Comparison

Control‎ vs BigBoard

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Control‎

Easily manage media playback and system volume on your Mac from your iPhone or iPad. It supports popular apps like Spotify, VLC, and Apple Music without requiring subscriptions or companion app installations.

Highlights
  • System-level volume control
  • Basic media playback controls
  • Supports TV.app, Music.app, VLC, Spotify
  • No subscription or companion app needed
  • Connects via built-in permissions
  • Requires same network connection
Features
Read full description

The simplest and fastest way to control media playback, volume, and more on your Mac. Control connects directly over your local network, so you never have to install or run a companion app. 【NEW】Control any app, video, or website with Keyboard controls. Re-arrange your keypad and add the commands (and shortcuts!) that are useful to you. Additionally, Control always supports system-level volume controls and *direct* playback controls for the following apps: • TV.app • Music.app • QuickTime Player • VLC • IINA • mpv • Spotify • Safari (experimental) No subscriptions, no payments, no ads, no tracking. Control is privacy-first and doesn't collect any data. It connects directly across your local network, so your information never even touches the internet. Need more Control? Send a request anytime. I'd love to make the app as useful as possible. Note: Control’s connection to your Mac is managed via built-in macOS permissions. Once accepted, Control will work forever with no additional setup. It requires being on the same network and enabling Remote Access. Some VPN clients may interfere, depending on settings. Powered by AppleScript.

About

BigBoard

Transform your device into a dynamic digital marquee for concerts, events, or personal messages. Customize text, colors, and display modes to make your message stand out.

Highlights
  • Dynamic display modes (Standard, Marquee, Spotlight)
  • Customizable presets for saved messages
  • Smart message history
  • Wide range of fonts, colors, and animation speeds
  • Text effects (shadows, glows)
  • Real-time preview
Features
Read full description

BigBoard – Marquee Text Sign is a free app that turns your iPhone or iPad into a vibrant digital marquee. Whether you're at a concert, meeting, classroom, or simply waiting for your loved ones at an arrivals gate at the airport, BigBoard helps you grab attention and communicate your message in a bold, eye-catching way. Key Features: • Dynamic Display Modes: Choose from three powerful ways to show your message: - Standard: Clear, static display - Marquee: Classic scrolling text effect - Spotlight: Impactful word-by-word presentation with multiple transition styles • Custom Presets: Create and save your own frequently used messages for quick access • Smart Message History: Automatically saves messages you've displayed for easy reuse • Customizable Display: Choose from a wide range of fonts, colors, and animation speeds. Create a look that fits your style. • Text Effects: Add shadows or glows to your text with adjustable intensity • Real-Time Preview: Get an instant preview of your message, so you know exactly how it will look before you display it. • Versatile Use Cases: Perfect for concerts, presentations, classrooms, events, or even as a personal digital name tag. • Easy to Use: With a user-friendly interface and intuitive controls, BigBoard is designed for everyone—from students and teachers to event organizers and busy professionals. BigBoard is all about making your message stand out. Transform your device into a portable LED sign that communicates your ideas, announcements, or creative expressions anywhere you go. Whether you need continuous scrolling text or impactful word-by-word display, BigBoard has you covered. Download BigBoard today and let your words light up the room!

Screenshots

Control‎4 screens
BigBoard4 screens

Verdict

The call

Control‎ and BigBoard both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Control‎'s written reviews are positive against 75% of BigBoard's. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Control‎ against 5.0 for BigBoard. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 6 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Control‎'s written reviews are positive against 75% of BigBoard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Control‎ ships an update every 9 days, BigBoard every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on August 3, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Control‎ versus BigBoard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterControl‎BigBoard
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings56 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyan WhitneyAndrej Broncek

Customer experience

Control‎

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BigBoard

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Control‎

No in-app purchases

None

BigBoard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Control‎ free?
Control‎ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BigBoard free?
BigBoard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Control‎ or BigBoard?
Control‎ and BigBoard are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 6 ratings respectively.
Do Control‎ or BigBoard have ads?
Neither Control‎ nor BigBoard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Control‎ or BigBoard?
Control‎ ships an update every 9 days, and BigBoard every 6 days. Most recently, Control‎ was updated on August 3, 2026 and BigBoard on September 24, 2026.

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