Comparison

IoT MQTT Panel vs ShareByLight File Transfer

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

Head to head
About

IoT MQTT Panel

Create DIY smart home projects quickly with a configurable dashboard. This app supports MQTT and Websocket protocols with SSL for secure communication. It offers real-time updates, customizable panels with over 250 icons, and various data visualization options.

Highlights
  • Always-on dashboard
  • MQTT & Websocket support
  • SSL secure communication
  • Real-time panel updates
  • 250+ customizable icons
  • Dark theme
  • Import/Export configuration
Features
Read full description

With this app you can make DIY Smart Home project in a minute. The configurations are very simple. Well documented FAQ and User Guide are available at application info page. Features: 1. Can run as always on Dashboard. 2. Supports both MQTT (TCP) and Websocket protocol. 3. SSL for secure communication. 4. JSON Support for both subscribe and publish message. 5. Panels subscribe and / or publish the topic automatically, hence get updated in real time. 6. Designed to work with public broker efficiently (using device prefix). 7. Sent and Received timestamp from broker. 8. Material design. 9. Flexible panel width, merge any panels 10. More than 250 icons to customize specific panels. 11. Dark theme for comfortable use in low light. 12. Clone connection, device or panel for effortless configuration 13. Import/Export application configuration for easy share with multiple devices. 14. Re-connects automatically if connection lost. 15. Persist export message for log and graph. Available panels: -Button -Slider -Switch -LED Indicator -Combo Box -Radio Buttons -Multi-State Indicator -Progress -Gauge -Color Picker -Time Picker -Text Input -Text Log -Image -Barcode Scanner -Line graph -Bar graph -Chart -URI Launcher This list will grow upon feedback from users. Your feedback is much appreciated. If you find any issue please feel free to leave a comment in my blog with steps to reproduce. https://blog.snrlab.in/iot/iot-mqtt-panel-user-guide/

About

ShareByLight File Transfer

Features
Read full description

ShareByLight moves files from one device to another using only the screen and camera. What it’s for • Pass a file when you don’t want (or can’t use) Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, between air gapped devices • Share between iPhone, iPad, and Mac without a network • Keep the transfer offline and local to the devices in front of you How it works 1. On one device, choose a file and start the stream 2. On the other device, open Receive and point the camera at the screen 3. When the transfer finishes, save the file Features • Send and receive on the same app • Works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac • Optional password protection for the file • Clear progress while the transfer runs • Free: one direction and small files • Pro: both directions and larger files Tips for a smooth transfer • Max brightness on the sending screen • Hold steady and fill the frame • Reduce glare and strong backlight No account required. No cloud. Data moves as light between the devices you choose.

Screenshots

IoT MQTT Panel4 screens
ShareByLight File Transfer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: IoT MQTT Panel at none against ShareByLight File Transfer's 1. IoT MQTT Panel also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). ShareByLight File Transfer's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence 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. ShareByLight File Transfer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. IoT MQTT Panel asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IoT MQTT Panel ships an update fortnightly, ShareByLight File Transfer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
IoT MQTT Panel versus ShareByLight File Transfer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIoT MQTT PanelShareByLight File Transfer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (44 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews84.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings44 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRahul KunduDragos Roua

Bugs and requests

IoT MQTT Panel

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Randomly won't connect to public MQTT brokers
  • App fails to connect to broker frequently
  • Connectivity seems very inconsistent
  • App freezes when trying to input URL in web page panel
  • App does not reconnect after MQTT server disconnects, requires restart
Show 2 more
  • After update, panel window periodically moves up
  • Sometimes switches sensor tabs with significant delay or stops working

Requested features

13 requests
  • Configuration example would be useful
  • Gauges showing color portions instead of whole gauge changing color
  • Apple Watch support for viewing data
  • Option to search for keywords in payload
  • Icon for opening and closing windows
Show 8 more
  • Ability to print user guide
  • Siri shortcuts integration
  • Widgets support
  • Customizable graph scales
  • Alarm rules and notifications
  • Ability to change font color in Text Log widget, possibly based on value condition
  • Traditional Chinese language support
  • More options for panel size on iPad

ShareByLight File Transfer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

IoT MQTT Panel

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ShareByLight File Transfer

One-time1
  • ShareByLight Pro$5.99

Questions

Is IoT MQTT Panel free?
IoT MQTT Panel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShareByLight File Transfer free?
ShareByLight File Transfer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do IoT MQTT Panel or ShareByLight File Transfer have ads?
IoT MQTT Panel shows ads; ShareByLight File Transfer does not.
Which is updated more often, IoT MQTT Panel or ShareByLight File Transfer?
IoT MQTT Panel ships an update fortnightly, and ShareByLight File Transfer every 2 weeks. Most recently, IoT MQTT Panel was updated on October 24, 2026 and ShareByLight File Transfer on October 10, 2026.

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