LIFX vs BackTracked
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LIFX
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.
- 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
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Like you, LIFX wants smarter light. This means we care about the way you control your smart lights, as much as we do about the lights themselves. We make it easy to get started with WiFi-enabled, bright, colorful smart lights that need no hub. Yep, you can start with just one device. LIFX App 4 can not only help give you the best start, but will turn your experience “up to 11”. Automate your wake up Schedule, or set up your movie-watching Scene (then set up voice control so you don’t even have to leave the sofa), or play with Effects next time you’re entertaining. Features. The LIFX app is packed full of features like: - The Basics: on/off, dim, change color, change white temperature. - Groups: control all lights in a group easily, including on/off and dimming with one touch from the Home Dashboard. - Group personalization: choose a LIFX illustration to suit or personalize Group cards with your own pictures. - Schedules: automate your lights to fade, change color, and turn on/off, all visible in an easy calendar-style view. - Effects: play with special effects like the music visualizer, fire, move, candle flicker, strobe, color cycle & more, all in one place. - Scenes: set your lighting just the way you like it and save it for later. - Themes: a library of one click color combinations for a Group, from ‘Proud’ to ‘Soothing’. - Paint: with your finger in the app, paint color live onto your LIFX Z, Beam, Tile and Candle. - Custom color palettes: add your favorite colors to a custom color palette. - Discover Tab: find How To guides, learn about integration partners, or shop for LIFX - and much more. Example uses from our customers: - Ambiance: schedule warmer light in the evening - to calm - and whiter light in the morning - to energize. - “Moccupancy”: set irregular schedules to make it seem like you’re home when you’re not. - Sleep: set your bedroom lights to deep red just before bed to produce more melatonin which helps you get better quality sleep. - Stay put: you’ve settled into the sofa for a streaming binge but left the lights on. No need to jump up to the switch, just ask your voice assistant. - Pet owners: if you're unexpectedly late home from work, turn the lights on for your dog from wherever you are. - Silent notifications: use partner apps to give you a light flash if… your car is arriving, or the forecast says it will rain, or you are mentioned on social media, and much more. HomeKit Best color-changing smart bulb for HomeKit cnet Pairing LIFX with Apple HomeKit is easy using the HomeKit onboarding QR code available in the product packaging. Stay in touch. Need a helping hand, or want to offer us some advice? We would love to hear from you about your LIFX experience. You can reach us at support@lifx.com. LIFX lights are available at lifx.com
BackTracked
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BackTracked is designed to help parents and caregivers keep track of important belongings and ensure peace of mind. Paired with the BackTracked hardware—a Particle Boron equipped with GPS, a weight sensor, and an audio featherwing—the app offers reliable tracking tools for everyday safety. BackTracked allows you to monitor the location of a child’s backpack, diaper bag, sports gear, or any essential item equipped with the BackTracked device. The app displays real-time location updates on an in-app map, helping you stay aware of where your items are at all times. The app also displays the current weight reading from the sensor inside the hardware, allowing you to check whether items have been added or removed. For additional safety and communication features, BackTracked lets you play pre-recorded audio clips through the device’s built-in speaker. BackTracked aims to simplify how families manage and monitor their belongings, offering tools that enhance awareness, safety, and convenience throughout the day. Features • Pair your BackTracked hardware device with the app • View real-time GPS location on an in-app map • Check live weight sensor measurements • Play pre-loaded audio recordings through the device • Monitor important items such as backpacks, bags, and gear
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: BackTracked at 15.6 against LIFX's 18.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | LIFX | BackTracked |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (7.1K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 18.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7.1K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 259 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | LIFX | Coding Minds, Inc. |
Bugs and requests
LIFX
Reported bugs
5 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
BackTracked
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
LIFX
No in-app purchases
BackTracked
No in-app purchases








