Lightwright Touch vs GMA RehearsalBuddy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lightwright Touch
This app allows users to view and edit lighting equipment data from Lightwright on their mobile devices. It offers portable access to show files for on-the-go adjustments, note-taking, and data sorting, syncing seamlessly with the desktop application.
- View and sort lighting data
- Edit worksheet data
- Add notes to rows or general pages
- Sync shows via iTunes, email, or file sharing
- Store multiple shows
- Transfer changes back to desktop Lightwright
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Lightwright Touch provides mobile viewing and editing of Lightwright® 5 or 6 lighting equipment data. If you use Lightwright, or schedules and hookups printed from Lightwright, this is the portable, navigable, editable worksheet tool you have been waiting for. +Export your show from Lightwright and sync to Lightwright Touch through iTunes, or email, or file sharing +View and Sort your worksheet using familiar Lightwright functions +Columns can be added, removed, and rearranged to best suit your mobile needs +"Log" feature speeds selection of prior view/sort displays +Edit worksheet data quickly with item pick-lists +Add a note to any worksheet row, or to a general notes page +Store multiple shows on Lightwright Touch +Transfer shows back to Lightwright for reconciliation with the original show file +View and email notes or your changes +Supports any device orientation, and multiple font sizes Please note that Lightwright Touch does not do everything that Lightwright does. (The fact that it costs 1/10 as much might have been be a clue.) This version does not support focus charts and worknotes. Also you cannot start a new show on Lightwright Touch. It's great for viewing existing shows and doing minor editing on the fly, but heavy-duty worksheet management is better left to Lightwright at this time. Lightwright Touch is an accessory to Lightwright, not a replacement for it. Works with files exported from Lightwright 5.0.22 or later, and Lightwright 6.0.13 or later.
GMA RehearsalBuddy
This tool enables lighting and video programmers to take timecoded notes during rehearsals and shows. It directly reads timecode from grandMA2 sessions, eliminating the need for extra hardware. Features include photo attachments, templates, and export options.
- grandMA2 session integration
- Instant timecode saving
- Customizable note templates
- Add photos to notes
- Export and share notes
- Always-On mode
- Dark theme option
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This tool for lighting designers, lighting programmers, video programmers, ... allows smart note-taking during rehearsals or shows. The added timecode for each note item makes it easy to have a timing reference after the notes were taken. The main advantage is the direct readout of grandMA2's timecode session data, which makes travel with a lot of extra MIDI/LTC/... tools unnecessary. FEATURES: - grandMA2 session integration: Reads timecode from grandMA2 session (without extra LTC/MIDI equipment) - Instant timecode: Timecode is saved with the first letter in the entry field - Templates: Use 6 individual "quick-note" templates with frequently used notes - Todo/Done: Swipe to mark notes as done - Photo: A photo can be added to each note entry - Details: Add detail text to each note entry - Sharing/Export: Export or share notes (AirDrop, Messenger, Notes App, ...) - Always-On mode: Prevents your device from going to sleep mode while the app is opened - Dark entry mode: A dark theme to relax your eyes in low-light situations - Remote control viewer: Access grandMA, StreamDeck, Widget Designer, ... web interfaces while seeing current timecode. - Settings: A lot of settings and user options to adjust everything to your needs FREE VERSION: The free version includes all features of the full version, but the incoming timecode is limited to 1 hour (01:00:00:00). Please test the app in your network setup before buying the full version! TUTORIAL: - make sure your grandMA2 session is started - connect your iPhone/iPad to your grandMA2 session - use a fast wifi router without multicast filtering - simply enter your notes: enter saves the current note and timecode - timecode is saved as soon as you start typing IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS: A fast WiFi connection without multicast filtering is required! Works only with "TimecodeSlot" pools (MIDI in, LTC in, generator, ...). Currently tested with grandMA2 version 3.2.2 - 3.9.0 (current). This app "wire-tap's" the grandMA2 network session, so there is always a small risk of losing functionality with new software versions. This is NOT an official app from MA Lighting Technology or MA Lighting International.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: GMA RehearsalBuddy at Free against Lightwright Touch's $49.99. Lightwright Touch's advantage is rating (2.8 vs 1.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads 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
GMA RehearsalBuddy is free to download; Lightwright Touch costs $49.99 up front. GMA RehearsalBuddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Lightwright Touch asks for nothing beyond the download.
Lightwright Touch holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightwright Touch has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Lightwright Touch ships an update every 5 weeks, GMA RehearsalBuddy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lightwright Touch | GMA RehearsalBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.8 (6 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | West Side Systems | Matthias Schoeffmann |
Customer experience
Lightwright Touch
GMA RehearsalBuddy
In-app purchases
Lightwright Touch
No in-app purchases
GMA RehearsalBuddy
- Full Version$8.99
Questions
Is Lightwright Touch free?
Is GMA RehearsalBuddy free?
Which has better reviews, Lightwright Touch or GMA RehearsalBuddy?
Do Lightwright Touch or GMA RehearsalBuddy have ads?
Which is updated more often, Lightwright Touch or GMA RehearsalBuddy?
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