Comparison

grandMA remote vs MagicQ Remote Control

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

Head to head
About

grandMA remote

Control lighting consoles remotely from a mobile device. This app allows for intuitive operation of moving lights, dimmers, LEDs, and video, offering real-time feedback on attributes and positions. It's designed for flexibility across various entertainment applications.

Highlights
  • Remote control for grandMA consoles
  • Control moving lights, dimmers, LEDs, video
  • Real-time attribute and position feedback
  • Configurable for theatre, TV, touring
  • Supports up to 6 remote units per console
  • Intuitive and flexible operation
Features
Read full description

The grandMA consoles are the core of the fully integrated MA system. The grandMA consoles are able to control – in the most elegant manner – moving lights, conventional lights, and effects, as well as LEDs and video. The reliable and proven operational philosophy allows a direct, flexible and intuitive way of working. As there are more and more moving lights in the market, the use of remote control units together with lighting control systems has become more and more important. The solution of using a state-of-the-art mobile device in connection with a network together with the grandMA console is offering a number of new operating possibilities. All important functions of the grandMA as well as changes of the patching can be realized with the remote control. The grandMA remote can also be easily used in connection with a grandMA onPC. Because of the bi-directional communication between grandMA and remote control it is also possible to show intensities and positions or attributes of moving lights in real-time. Features: - Convenient remote control for all important functions of the grandMA range - High distances and safe use with all grandMA consoles - Up to 6 remote control units can be used with each console or station - Software is available free of charge - Same software for console compatibility: one system – one operating philosophy - Completely configurable for every application: Theatre, TV, Concert Touring, Entertainment, etc. - Elegant programming and control of moving lights, dimmers, LEDs, effects and media servers - Mature software and hardware – extensively field tested – provide unmatched stability and reliability For more information and free copy of the grandMA OnPC checkout our website www.malighting.com

About

MagicQ Remote Control

Control your ChamSys lighting console remotely. Adjust focus, color, and test your rig. Edit and update lighting cues, palettes, and groups directly from your device.

Highlights
  • Remote control for MagicQ consoles
  • Pan and tilt focusing controls
  • Rainbow color picker
  • Execute Window for rig testing
  • Edit and update palettes, groups, and cues
Features
Read full description

ChamSys Ltd MagicQ Remote Control ChamSys MagicQ systems provide leading edge control of stage lighting, LED pixelmapping and media systems. The MagicQ Remote enables remote control of MagicQ systems including MagicQ consoles and MagicQ PC Wing solutions. MagicQ Remote supports focusing with pan and tilt controls, colour adjustment using the rainbow colour picker and rig testing through the unique MagicQ Execute Window. Palettes, Groups and Cues can be edited and updated. ChamSys MagicQ software supports up to 102,400 channels (200 DMX universes) and is available to download and use for free from ChamSys website www.chamsys.co.uk. For instructions please use the in app link to the manual; go to Connection, Help and tap the Open Manual button. For bug reports, please submit them to our bugtracker: https://secure.chamsys.co.uk/bugtracker/

Screenshots

grandMA remote3 screens
MagicQ Remote Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MagicQ Remote Control at 4.3 against grandMA remote's 2.4. grandMA remote's advantage is ratings volume (367 vs 10) and iOS requirement (2.2.1 vs 14.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MagicQ Remote Control holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: grandMA remote has 367 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of grandMA remote's written reviews are positive against 63% of MagicQ Remote Control's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
grandMA remote versus MagicQ Remote Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametergrandMA remoteMagicQ Remote Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.4 (367 ratings)4.3 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.6% of reviews62.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings367 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS2.2.1 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMA Lighting Technology GmbHChamSys Ltd

Customer experience

grandMA remote

All ratings367 ratings
Positive32.7%
Neutral6.5%
Negative60.8%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive60.6%
Neutral15.2%
Negative24.2%

MagicQ Remote Control

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative12.5%

Bugs and requests

grandMA remote

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Doesn't work for iPhone 4.0
  • Needs an update badly
  • Wifi doesn't show up and renders it useless
  • Blank page
  • Incompatible with version 3 software for iPhone
Show 5 more
  • Can cause rig to flick on and off when disconnecting from console with two or more desks on network
  • Has a tendency to crash the board
  • Can corrupt the file
  • Nothing!!! Tried everything. NFG
  • Tried everything. But helas... No results.

Requested features

13 requests
  • Previous button in highlight function
  • iPad version
  • Better layout for iPad
  • Go- button to go back in a sequence
  • Make an app for Vista T2 lighting board
Show 8 more
  • Next button
  • Help menu or Q&A
  • Ability to scroll values like dimming or pan/tilt
  • Support for more iPhone touch gestures
  • Rethink keeping the 'Consoles' button always accessible at the top
  • Confirmation when signing off console
  • Add an easy 'next' button to toggle through a group
  • Should be able to use the pan and tilt cursors to select fixtures also

MagicQ Remote Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

grandMA remote

No in-app purchases

None

MagicQ Remote Control

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is grandMA remote free?
grandMA remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MagicQ Remote Control free?
MagicQ Remote Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, grandMA remote or MagicQ Remote Control?
MagicQ Remote Control is rated higher. grandMA remote averages 2.4 out of 5 from 367 ratings, while MagicQ Remote Control averages 4.3 from 10 ratings.
Do grandMA remote or MagicQ Remote Control have ads?
Neither grandMA remote nor MagicQ Remote Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, grandMA remote or MagicQ Remote Control?
grandMA remote ships an update every 3 months, and MagicQ Remote Control every 3 months. Most recently, grandMA remote was updated on September 22, 2026 and MagicQ Remote Control on September 7, 2026.

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