Comparison

Magic Lights ES vs Glow Lamp

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

Head to head
About

Magic Lights ES

Transform your device into a versatile light source. Enjoy dynamic disco effects, ambient lighting, and a functional flashlight. Customize colors and transitions for unique light shows.

Highlights
  • Flashlight functionality
  • Disco-style color effects
  • Soft ambient illumination
  • Customizable light shows
  • SOS light signal
Features
Read full description

Magic Lights is the all-in-one light machine for your iPhone. It delivers flashlight, disco-style colors, soft ambient illumination — you name it. Magic Lights provides full control over the display colors and the LED photo light (if your device has one). Features: * Disco lights * Smooth ambient color changes * Flashlight (uses LED photo light if present) * SOS light (uses LED photo light if present) * Create your own light shows in a range of great colors and transition styles. TIPS: - Best effect in a darkened room - Turn your display brightness to the maximum in the iPhone's settings. - Turn the display towards a white wall for indirect illumination - Allow Magic Lights access to the back light (iPhone Settings -> Privacy -> Camera) WARNING: - Don't use if you are sensitive to light effects - Prolonged use of your phone's photo light will drain the battery quickly. - Prolonged use of your phone's photo light might cause temporary automatic disabling of the photo light to prevent overheating. NOTE: This free version is fully functional, but ad-sponsored. If you don't like to see ads and have a spare buck, consider getting Magic Lights Deluxe instead.

About

Glow Lamp

Transform your device into a dynamic mood lamp using a water bottle. Create relaxing ambient light with shifting colors and customizable effects, reminiscent of a modern lava lamp.

Highlights
  • Device-based mood lamp
  • Uses water bottle for light diffusion
  • Shifting color circles
  • Adjustable color speeds
  • Orbital accent circles
  • Customizable light effects
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a glowing, pulsating mood lamp, perfect to warm up the darkness with a soft relaxing light! Place a bottle of water on one of Glow Lamp's bright circles to pull the light of your device up into the bottle. Circles shift between colors at varying speeds and you can add a smaller orbiting circle that zooms around the outside of the larger circle to add accents and fun. The effects are controlled by you - experiment with colors and speeds to discover the moods you can create! It's a lava lamp for the 21st century! For best results use in a darker space and place your Glow Lamp near a wall. The photo has not been retouched in any way! ----------------------------------- - Thanks to icons8.com for several in-app icons

Screenshots

Magic Lights ES4 screens
Glow Lamp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Glow Lamp at 4.4 against Magic Lights ES's 2.5. Glow Lamp also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 36%) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 26 months). Magic Lights ES's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, 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

Both are free to download. Glow Lamp sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Magic Lights ES asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Glow Lamp holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 74 and 36 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Magic Lights ES's written reviews are positive against 76% of Glow Lamp's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magic Lights ES ships an update every 26 months, Glow Lamp every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Magic Lights ES versus Glow Lamp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagic Lights ESGlow Lamp
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (74 ratings)4.4 (36 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.5% of reviews76.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings74 — better36
Update frequencyEvery 26 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTLogic.deMichael Kaufman

Customer experience

Magic Lights ES

All ratings73 ratings
Positive34.2%
Neutral6.8%
Negative58.9%
Written reviews74 reviews
Positive36.5%
Neutral18.9%
Negative44.6%

Glow Lamp

All ratings36 ratings
Positive86.1%
Neutral2.8%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive76.3%
Neutral5.3%
Negative18.4%

Bugs and requests

Magic Lights ES

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Crashes on editing shows
  • Crashes when trying to play shows
  • App freezes on edit button
  • App crashes before opening
  • Stopped working after update
Show 2 more
  • Button names not visible
  • App won't open after update

Requested features

5 requests
  • More options for light effects
  • Update LED for colored spots
  • Sleep timer
  • Add patterns or gradients
  • Improve brightness

Glow Lamp

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Magic Lights ES

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Glow Lamp

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99

Questions

Is Magic Lights ES free?
Magic Lights ES is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Glow Lamp free?
Glow Lamp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Magic Lights ES or Glow Lamp?
Glow Lamp is rated higher. Magic Lights ES averages 2.5 out of 5 from 74 ratings, while Glow Lamp averages 4.4 from 36 ratings.
Do Magic Lights ES or Glow Lamp have ads?
Glow Lamp shows ads; Magic Lights ES does not.
Which is updated more often, Magic Lights ES or Glow Lamp?
Magic Lights ES ships an update every 26 months, and Glow Lamp every 4 months. Most recently, Magic Lights ES was updated on October 22, 2026 and Glow Lamp on October 16, 2026.

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