iRFR vs Lab Monkey
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iRFR
Control ETC Eos family lighting systems remotely from your mobile device. Access programming and playback features, including cue lists and direct selects. Requires Eos family software 2.6 or higher.
- Remote control for Eos family lighting systems
- Programming and playback features
- Tab-based display system
- Moving light controls
- Direct selects
- Cue list access
- Security controls
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The iRFR from ETC provides a remote for any Eos family lighting system (Eos, Eos Ti, Gio, Gio @5, Ion, Element and Eos/Ion Remote Processors). This application requires Eos family software 2.6 or higher on the connected lighting system. Eos 3.0 or higher is required for Focus Wand Please note the iRFR is NOT support by Cobalt. The iRFR supports most features needed for programming and playback. It does not support remote patching and system configuration. A tab-based system changes the displays from the full keyboard, moving light controls, direct selects, playback tools and a cue list. Security controls prevent un-authorized access to a lighting system.
Lab Monkey
This application provides a large, "long view" display of QLab cues for users. It requires QLab to be open and on the same WiFi network. It is developed by Audio Ape Inc., known for professional remote control systems.
- Large "long view" cue display
- QLab integration
- Same WiFi network required
- Remote control system compatibility
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This app Lab Monkey will give QLab users a large display or “long view” of their QLab cues. You will need the application QLab open, and on the same WiFi network as this app. “Lab Monkey” is owned by Audio Ape Inc. We are the makers of professional remote control systems for iOS and all USB equipped computers. Learn more about Audio Ape Remotes by clicking the link at the bottom. (QLab and Figure53 are registered trademarks of Figure53, LLC. Seller of this application is not affiliated with Figure53, LLC)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Lab Monkey at Free against iRFR's $49.99. Lab Monkey also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.9) and review sentiment (90% vs 49%). iRFR's advantage is chart position (#183 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Lab Monkey is free to download; iRFR costs $49.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Lab Monkey holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of iRFR's written reviews are positive against 90% of Lab Monkey's.
iRFR ships an update every 10 months, Lab Monkey every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iRFR | Lab Monkey |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.9 (17 ratings) | 5.0 (13 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 49.0% of reviews | 90.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 17 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #183 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. | Charles Peachock |
Customer experience
iRFR
Lab Monkey
Bugs and requests
iRFR
Reported bugs
20 issues- iPad won't connect
- App broken with ETC Ion consoles
- Not working after iOS 12 update
- Remote disconnected error
- Address function not working
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- Cannot change settings
- Connection issues after iOS update
- Network timeouts and disconnections
- Cannot reconnect after disconnection
- Cannot connect to iPhone and mk3 iPad
- WiFi setup too complicated
- App no longer works after recent iOS update
- New update is slow
- Hard time connecting to console
- Delay when playback used
- Drops connection mid-playback
- Button to return to Welcome screen vanishes
- Timing column in Cue List/Playback is useless
- Cannot keep connected
- Password not clear in app
Requested features
19 requests- Magic sheets integration
- Multi-direct select layout
- Labeling for groups/fixtures
- Patching fixtures
- Full keyboard on iPads
Show 14 moreShow fewer
- Key click and haptic feedback
- Apply effects
- Choose gels in color picker
- Virtual submasters
- Turn console on remotely
- More virtual screen functionality
- Record cues and submasters
- Go To Cue [Out] command
- Dimmer button for individual dimmers
- Improved documentation for setup
- Update for Cobalt users
- Support for newer iOS versions and devices
- Improved UI for larger screens
- Better handling of iPhone X safe areas
Lab Monkey
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iRFR
No in-app purchases
Lab Monkey
No in-app purchases
