WLED+ vs SmartDawn
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WLED+
Manage and control WLED devices with an enhanced interface and features. Organize devices, preview effects, and automate preset saving. Optimized for various screen sizes and compatible with WLED v0.13.3+.
- Improved user interface
- Effect previews
- Device grouping
- Layout support for segment configurations
- Automatic segment gap finding
- Playlist saving for presets
- Random preset cycling
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WLED+ is an independent, modern app for controlling WLED LED strips, matrices, and light installations from your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It talks directly to your devices over your local network. Device control stays local, with no account, no cloud control, and no ad tracking. WHY WLED+ WLED+ is built as a native companion app for WLED, with a polished interface for newcomers and deeper controls for makers. FEATURES - Visual layout editor: see your segments on a canvas, tap to select them, and drag to reshape your strip or matrix. - Live preview: watch your device's real LED colors stream onto the canvas as you edit. - Animated effect previews: see what an effect looks like before you apply it. - Smart segments: automatically fill gaps in your layout or split the largest segment when you add a new one. - Device groups: organize and control multiple devices together. - Presets and playlists: save favorite looks and auto-add new presets to a playlist. - Randomizer: automatically cycle through your presets. - Full control: brightness, colors, palettes, effects, nightlight, and per-segment settings. - Sound-reactive effect support for WLED SR. PRIVACY FIRST No login. Device control stays on your local network. Crash reports are used only to improve reliability and are never sold. Works with WLED and WLED SR firmware v0.13.3 and above, and is optimized for screens of all sizes. Made by an independent husband-and-wife team from Venice, CA. WLED+ is an independent companion app for WLED and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the WLED project; all credit for the firmware goes to the WLED community.
SmartDawn
This application offers intelligent, point-controlled color light management. It allows users to create dreamy lighting environments.
- Intelligent light management
- Point-controlled color lighting
- Dreamy color creation
- Ambient lighting control
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SmartDawn is an app for intelligent point-controlled color light management and control. Light up Life with dreamy colors
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: WLED+ at 88% against SmartDawn's 5%. WLED+ also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
WLED+ holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of WLED+'s written reviews are positive against 5% of SmartDawn's.
WLED+ ships an update fortnightly, SmartDawn every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 13, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WLED+ | SmartDawn |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (12 ratings) — better | 1.4 (30 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 88.2% of reviews — better | 4.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 30 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pixel Heart LLC | Hangzhou Daniao Technology Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
WLED+
SmartDawn
In-app purchases
WLED+
No in-app purchases
SmartDawn
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is WLED+ free?
Is SmartDawn free?
Which has better reviews, WLED+ or SmartDawn?
Do WLED+ or SmartDawn have ads?
Which is updated more often, WLED+ or SmartDawn?
Other comparisons
