# iRFR Preview vs StageTools

The clearest difference is rating: StageTools at 5.0 against iRFR Preview's 2.8. StageTools also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 12 months). iRFR Preview's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StageTools sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. iRFR Preview asks for nothing beyond the download.

StageTools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively.

iRFR Preview ships an update every 12 months, StageTools every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRFR Preview | StageTools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irfr-preview/id377066024/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagetools/id6760953336/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318210459) | [X0 Lighting Control Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1886615494) |

## 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


### StageTools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagetools/id6760953336)

A comprehensive lighting toolkit for professionals, offering network scanning, DMX inspection, fixture testing, and plot creation. Manage fixture data, files, and notes without needing a laptop, with many tools available offline.

**Highlights:** Network device scanning, DMX viewer for sACN/ArtNet, Micro console for fixture testing, Protocol detector, LTC timecode generation/reception, Curve builder, Quick plot creation, Scout notes with multimedia

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StageTools Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| StageTools Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iRFR Preview free?

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

### Is StageTools free?

StageTools is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

StageTools is rated higher. iRFR Preview averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while StageTools averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do iRFR Preview or StageTools have ads?

Neither iRFR Preview nor StageTools shows ads.

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

iRFR Preview ships an update every 12 months, and StageTools every 2 weeks. Most recently, iRFR Preview was updated on October 3, 2026 and StageTools on October 3, 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.*