# LIFX vs The NYC Plug

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: The NYC Plug at 16.4 against LIFX's 18.0. 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.

LIFX ships an update fortnightly, The NYC Plug every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LIFX | The NYC Plug |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifx/id657758311/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7.1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 313 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [LIFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/657758314) | [Dashible](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475022893) |

## 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


### The NYC Plug

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-nyc-plug/id6779968319)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LIFX free?

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

### Is The NYC Plug free?

The NYC Plug is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do LIFX or The NYC Plug have ads?

Neither LIFX nor The NYC Plug shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LIFX or The NYC Plug?

LIFX ships an update fortnightly, and The NYC Plug every 3 weeks. Most recently, LIFX was updated on September 25, 2026 and The NYC Plug on September 18, 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.*