. Both of these features are available as an in app purchase. Both of the features can be previewed for free with our pre-chosen colors (G-101 & G-305). The Gel Swatch Library is perfect for: - Theatres - Churches - Cruise ships - Corporate events - Educational theater programs - Nightclubs - Theatrical dealers - And many more areas of the lighting world!
Stagehand
This app consolidates theatrical lighting gel swatch books from multiple manufacturers into a single, searchable digital reference. Easily find the perfect color by hue, name, number, or even by selecting a color from a wheel.
- Consolidated swatch books
- Searchable by hue, name, number
- Color wheel search
- Manufacturer information
- Neighboring color samples
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Stagehand brings the Roscolux, GAM, Lee and Apollo swatch books together on your iOS device! Gels are viewable by their swatch book, or all together sorted by hue, letting you find the perfect color without worrying about manufacturer. Each gel is complete with manufacturer information including transmission and description as well as samples of neighboring colors in the swatch book. The entire collection of gels in Stagehand is searchable not only by its name, number, and description, but also by color with the built-in color search that allows you to select a color from the color wheel and see the closest matches available to the selected color. Stagehand is provided as a free reference for professionals and amateurs alike, and we hope you enjoy the app! Stagehand is already used hundreds of times a day and has been downloaded to over 20,000 devices since it launched 10 years ago!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Stagehand at Free against Gel Swatch Library's $9.99. Stagehand also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). Gel Swatch Library's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 44%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On rating, ratings volume, 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
Stagehand is free to download; Gel Swatch Library costs $9.99 up front. Gel Swatch Library sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Stagehand asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Gel Swatch Library against 4.6 for Stagehand. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 19 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of Gel Swatch Library's written reviews are positive against 44% of Stagehand's.
Gel Swatch Library ships an update every 5 weeks, Stagehand every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Gel Swatch Library | Stagehand |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (13 ratings) — better | 4.6 (19 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.4% of reviews — better | 44.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 19 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #85 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Crossroads Motorsport, LLC | Patrick Angle |
Customer experience
Gel Swatch Library
Stagehand
In-app purchases
Gel Swatch Library
- Visual Package$2.99
Stagehand
No in-app purchases




