Comparison

WLED vs Pipplee

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

Head to head
About

WLED

Control and manage all your WLED light devices from your iPhone or iPad. This companion app works with the open-source WLED software for microcontrollers, offering automatic device detection, customizable names, and software update assistance.

Highlights
  • Automatic device detection
  • Centralized light list
  • Software update assistant
  • Customizable device names
  • Hide or delete devices
  • Light and dark mode
Features
Read full description

With the WLED app, you can easily and efficiently manage and control all your WLED light devices from your iPhone or iPad. This is a companion app for the free and open source WLED software for ESP8266/32 microcontrollers. WLED automatically detects and updates the device list, and offers customizable names, a hide or delete feature, and a light and dark mode. It can also help you install new software updates to your devices. Plus, it supports both phones and tablets. Main Features: - Automatic device detection (mDNS) - All lights are accessible from one list - Software Update Assistant - Custom names - Hide or delete devices - Light and dark mode

About

Pipplee

Control your WLED LED matrix with a variety of dynamic content. Transform music into light shows, create pixel art, display scrolling text, and even play arcade games directly on your LED panel without any coding.

Highlights
  • Music visualizer with 13 effects
  • Pixel art editor and AI generation
  • Scrolling text and live information display
  • Playable arcade games on LED matrix
  • Customizable animations and GIFs
  • Automated content cycling and scheduling
Features
Read full description

Pipplee is the easiest way to control a WLED 2D LED matrix from your iPhone. Play animations, turn music into a light show, draw pixel art, scroll text, run arcade games and show live weather on your LED panel - no coding, no config files. WORKS WITH ANY WLED MATRIX 16x16, 32x32, 8x32, 24x16 or a custom layout - if WLED supports your 2D matrix, Pipplee fits content to it automatically. You need an ESP32 running WLED (ESP8266 and ESP32-C3 are not supported). GIF and image playback needs WLED 16.0.0 or newer. MUSIC VISUALIZER • Your matrix dances to whatever is playing, using your iPhone's microphone • 13 visualizers: Spectrum Bars, Mirror, Waveform, Bass Fire, Waterfall, Starburst, Radial and more • Colour gradients or a single colour, plus a sensitivity control • Smart beat detection that ignores steady background noise like fans • Music playing on your iPhone keeps playing while it listens • Keep it running in the background, or keep your screen on while it plays • Sound is analysed on your iPhone - nothing is recorded or sent anywhere ANIMATIONS & PIXEL ART • 1000+ ready-made animations and pixel art, searchable by category • Live pixel editor with instant preview on your LEDs • Upload your own GIFs and images • AI pixel art: describe it and Pipplee generates it for your matrix • 200+ built-in WLED effects with animated previews TEXT, CLOCK & LIVE INFO • Scrolling text with gradients, backgrounds and effects • Digital clock faces with animated backgrounds • Live local weather that updates on its own • Live sports scores, stock prices and a game-night scoreboard PLAY ARCADE GAMES ON YOUR LED MATRIX Snake, Blocks, Pong, Breakout, Flappy Bird, Space Invaders and Racing - play on your iPhone and watch it run on your LED matrix. CAMERA EFFECTS • Body Glow: your silhouette lights up on the matrix using your iPhone camera AUTOMATE EVERYTHING • Favorites and playlists for hands-free animation cycling • Schedule presets by time of day • Smart-home friendly: send messages to your matrix from your own scripts with the Pipplee API • Built-in WLED settings, so you never leave the app WHO IS PIPPLEE FOR? WLED users with an LED matrix, makers and DIY electronics fans, pixel artists, gamers, music lovers, and anyone who wants a glowing display for a desk, bedroom, game room or shop window. GET STARTED IN MINUTES 1. Flash WLED on an ESP32 and set up your LED matrix in 2D mode. 2. Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network. 3. Open Pipplee, scan for devices and pick your matrix - you're playing in seconds. SIMPLE PRICING Free to try with limited plays. Unlock every feature with a yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime license. Each license covers one physical WLED device (one controller), and everyone in your home can use it. If you replace your controller, the new one needs its own license. The yearly subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Manage or cancel it in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Questions? pippleeapp@gmail.com | pipplee.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pipplee.com/privacy/

Screenshots

WLED4 screens
Pipplee4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pipplee at 4.2 against WLED's 3.5. Pipplee also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). WLED's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and review sentiment (51% vs 40%). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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. Pipplee sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. WLED asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pipplee holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 6 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of WLED's written reviews are positive against 40% of Pipplee's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WLED ships an update every 2 months, Pipplee every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
WLED versus Pipplee: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWLEDPipplee
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (12 ratings)4.2 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.5% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB20 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperChristophe GagnierBipul Jain

Customer experience

WLED

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive50.5%
Neutral7.4%
Negative42.1%

Pipplee

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

WLED

Reported bugs

42 issues
  • Unable to connect to LEDs
  • Lights randomly turn on
  • Connectivity issues, needs re-pairing
  • App doesn't work, glitchy
  • Brightness control issues
Show 37 more
  • Lights flicker after update
  • Cannot find discover lights option
  • Not connected to iPhone, setup issues
  • App won't load, vanishes
  • None of my devices show up
  • Shows up blank, manual add only
  • No longer finds WLED devices
  • App doesn't work, no devices showing
  • Confusing app, turns off
  • App is unusable after update, errors
  • App stopped picking up signal
  • Only connects when at home
  • Doesn't pick up esp8266
  • Sound react option missing
  • Time and macros section not working
  • Update won't update
  • Goes offline from time to time
  • Update breaks app, beta works
  • Drops connection, cannot adjust lights
  • Latest release freezes, unstable wifi
  • Loading WLED UI stuck
  • Inconsistent connection after new update
  • Lost all config after update
  • Lost all presets after update
  • Devices missing and disappearing
  • Update ruined everything, random disconnects
  • App constantly crashes, won't load
  • Stopped working after update
  • New upgrade feature killed device
  • Inconsistent, can't find boards
  • Cannot connect lights, IP address doesn't work
  • Missing schedule function
  • App doesn't work at all
  • Doesn't work properly with WLED 0.14
  • App won't allow changing anything, freezes
  • Hidden devices reappear
  • App goes offline and never connects again

Requested features

6 requests
  • User-friendly interface
  • Simple interface with advanced option
  • Widget features for Home Screen
  • Sound react option
  • Remote control when away from WiFi
Show 1 more
  • Timer or schedule function

Pipplee

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

WLED

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Pipplee

Subscriptions1
  • Yearly Device License$4.991 Year
One-time6
  • Yearly License per WLED device2 variants$2.99
  • Lifetime Access$3.99
  • Yearly License per WLED device$4.99
Show 3 more
  • Lifetime Access for Device$9.99
  • Lifetime Access for Device$14.99
  • Lifetime Access for Device$19.99

Questions

Is WLED free?
WLED is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pipplee free?
Pipplee is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, WLED or Pipplee?
Pipplee is rated higher. WLED averages 3.5 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Pipplee averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.
Do WLED or Pipplee have ads?
Neither WLED nor Pipplee shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WLED or Pipplee?
WLED ships an update every 2 months, and Pipplee every 2 days. Most recently, WLED was updated on November 3, 2026 and Pipplee on November 4, 2026.

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