# Stage Manager vs Group Planner

The clearest difference is rating: Group Planner at 5.0 against Stage Manager's 2.1. Group Planner also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Stage Manager's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Group Planner holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stage Manager has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Stage Manager ships an update weekly, Group Planner every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stage Manager | Group Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stage-manager/id6443847627/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/group-planner-free-together/id6760777597/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 39 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fuse Technical Group, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1649944973) | [Danny Dominguez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608249668) |

## What reviewers say

### Stage Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stage-manager/id6443847627)

This app provides engineers with comprehensive control over video routing, processing, and control equipment via an Apple device. It allows for the creation and triggering of macros through a visual grid interface, simplifying complex operations. An audit log tracks executed macros for easy troubleshooting.

**Highlights:** Video equipment control, Macro creation and triggering, Colorful grid-view interface, Audit log for executed macros, Streamlined video system management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Group Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/group-planner-free-together/id6760777597)

Easily coordinate schedules for group events like trips, game nights, or weekends away. Mark your availability with flexible options, including specific hours and recurring busy times, to find the perfect dates and times for everyone.

**Highlights:** Mark availability (free, busy, maybe, prefer), Set specific hours and recurring busy times, Find optimal dates for trips and hangouts, Manage event details and what to bring, Group chat and commenting, Calendar integration, No ads, privacy-focused

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stage Manager free?

Stage Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Group Planner free?

Group Planner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Stage Manager or Group Planner?

Group Planner is rated higher. Stage Manager averages 2.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Group Planner averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Stage Manager or Group Planner have ads?

Neither Stage Manager nor Group Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stage Manager or Group Planner?

Stage Manager ships an update weekly, and Group Planner every 2 days. Most recently, Stage Manager was updated on November 3, 2026 and Group Planner on November 5, 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.*