# LIFX vs In

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LIFX at none against In's 1. In's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. In sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. LIFX asks for nothing beyond the download.

LIFX ships an update fortnightly, In every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LIFX | In |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifx/id657758311/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7.1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 18.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 259 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LIFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/657758314) | [Lisa Mae Pegher](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821721162) |

## 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


### In

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/in-element-balance/id6747519373)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime unlock | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LIFX free?

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

### Is In free?

In is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do LIFX or In have ads?

Neither LIFX nor In shows ads.

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

LIFX ships an update fortnightly, and In every 3 weeks. Most recently, LIFX was updated on November 1, 2026 and In on October 28, 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.*