# Magic Hour vs Sidus Link

The clearest difference is rating: Magic Hour at 4.8 against Sidus Link's 4.3. Magic Hour also leads on ratings volume (5.2K vs 626). Sidus Link's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Magic Hour sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sidus Link asks for nothing beyond the download.

Magic Hour holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic Hour has 5.2K ratings behind it against 626, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Magic Hour's written reviews are positive against 70% of Sidus Link's.

Magic Hour ships an update every 2 months, Sidus Link every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magic Hour | Sidus Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-hour/id482426006/reviews)** | [4.3 (626 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidus-link/id1471951977/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.2K** | 626 |
| Positive reviews | **76.8% of reviews** | 69.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 16 MB | 381 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Linda Byrket](https://appshunter.io/developer/482426309) | [Sidus Link Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546027954) |

## What reviewers say

### Magic Hour

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-hour/id482426006)

This app helps photographers and cinematographers find the optimal times for shooting around sunrise and sunset. It provides precise calculations for 'magic hour' based on your location and offers moon phase information. Optional in-app purchases unlock advanced features like location selection and calendar integration.

**Highlights:** Magic hour time calculation, Sunrise and sunset times, Moonrise and full moon alerts, Weather forecast integration, Customizable notifications, Location-based planning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Add Locations Ability | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great overview of the entire Magic Hour
- 👍 Fantastic in every way
- 👍 All the info you need to plan, especially for photographers
- 👍 Sleek and easy to use
- 👍 Perfect for photographers and cinematographers

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏰ Time way off
- 🔍 Can't change location
- 🐛 Crashes all the time
- 💰 Forced in-app purchase
- 🔍 Can't see future dates anymore

**Reported bugs**

- 🐛 Time way off
- 🐛 Can't change location
- 🐛 Crashes all the time
- 🐛 Can't see future dates anymore
- 🐛 Widget doesn't update

**Requested features**

- 💡 Moonrise notification
- 💡 Notification when magic hour ends
- 💡 Blue hour option
- 💡 Allow users to set their own background photo
- 💡 Ability to plan shoots in different locations


### Sidus Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidus-link/id1471951977)

Control film lighting fixtures directly from your mobile device. This app offers advanced modes for white light, gels, color, and effects, with features for scene setup and collaboration. It supports over 100 fixtures and simplifies complex lighting workflows.

**Highlights:** Sidus Mesh Intelligent Lighting Network, White Light, Gel, Color, and Effect Modes, Unlimited Presets and QuickShots, On-set Workflow Management, Multi-device Control, Sidus Cloud and Creative Collaboration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🔒 Seamless connectivity
- 💡 Powerful lighting control features
- 🎨 Excellent color management
- 🌟 Comprehensive ecosystem integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔁 Frequent need to reconnect
- 🕰️ Slow response times
- 🔒 Unnecessary password requirements
- 🤯 Confusing UI for advanced features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Inability to save/restore light settings
- Inconsistent behavior when switching devices

**Requested features**

- Artnet support for lighting automation
- Siri/voice control integration
- Dedicated desktop/tablet app
- Improved background operation and reconnection
- More comprehensive tutorials and documentation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magic Hour free?

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

### Is Sidus Link free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Magic Hour or Sidus Link?

Magic Hour is rated higher. Magic Hour averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.2K ratings, while Sidus Link averages 4.3 from 626 ratings.

### Do Magic Hour or Sidus Link have ads?

Neither Magic Hour nor Sidus Link shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Magic Hour or Sidus Link?

Magic Hour ships an update every 2 months, and Sidus Link every 2 weeks. Most recently, Magic Hour was updated on September 23, 2026 and Sidus Link on August 26, 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.*