Comparison

Light DJ vs Mobile MA

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

Head to head
About

Light DJ

Synchronize your smart lights with music to create dynamic visual experiences. Choose from various effects and color palettes that react to audio input, enhancing parties or everyday listening.

Highlights
  • Sound-reactive visual effects
  • Customizable color palettes
  • Automatic color selection based on music
  • Mellow and active effect modes
  • Nanoleaf-specific effects
  • Hue Entertainment area support
  • Multi-bridge support
Features
Read full description

Your Philips Hue, LIFX, and Nanoleaf Light Panels will shine with the Light DJ Visualizer, our powerful and easy-to-use app that allows you to create stunning visual effects and light shows that are synchronized to your music or any audio input. Whether you're hosting a party or just want to elevate your music listening experience, this app offers a wide range of customizable options to help you create mesmerizing visuals that will enhance your lighting system. *** THIS IS THE STANDALONE VISUALIZER VERSION. To try it first, or the full Light DJ experience, search for LIGHT DJ ENTERTAINMENT EFFECTS in the App Store! *** With the Visualizer you can create the ultimate music listening experience with just a few taps. The app listens to your music and changes the effects based on the mood of the song, making your lights more active during intense parts of a song and flowy with softer melodies. The lights magically change colors at just the right moment, adding a new level of ambiance to your music. COLORS PALETTES: Create palettes of up to 8 colors and store them in the app. The Visualizer will pick colors from your selected palette at random to display on your bulbs and panels. QUICK-COLOR CHANGES: Tap the shuffle button to quickly select a new palette at random or use the drag feature to apply standard colors. You can also double-tap on a color to apply it everywhere immediately. AUTO-COLOR SELECTION: When this option is enabled the Visualizer will analyze to your music and change the color palette when it detects a significant change in your music automatically. You'll be blown away each time the chorus hits or the DJ drops the beat. MELLOW EFFECTS: Choose from one of 4 mellow effect modes that activate during softer music (Swirl, Wave, Solid, None) ACTIVE EFFECTS: Choose from one of 5 active effects that activate during louder music (Fireworks, Splotches, Pulses, Flashes, Special Mix) NANOLEAF EFFECTS: Additional fill modes are included for Nanoleaf panels (Linear, Centroid, Bisect, Solid, Match Bulbs). Smoothness and angle can also be adjusted. HUE ENTERTAINMENT: Using a Hue Entertainment area you'll enjoy higher quality effects; the Visualizer will respond faster and with better sync. MULTI-BRIDGE SUPPORT: Combine lights from two or more bridges using the legacy effects or control multiple simultaneous entertainment areas. Visit lightdjapp.com for support or check out video previews at instagram.com/LightDJ This app requires hardware from one of these vendors: - Philips Hue: meethue.com - All Lights Supported - LIFX: lifx.com - All Lights Supported - Nanoleaf Lights: nanoleaf.me - All WiFi-based lights and panels supported including Shapes, Canvas, Lines, Elements, Blocks, Skylight, EXPO Cases, Aurora, A19 WiFi Bulbs, HD LED Strip, Outdoor String Lights and Permanent Lights, Holiday String Lights, and Multicolor Floor Lamp --------------------- Hi, I'm Kevin, the creator of the Light DJ Visualizer. I want to make sure that everyone gets a great light show, so if you're having issues getting the app to connect shoot me an email at kevin@nrthrnlights.com. I'm dedicated to making a quality app to show off your new lights!

About

Mobile MA

Control your self-hosted music server from your iPhone with real-time playback, library browsing, and lightning-fast search. Enjoy offline caching and a secure, private connection.

