Comparison

Playback for Eos vs Unrival

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

Head to head
About

Playback for Eos

This app connects to ETC Eos family consoles, allowing users to monitor and control playback status for live events. It offers features like triggering commands, adding notes to cues, and syncing status with cue lists.

Highlights
  • Monitor playback status
  • Trigger Go and Stop/Back commands
  • Add notes to cues
  • Sync cue status
  • Discover consoles automatically
  • Save console settings
Read full description

Playback for Eos combines seamless connectivity with elegant simplicity, allowing you to keep track of your production. With a native iOS app connected to an ETC Eos® family console, you can control, view, and note the playback status. Customisable Console Connections • Automatically discover consoles on your local Wi-Fi network. • Intuitively edit console settings to fit your system. • Save console settings for effortless portability. • Seamlessly integrate with consoles in a restricted local network. Powerful Playback • Trigger Go and Stop/Back commands on the connected console. • Attach notes to the current cue for production review. • Sync cue status to a specified cue list. Our responsive support team is always ready to help – reach out anytime at support@artificers.co.uk. Eos® is a registered trademark of ETC, INC. Artifice Industries Ltd. is an independent developer and is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by ETC, INC.

About

Unrival

Features
Read full description

UNRIVAL is the professional iPhone app for preparing, patching, and maintaining entertainment lighting fixtures. Adjust DMX addresses, modes, personalities, network settings, IDs, and other parameters directly from your phone — no fixture display, no buttons, and in supported cases, no power applied. In practice, that means a prep tech can configure fixtures on the shelf, on the truss before flying, or sitting on top of a roadcase — and turn over a full rig before the first power cable is ever pulled. (NFC requires the phone to be close to the fixture's tag; it will not read through a closed roadcase.) KEY FEATURES • Easy patch/edit of any setting — direct access to fixture settings without the fixture's display or buttons. Change DMX address, mode, personality, network settings, IDs, and other parameters from the app. • Templates & Auto Prep — save known-good fixture configurations and apply them consistently across many fixtures. Auto Prep automatically applies saved templates as you work through a batch. • Rapid Patching from imported patch lists — bring in show data from ChamSys CSV, ChamSys QR Code, and MVR. For non-Chauvet NFC-enabled fixtures, the imported list also works as an easy-to-use manual patching checklist. • Operate and prepare fixtures while powered OFF — read fixture identity, review configuration, and prepare or apply supported settings with no power applied. A unique advantage over display-only or powered-only setup methods. Useful on the prep shelf, on the truss before flying, on top of a roadcase, and during pre-rig. • Firmware Update over Bluetooth — wireless firmware updates from your iPhone over BLE. No specialist cables or service tools required. ALSO INCLUDES • Fixture diagnostics — usage data and error history for faster troubleshooting and clearer maintenance records. • Scan History — a record of previous fixture interactions for traceability and less duplicated work. • Quick Tools — one-tap "Auto Test" and "Reset Defaults" for routine procedures. • MVR 2D & 3D visualizer — visual representation of fixtures inside a project or rig layout from MVR data; aids fixture identification on complex rigs. • Trip Management — organize fixtures and setup activity around specific jobs, projects, or deployments. Supports rental, touring, and install workflows. BUILT FOR Rental prep floors. Touring lighting crews. Install integrators. Service and maintenance teams. Master electricians, theatre, broadcast, houses of worship, film, and TV. USE IT FOR Pre-show prep • Patch turnover • Rental return inspection • Fault-finding in the field • Firmware rollouts • Inventory and identity tagging • Manufacturing QC • System commissioning GET STARTED Install UNRIVAL, open a Trip or load a patch list, and start working through your fixtures — powered or not. Save a template once, apply it across the whole batch with Auto Prep. UNRIVAL. Patch, prep, and update — no power required.

Screenshots

Playback for Eos4 screens
Unrival4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Unrival at Free against Playback for Eos's $9.99. Unrival also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 18.2). Playback for Eos's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Unrival is free to download; Playback for Eos costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Playback for Eos ships an update every 3 weeks, Unrival every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 6, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Playback for Eos versus Unrival: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayback for EosUnrival
Price$9.99Free — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.215.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArtifice Industries Ltd.Chauvet Professional

In-app purchases

None

Playback for Eos

No in-app purchases

None

Unrival

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Playback for Eos free?
Playback for Eos costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Unrival free?
Unrival is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Playback for Eos or Unrival have ads?
Neither Playback for Eos nor Unrival shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Playback for Eos or Unrival?
Playback for Eos ships an update every 3 weeks, and Unrival every 6 weeks. Most recently, Playback for Eos was updated on June 6, 2026 and Unrival on September 22, 2026.

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