# SideCast vs Marquee

The clearest difference is ads: SideCast at none against Marquee's shown. SideCast also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SideCast sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Marquee sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SideCast against 4.6 for Marquee. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 209 and 371 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of SideCast's written reviews are positive against 88% of Marquee's.

SideCast ships an update every 3 months, Marquee every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideCast | Marquee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (209 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecast/id608426917/reviews) | **[4.6 (371 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marquee-led-display-banner/id1641426826/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 209 | **371** |
| Positive reviews | **92.8% of reviews** | 87.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 152 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alerion Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674500626) | [Edwin Chan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1530170225) |

## What reviewers say

### SideCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecast/id608426917)

Enlarge typed messages on your device screen for easy, silent, or distant communication. Simply type your message or use voice-to-text, then rotate your device to display it clearly to others nearby. Ideal for loud environments, private conversations, or when speaking is not an option.

**Highlights:** Create instant signs and billboards, Enlarge typed messages, Use text or emojis, Rotate device to display, Voice-to-text support, Silent and private communication

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SideCast upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and effective communication
- 💡 Useful for various noisy environments
- 🚀 Fast and snappier UX (recent updates)
- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- 💡 Great for communicating when unable to speak

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes too often
- 🐛 Does not rotate reliably
- 🐛 Pages run into each other
- 🐛 Timed out forcing upgrade
- 🐛 Not compatible with older iOS versions (historically)

**Reported bugs**

- Freezes too often
- Side cast does not rotate more often than not
- When it does rotate, the pages run into each other
- Doesn’t work with iOS 16 (prior to recent update)
- Timed out - forced to upgrade (specific instance)

**Requested features**

- Allow selection of text and background colors
- Remove time limit (mentioned once)


### Marquee

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marquee-led-display-banner/id1641426826)

Create custom LED banners and marquees with text or emojis. Choose from dynamic, static, or flashlight modes with customizable colors, fonts, and scrolling speeds. Perfect for events, concerts, or as a portable signboard.

**Highlights:** Create LED banners with text and emojis, Dynamic, static, and flashlight modes, Customizable text and background colors, Adjustable text speed and direction, Multiple font styles and effects, AirPlay support

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Works well
- 👍 Simple to use
- 👍 Pleasing interface
- 👍 Useful for various events

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Technical issues
- 🐛 Inability to pause
- 💰 Expensive
- 🔧 Needs more features

**Reported bugs**

- Dynamic mode resets changes
- Unable to enter new lines
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add pause functionality
- Improve stability and performance
- Introduce more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideCast free?

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

### Is Marquee free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SideCast or Marquee?

Marquee is rated higher. SideCast averages 4.6 out of 5 from 209 ratings, while Marquee averages 4.6 from 371 ratings.

### Do SideCast or Marquee have ads?

Marquee shows ads; SideCast does not.

### Which is updated more often, SideCast or Marquee?

SideCast ships an update every 3 months, and Marquee every 2 months. Most recently, SideCast was updated on November 6, 2026 and Marquee on November 12, 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.*