# starCTRL vs Understudy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Understudy at 100% against starCTRL's 25%. Understudy also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 months). starCTRL's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Understudy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. starCTRL asks for nothing beyond the download.

Understudy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: starCTRL has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of starCTRL's written reviews are positive against 100% of Understudy's.

starCTRL ships an update every 6 months, Understudy every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | starCTRL | Understudy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starctrl/id6444952715/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/understudy-prop-phone/id6766074672/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Videndum Production Solutions, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/962154071) | [Ginsberg AI LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895990338) |

## What reviewers say

### starCTRL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starctrl/id6444952715)

Design custom lighting setups with this app. Connect and control compatible fixtures, adjusting color, intensity, and effects. Save presets and group lights for complex designs.

**Highlights:** Auto-discovery of compatible fixtures, Control lamp color and intensity, Adjust color temperature and green offset, Access built-in lighting effects, Group lights for larger designs, Save favorite colors and effects, Set smooth transitions with fade times

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Understudy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/understudy-prop-phone/id6766074672)

This app transforms a spare iPhone into a customizable prop phone for film and video production. Create realistic lock screens, scripted message conversations, and on-cue incoming calls. It's designed to keep the screen awake during long takes, ensuring seamless filming.

**Highlights:** Customizable lock screen, Scripted message conversations, Triggered incoming calls/texts, Short-form video feed, Screen stays awake, Built-in editor

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is starCTRL free?

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

### Is Understudy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, starCTRL or Understudy?

Understudy is rated higher. starCTRL averages 2.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Understudy averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do starCTRL or Understudy have ads?

Neither starCTRL nor Understudy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, starCTRL or Understudy?

starCTRL ships an update every 6 months, and Understudy every 5 days. Most recently, starCTRL was updated on September 30, 2026 and Understudy on October 13, 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.*