Comparison

Vectorworks Nomad vs Luminair

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Vectorworks Nomad

Access and manage your design documents from anywhere with your mobile device. Share files, make design decisions on the go, and synchronize changes automatically to your cloud library. View, mark up, and share your latest designs with colleagues and clients.

Highlights
  • Access Vectorworks documents on mobile
  • Synchronize files to private cloud
  • View and navigate 3D models
  • Augmented reality model viewing
  • Mark up PDF files
  • Share files with clients and collaborators
  • Integrate with third-party cloud storage
Read full description

The Vectorworks® Nomad app allows you to access your Vectorworks documents wherever you are—whenever you need them—with your mobile device. It gives you more freedom not only to share files, but also to make design decisions from any location. Changes you make to Vectorworks files are automatically synchronized to your private cloud library, allowing you to browse and share your latest designs from any web-enabled device. Vectorworks Cloud Services saves time by freeing up local computing power. Use cloud technology to automate and decouple resource-heavy workflows, shifting calculations needed to generate sections, elevations, renderings, and BIM data to the cloud. Whether you're in a meeting, on the job site, or on vacation, the Vectorworks Nomad app allows you to view, mark up, share, and synchronize your Vectorworks files across your devices and with your colleagues—all from the convenience of your mobile device. • View and navigate 3D models of Vectorworks files in the cloud library • View 3D models of Vectorworks files in a real-world setting, using augmented reality (AR) technology (requires an AR-compatible device) • View rendered panoramic images or animation movies of Vectorworks files • Extend your cloud library through integration with third-party cloud storage providers • Share files with clients or collaborators • Mark up PDF files with Text, Freehand, Oval, Rectangle, and Line tools and save the marked up files to the cloud library The Vectorworks Nomad app is a part of Vectorworks Cloud Services, and is available to anyone who registers for a free account, as well as all Vectorworks Service Select members. Guest access is available for viewing shared files without creating an account. Vectorworks Service Select members have access to additional features, such as: • Increased storage capacity • Manual or scheduled Sheet layer to PDF cloud processing • Cloud processing options in Vectorworks • Ability to measure objects in the PDF drawings generated on the cloud • And more ... Operating Prerequisites • Vectorworks files uploaded to your Vectorworks Cloud Services storage library, or to an integrated third-party cloud storage provider

About

Luminair

This professional lighting control platform offers advanced DMX and smart light management for designers, filmmakers, musicians, and artists. It supports multiple DMX universes, RDM, and HomeKit integration, allowing for complex scene creation and playback.

Highlights
  • Multi-universe DMX control
  • RDM support
  • Apple HomeKit integration
  • Fixture Cloud library
  • DMX FX Engine
  • Sound Active mode
  • Luminair Remote for Apple Watch
Features
Read full description

Luminair is a professional-grade lighting control platform that gives lighting designers, filmmakers and TV professionals, musicians, artists and other enthusiasts advanced control over DMX-enabled lights, as well as "Smart" lights via Apple HomeKit. Control any light... Luminair's Fixture Cloud library contains over 30,000 fixture profiles. Luminair 4 adds a wide range of user-requested features like multi-universe support, RDM support, user interface improvements, Universal Search, support for Apple HomeKit, and so much more. Move beyond the lighting console! Join us and see why Luminair has been setting the standard for mobile lighting control since 2008! Access all iPadOS, iOS, and macOS versions under a single subscription plan. Try it FREE for 2 weeks, with all features unlocked, and no obligation. See offer details below. Highlights: - 1 to 4 DMX Universes (512-2048 Channels, depending on Subscription level) - 1 Art-Net DMX Input Universe for creating Snapshot scene recordings from another lighting console - RDM Support over Art-Net - Works with any Art-Net or sACN E1.31 compliant DMX interface - Transmits Art-Net, sACN E1.31, and/or and KiNET over built-in Wi-Fi hardware - Supports DMX over Bluetooth with LumenRadio BLE CRMX devices, MoonLite and TimoTwo - Supports wired ethernet with 3rd-party adapters - Advanced document viewer allows you to save projects in iCloud, 3rd-party services like Creative Cloud and Dropbox, plus external disks and flash drives - LTP faders with fully-configurable scene parameters - DMX FX Engine with a Movement generator, Oscillator, Color Looping, Random Color/Intensity and more - Palette/preset based movement system allows you to control and edit movements of multiple moving lights together in unison - Sequences allow you to play back scenes with customized fade and hold times - Sound Active mode allows for music controlled light shows using the built-in microphone, or external sound sources - Innovative tap-to-bump gesture allows you to quickly bump the levels of a scene while holding it's button, releasing those levels when let go - Supports simultaneous control of DMX and HomeKit lights in the same project - Touch ID powered Lockdown mode allows you to lock specific parts of the Luminair user interface - Includes Luminair Remote for Apple Watch (on iPhone devices) - Supports various external control methods as MIDI, MIDI over Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi, Geofences, OSC Input - Additional support for 4 Universes, Scheduling, DMX Input Triggers, iBeacons, MSC, MTC, and HomeKit Button Triggers available with Luminair Pro Subscription - 64-bit app with a scalable UI that uses the latest Apple technologies like iCloud, Core Animation, Core MIDI and more Please visit us at https://luminair.app for full details. IMPORTANT: Luminair requires external DMX or HomeKit hardware to control lights, but can also be used in an "offline" mode for building projects and as a learning tool. Access Luminair Standard or Luminair Pro with monthly or annual subscriptions. You will be automatically billed through Apple every 30 days for monthly subscriptions or every 365 days for yearly subscriptions until you cancel your subscription. The first billing will occur after the one-time free trial period of 2 weeks. Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your subscription can be managed and the auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the App Store Account Settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Any unused portion of the free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription during the free trial period. Privacy Policy: https://luminair.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://luminair.app/terms

Screenshots

Vectorworks Nomad4 screens
Luminair4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Luminair at 4.6 against Vectorworks Nomad's 2.4. Luminair also leads on ratings volume (1.2K vs 23) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). Vectorworks Nomad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Luminair sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Vectorworks Nomad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Luminair holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Luminair has 1.2K ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Vectorworks Nomad's written reviews are positive against 36% of Luminair's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vectorworks Nomad ships an update every 6 weeks, Luminair fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Vectorworks Nomad versus Luminair: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVectorworks NomadLuminair
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.4 (23 ratings)4.6 (1.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.8% of reviews36.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings231.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size299 MB1.7 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVectorworks, Inc.Synthe FX, LLC

Customer experience

Vectorworks Nomad

All ratings23 ratings
Positive30.4%
Neutral8.7%
Negative60.9%
Written reviews71 reviews
Positive26.8%
Neutral1.4%
Negative71.8%

Luminair

All ratings1,172 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral2.8%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews196 reviews
Positive36.2%
Neutral9.7%
Negative54.1%

Bugs and requests

Vectorworks Nomad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Luminair

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Scenes not loading properly
  • Ethernet connectivity problems
  • Unexpected settings changes during use

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow one-time purchase option
  • Improve fixture profile management
  • Add more advanced effects and animation
  • Enhance multi-device/project workflow

In-app purchases

None

Vectorworks Nomad

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Luminair

Subscriptions4
  • Luminair Standard Monthly14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Luminair Pro Monthly14 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Luminair Standard Yearly14 Days trial$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Luminair Pro Yearly14 Days trial$199.991 Year

Questions

Is Vectorworks Nomad free?
Vectorworks Nomad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Luminair free?
Luminair is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Vectorworks Nomad or Luminair?
Luminair is rated higher. Vectorworks Nomad averages 2.4 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Luminair averages 4.6 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Vectorworks Nomad or Luminair have ads?
Neither Vectorworks Nomad nor Luminair shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vectorworks Nomad or Luminair?
Vectorworks Nomad ships an update every 6 weeks, and Luminair fortnightly. Most recently, Vectorworks Nomad was updated on September 20, 2026 and Luminair on September 24, 2026.

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