Comparison

QLab Remote vs WatchDog Key

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

Head to head
About

QLab Remote

Control and edit live show cues remotely from your iOS device. This companion app for macOS software allows you to flag cues, adjust audio levels, and modify video geometry from anywhere in the venue. It offers a free read-only mode and optional in-app purchases for full editing capabilities.

Highlights
  • Remote control of QLab workspaces
  • Edit cue properties
  • Adjust audio levels and video geometry
  • Flag cues and edit notes
  • Real-time cue updates
  • Read-Only Mode for safe viewing
Features
Read full description

QLab Remote is the official iOS companion app for remote control of QLab, the award-winning live show control software for macOS. QLab Remote requires a connection to QLab 3.0 or later. Some features require a specific minimum version of QLab 4 or 5. See https://qlab.app/docs/v5/networking/qlab-remote/#requirements for details. Get out of the booth and edit your QLab workspace from wherever you are. Flag cues as you sit in tech rehearsal. Adjust audio levels from the front row. Change the geometry of a video cue from the stage. QLab Remote is free to use in "Read-Only Mode", which allows you to view a workspace & follow along worry-free and also includes the unlimited ability to flag cues & edit cue notes. Optional In-App Purchases are available to unlock show control, editing, and light tools features. FEATURES - Automatically finds any QLab workspace on the network. - Updates in QLab are instantly reflected in QLab Remote and vice versa. - Open multiple windows on iPad to view workspaces side-by-side on one screen. - Quickly flag and edit notes for cues. - Easily switch between cue lists. - Watch active cues update in real-time. - Enable "Read-Only Mode" to follow along without worrying you'll accidentally trigger a cue. - Edit basic properties for all cues, such as name, number, notes, color, armed, flagged, etc. - Adjust audio levels and patches for audio, mic, and video cues. - Change display geometry for video, text, and camera cues. - Double-tap a cue to quickly edit it. Please contact support@figure53.com with issues or feedback.

About

WatchDog Key

Features
Read full description

Never truly unattended. WatchDog Key turns your iPhone into the remote for Rex, the watchdog living on your Mac. Step away from your laptop in a café, library, or co-working space and let Rex keep an eye on it. The moment something happens, you'll know. — What WatchDog Key does — Instant alerts. The second Rex detects tampering on your Mac, a push notification reaches your iPhone. No delay, no guesswork. Remote arm and disarm. Your phone is the key. Arm Rex before you walk away, disarm the moment you sit back down, all from the lock screen. Bluetooth proximity. Forget to arm it? Rex does it for you. WatchDog Key automatically arms your Mac when you walk away and disarms it when you return. Live protection status. See at a glance whether your Mac is paired, online, and protected. Alert history. Every event Rex has flagged, kept in one place so you can review what happened and when. Simple pairing. Scan a QR code once and your Mac and iPhone are linked. — How it works — WatchDog Key pairs with WatchDog on Mac via Bluetooth. Install WatchDog on your Mac, scan the QR code shown there, and you're connected. — Premium subscription — WatchDog Key offers an optional Premium subscription (monthly or yearly) that unlocks full protection: tamper alerts, remote arm/disarm, and automatic Bluetooth proximity locking. Subscriptions are purchased through Apple and renew automatically until cancelled. No account is required to subscribe. — Privacy first — We don't access your files, your screen, or the contents of your Mac. WatchDog Key only handles the signals needed to alert you and let you control Rex. Read our full privacy policy at watchdogapp.de. Built by LA Software UG in Germany. Terms of Use (EULA): https://watchdogapp.de/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://watchdogapp.de/privacy

Screenshots

QLab Remote4 screens
WatchDog Key4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: QLab Remote at every 3 weeks against WatchDog Key's every 4 months. QLab Remote also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, 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. QLab Remote sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and WatchDog Key sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

QLab Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, WatchDog Key every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
QLab Remote versus WatchDog Key: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQLab RemoteWatchDog Key
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (26 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings26 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFigure 53LA Software

In-app purchases

2 purchases

QLab Remote

One-time2
  • Light Tools$19.99
  • Show Control & Editing$39.99
2 purchases

WatchDog Key

Subscriptions2
  • WatchDog Premium · Monthly$2.991 Month
  • WatchDog Premium · Yearly$24.991 Year

Questions

Is QLab Remote free?
QLab Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WatchDog Key free?
WatchDog Key is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do QLab Remote or WatchDog Key have ads?
Neither QLab Remote nor WatchDog Key shows ads.
Which is updated more often, QLab Remote or WatchDog Key?
QLab Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, and WatchDog Key every 4 months. Most recently, QLab Remote was updated on October 24, 2026 and WatchDog Key on October 28, 2026.

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