Highlights
  • Real-time multiroom audio control
  • Full music library browsing
  • Lightning-fast search
  • Offline library cache
  • Secure token storage
  • Customizable appearance
Features
Read full description

Press play – in every room, on every device. Mobile MA is the music player for your home: it brings together your albums, playlists, podcasts, audiobooks and radio stations and plays them wherever you are – on your speakers, your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Apple Watch or in the car. PLAYBACK THAT'S ACTUALLY FUN • Multiroom done right: group speakers with a tap – and everything plays in sync • Save scenes ("Dinner", "Party everywhere") and start them with one tap – from your Watch, TV and CarPlay too • A queue you fully control: play next, edit – and automatic continued playback when the queue ends • Live lyrics, a party mode for guests, per-player volume limits • Play directly on your device or on any player in the house – switch seamlessly MADE WITH LOVE • An interface that celebrates your music: artwork shapes every view – from albums to a Now Playing with rich color gradients • A spectrum analyzer that dances to your music – full-screen if you like • Full-screen artist artwork, playlist collages, thoughtful details everywhere • Fully native: fluid, fast, with fine-tuned haptics • Make it yours: themes, appearance options and alternative app icons YOUR ENTIRE LIBRARY • Artists, albums, playlists, podcasts, audiobooks, radio and genres – all in one place • Lightning-fast search across your music and your streaming providers • A customizable home screen with Continue Listening, Discover and anniversaries • Smart playlists built on your rules, favorites, radio bookmarks and Listen Later • Audiobooks and podcasts with chapter marks and remembered playback speed SOUND & AUDIO INTELLIGENCE • Audio analysis with loudness leveling for a balanced sound • Tone control with bass, mids and treble plus Smart Fades for seamless transitions • Pro DSP tools for everyone who wants to go deeper • Data-friendly on the go: automatic quality adjustment on cellular AT HOME EVERYWHERE • CarPlay: your library, scenes and Now Playing right on the dashboard • Apple Watch: remote control and scenes on your wrist, with its own complications • Apple TV: a full app with library, search, big-screen Now Playing and Top Shelf – set up conveniently from your iPhone • Mac: a full desktop app including a menu bar player • Widgets, Live Activities, Lock Screen and Siri support SMART & CONVENIENT • Music suggestions your way: privately on device or with your own AI key • Listening history with export, in-app tips for hidden features • In seven languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish YOUR SERVER. YOUR DATA. Mobile MA is the native client for Music Assistant, the open-source music platform for your home. Your music runs through your own server – no forced accounts, no cloud in between. • Automatic server discovery on your network: sign in and go • Multiple connection profiles, optionally synced to all your devices via iCloud • Remote access on the go through your own secure connection • Real time: changes on the server appear in the app instantly GOOD TO KNOW Mobile MA is an independent app and requires a running Music Assistant server (free and open source, e.g. on a home server or NAS). Mobile MA is not an official product of the Music Assistant project. The capabilities of your streaming providers depend on your server. The core features are free; advanced features can be unlocked with Mobile MA Unlimited via in-app purchase. Purchases are subject to Apple's standard license agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Light DJ4 screens
Mobile MA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Mobile MA at Free against Light DJ's $2.99. Mobile MA also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (9 vs 1). Light DJ's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 2.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads 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

Mobile MA is free to download; Light DJ costs $2.99 up front. Mobile MA sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Light DJ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Light DJ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mobile MA has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Light DJ ships an update monthly, Mobile MA every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Light DJ versus Mobile MA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLight DJMobile MA
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better2.8 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings19 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNRTHRNLIGHTS, LLCSven Uwe Hanold

Customer experience

Light DJ

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Mobile MA

All ratings9 ratings
Positive44.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative55.6%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Light DJ

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Mobile MA

One-time4
  • Song$2.99
  • Album$3.99
  • Anthology$8.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlimited$22.99

Questions

Is Light DJ free?
Light DJ costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mobile MA free?
Mobile MA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Light DJ or Mobile MA?
Light DJ is rated higher. Light DJ averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Mobile MA averages 2.8 from 9 ratings.
Do Light DJ or Mobile MA have ads?
Neither Light DJ nor Mobile MA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Light DJ or Mobile MA?
Light DJ ships an update monthly, and Mobile MA every 5 days. Most recently, Light DJ was updated on September 23, 2026 and Mobile MA on September 20, 2026.

Other comparisons