# LIFX vs Twinkly

The clearest difference is rating: Twinkly at 4.6 against LIFX's 3.7. Twinkly also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (38% vs 18%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Twinkly holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Twinkly has 48K ratings behind it against 7.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of LIFX's written reviews are positive against 38% of Twinkly's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LIFX | Twinkly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifx/id657758311/reviews) | **[4.6 (48K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twinkly/id1132187056/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7.1K | **48K** |
| Positive reviews | 18.2% of reviews | **38.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 314 MB | 194 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LIFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/657758314) | [Ledworks srl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1132187055) |

## 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


### Twinkly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twinkly/id1132187056)

Control and personalize smart light decorations for an enhanced festive experience. Easily connect via Wi-Fi to create custom lighting effects for your tree and home.

**Highlights:** Personalize lighting effects, Smart design, Intuitive use, Wi-Fi connectivity, Customizable Christmas lights

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Amazing lights
- 🎨 Customizable colors and effects
- 🎄 Great for holiday decorations
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🤩 Wow factor

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app
- 🔌 Connectivity issues
- 🤯 Frustrating user experience
- 🕰️ Unstable firmware updates
- 💸 Expensive for the issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Lights disconnecting from WiFi
- Mapping and setup process unreliable
- Preset effects not working as expected
- Playlist and custom effects not saving

**Requested features**

- Multiple timers for on/off schedules
- Ability to edit and save custom effects
- Sync effects across multiple light sets
- Homekit and Alexa integration
- More preset effects and animations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LIFX free?

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

### Is Twinkly free?

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

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

Twinkly is rated higher. LIFX averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7.1K ratings, while Twinkly averages 4.6 from 48K ratings.

### Do LIFX or Twinkly have ads?

Neither LIFX nor Twinkly shows ads.

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

LIFX ships an update fortnightly, and Twinkly fortnightly. Most recently, LIFX was updated on October 19, 2026 and Twinkly on October 20, 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.*