# iRFR Preview vs ShadowMagic

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ShadowMagic at 100% against iRFR Preview's 0%. ShadowMagic also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.8) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 12 months). iRFR Preview's advantage is price (Free vs $14.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

iRFR Preview is free to download; ShadowMagic costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ShadowMagic holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of iRFR Preview's written reviews are positive against 100% of ShadowMagic's.

iRFR Preview ships an update every 12 months, ShadowMagic every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRFR Preview | ShadowMagic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $14.99 |
| Rating | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irfr-preview/id377066024/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmagic/id1355895106/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 60 MB | 114 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318210459) | [Crossroads Motorsport, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457608809) |

## What reviewers say

### iRFR Preview

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irfr-preview/id377066024)

This app offers a view-only display of active cue lists for lighting consoles. It's designed for professionals needing to monitor current and upcoming cues. iPad users can also take and export notes on cues.

**Highlights:** View-only cue list display, Monitor current and pending cues, Note-taking on iPad, Export notes to text file, Works on iPhone and iPad

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### ShadowMagic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmagic/id1355895106)

A virtual lighting simulator for theatrical and stage design. Visualize lighting, color, shadows, and scenery with realistic fixtures and over 1600 gel colors. Save and share your designs.

**Highlights:** Virtual light lab and Black Box theatre, Realistic Source Four® Spotlight and Fresnel fixtures, Zoom and dimming capabilities with photometric accuracy, Over 1600 gel colors from major manufacturers, Precise fixture positioning and auto-focus, Save, organize, and share designs as PDF reports

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iRFR Preview free?

iRFR Preview is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ShadowMagic free?

ShadowMagic costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iRFR Preview or ShadowMagic?

ShadowMagic is rated higher. iRFR Preview averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ShadowMagic averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do iRFR Preview or ShadowMagic have ads?

Neither iRFR Preview nor ShadowMagic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iRFR Preview or ShadowMagic?

iRFR Preview ships an update every 12 months, and ShadowMagic every 3 months. Most recently, iRFR Preview was updated on October 3, 2026 and ShadowMagic on October 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*