# LIFX vs Nanoleaf

The clearest difference is rating: Nanoleaf at 4.2 against LIFX's 3.7. Nanoleaf also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (45K vs 7.1K). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Nanoleaf holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nanoleaf has 45K ratings behind it against 7.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 19% of LIFX's written reviews are positive against 17% of Nanoleaf's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

LIFX ships an update fortnightly, Nanoleaf every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LIFX | Nanoleaf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifx/id657758311/reviews) | **[4.2 (45K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nanoleaf/id1049333656/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7.1K | **45K** |
| Positive reviews | **18.5% of reviews** | 17.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 313 MB | 188 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [LIFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/657758314) | [Nanoleaf](https://appshunter.io/developer/1049333655) |

## What reviewers say

### LIFX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifx/id657758311)

Control your smart lights with this app. Easily adjust brightness, color, and temperature. Automate schedules, create custom scenes, and explore fun lighting effects. Integrates with voice assistants and HomeKit for seamless control.

**Highlights:** Basic light control (on/off, dim, color, temperature), Group lights for easy management, Automated schedules and scenes, Special lighting effects (music visualizer, fire, etc.), Live color painting on compatible lights, Custom color palettes, HomeKit integration

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent color quality and brightness
- 🔍 Customizable lighting effects and scenes
- 🔌 Easy setup and connectivity
- 📱 Responsive and intuitive app
- 🤖 Good integration with smart home platforms

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues and unreliable performance
- 🤯 Confusing and cluttered app UI
- 🔄 Frequent app and firmware updates breaking functionality
- 🤖 Poor integration with smart home platforms
- 🕰️ Scheduling and automation issues

**Reported bugs**

- Lights randomly disconnecting from app
- Scenes and effects not working as expected
- Scheduling issues and lights not responding to timers
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Frequent app crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- More granular control over individual lights
- Improved scene and effect customization
- Better scheduling and automation options
- Seamless integration with smart home platforms
- Simplified onboarding and setup process


### Nanoleaf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nanoleaf/id1049333656)

Control and customize your smart lighting experience with this app. Design layouts, set schedules, and explore community-created scenes. Integrate with smart home assistants for hands-free control.

**Highlights:** Virtual Layout Assistant, One-touch RGB presets, Full customization, Remote on/off and brightness control, Group and room control, Scene creation and discovery, Voice command integration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Customizable lighting
- 💡 Innovative features
- 🎨 Beautiful product design
- 🕰 Scheduling and automation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔌 Unreliable firmware updates
- 🤯 Confusing app UI/UX
- 🕰 Slow response times
- 🔍 Difficult to troubleshoot

**Reported bugs**

- Lights randomly disconnecting
- Firmware updates failing or bricking devices
- Scenes not syncing properly across devices
- App crashes on launch or during use
- Delayed or unresponsive device controls

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and reliability
- More intuitive scene creation and management
- Better integration with other smart home platforms
- Customizable animation speed and effects
- Ability to save and restore custom color presets


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LIFX free?

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

### Is Nanoleaf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LIFX or Nanoleaf?

Nanoleaf is rated higher. LIFX averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7.1K ratings, while Nanoleaf averages 4.2 from 45K ratings.

### Do LIFX or Nanoleaf have ads?

Neither LIFX nor Nanoleaf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LIFX or Nanoleaf?

LIFX ships an update fortnightly, and Nanoleaf every 2 weeks. Most recently, LIFX was updated on September 24, 2026 and Nanoleaf on September 24, 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.*