# iRFR Preview vs Vari

The clearest difference is update cadence: Vari at every 2 months against iRFR Preview's every 12 months. Vari also leads on rating (3.0 vs 2.8). iRFR Preview's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Vari holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 0% and 0% positive.

iRFR Preview ships an update every 12 months, Vari every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRFR Preview | Vari |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irfr-preview/id377066024/reviews) | **[3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vari-lite-remote/id6657962781/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 60 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318210459) | [Signify Netherlands B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/979064009) |

## 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


### Vari

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vari-lite-remote/id6657962781)

Control your lighting console remotely from any location. Program, adjust, and manage your show with features like command line access, cue playback, and fader control. Ideal for lighting professionals seeking flexibility and precision.

**Highlights:** Remote console control, Command line access, Cue playback management, Groups & palettes editing, Advanced color picker, Fader control, Interactive magic sheets, Patch table editing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, 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 Vari free?

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

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

Vari is rated higher. iRFR Preview averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Vari averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do iRFR Preview or Vari have ads?

Neither iRFR Preview nor Vari shows ads.

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

iRFR Preview ships an update every 12 months, and Vari every 2 months. Most recently, iRFR Preview was updated on October 12, 2026 and Vari on October 17, 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.*