Comparison

SideCast vs HomeDisco

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

Head to head
About

SideCast

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
Read full description

*** CREATE INSTANT SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS *** With SideCast®, easily enlarge typed messages on your iPhone or iPad screen, making it easy for others to see and read them from a distance. Write your message with text or emojis, then rotate your device to SideCast it to anyone nearby. This is the must-have messaging app for anyone who needs to communicate with someone silently, privately, or from a distance. The clearest messages are seen, not screamed. Save your voice, download SideCast today for free and start communicating more effectively. *** THE MANY USES OF SIDECAST *** The options are limitless. Whether you're trying to get someone's attention, share a funny comment, or just want to say hi, SideCast makes it easy. Simply type or speak a message, then rotate your device onto its side to communicate with anyone nearby. Try it now, FREE! *** REVIEWS *** 5/5 - "I used this app at a VERY crowded bar a few nights ago and while the other people tried shouting over the excessively loud music to order, I used SideCast and got helped by the bartender immediately. GAME CHANGER!" 5/5 - "I see SideCast enhancing the photo bomb in a big way." 5/5 - "The more I use this the more brilliant I realize it really is." 5/5 - "How did no one think of this sooner?" *** SIDECAST USERS ARE CREATIVE *** Thanks to everyone who submitted their favorite ways to use SideCast! Favorites include: • Ordering drinks from a bartender without having to wait • Saying hey to your favorite artist on stage at a concert • Flirting... "Hi there ;)" • Critiquing the skills of a nearby driver • Photobombing! Or, captioning a picture IN the picture • Quietly messaging a co-worker on a conference call... "Lunch in 5?" • Communicating at a loud concert or club • Passing notes in class (no more evidence!) • Getting the check quickly at a restaurant • Communicating with people who have impaired hearing or speaking • Finding your friends in a crowded movie theater or stadium • Telling a presenter how much time they have left • Airport & rideshare pickups • Supporting your child or friend during their sports game from the sidelines • No more unnecessary yelling in loud environments *** SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK *** Please post a review with YOUR favorite way to SideCast, and enjoy! (Note: SideCast supports voice-to-text)

About

HomeDisco

This app synchronizes your smart lights with music in real-time, creating dynamic lighting experiences. It also allows you to generate custom light scenes based on descriptive text prompts and offers pre-set atmospheric scenes.

Highlights
  • Real-time music beat synchronization
  • AI-powered scene generation from text
  • Pre-set atmospheric light scenes
  • Customizable color palettes and calibration
  • Sleep timer for lights and soundscapes
Features
Read full description

Your smart lights, moving with your music. • No subscription: one purchase unlocks everything. • Any light in your Apple Home app: Hue, IKEA, Nanoleaf and more. • AI scenes: describe a mood and get your own light show (needs Apple Intelligence). HomeDisco 2 syncs your smart lights to the beat in real time, builds scenes from a sentence, and turns your room into a campfire, a storm or a haunted house. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Beat sync: lights react live to music and room sound. - Describe a mood: tell the AI what you want and get a custom light scene (needs Apple Intelligence). - Scenes for every mood: Storm, Campfire, Haunted House, Movie Night and more. - Sleep timer: lights and soundscapes switch off by themselves. - Palettes and calibration: tune the colours and the sync to your room. WORKS WITH Any light in the Apple Home app, including Philips Hue, IKEA TRÅDFRI and Nanoleaf. Free to try, with an optional one-time unlock. AI modes need Apple Intelligence. Keep the app open with "Keep Screen Dark" on to keep the show running.

Screenshots

SideCast4 screens
HomeDisco4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SideCast at 4.6 against HomeDisco's 1.0. SideCast also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (209 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. SideCast sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and HomeDisco sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SideCast holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SideCast has 209 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideCast ships an update every 3 months, HomeDisco every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SideCast versus HomeDisco: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideCastHomeDisco
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (209 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews92.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings209 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better27.0
Further details — not scored
Size152 MB38 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperAlerion Media LLCMiguel Vieira

Customer experience

SideCast

All ratings209 ratings
Positive89.0%
Neutral2.4%
Negative8.6%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive92.8%
Neutral1.4%
Negative5.8%

HomeDisco

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

SideCast

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

2 requests
  • Allow selection of text and background colors
  • Remove time limit (mentioned once)

HomeDisco

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SideCast

One-time1
  • SideCast upgrade2 variants$0.99
1 purchases

HomeDisco

One-time1
  • Pro Version$5.99

Questions

Is SideCast free?
SideCast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HomeDisco free?
HomeDisco is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SideCast or HomeDisco?
SideCast is rated higher. SideCast averages 4.6 out of 5 from 209 ratings, while HomeDisco averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SideCast or HomeDisco have ads?
Neither SideCast nor HomeDisco shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SideCast or HomeDisco?
SideCast ships an update every 3 months, and HomeDisco every 4 months. Most recently, SideCast was updated on November 5, 2026 and HomeDisco on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons