Comparison

Lumisketch vs SurfaBeam

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

Head to head
About

Lumisketch

Instantly visualize permanent lighting designs on any building using photos. Test colors and animations before installation. Ideal for professional installers and homeowners planning lighting projects.

Highlights
  • Instant lighting mockups
  • Test static colors
  • Smart color modes
  • Real animation previews
  • MP4/GIF exports
  • On-site photo capture
Features
Read full description

LumiSketch – Permanent Lighting Mockups in Seconds Instantly see any building in lights. Turn a quick photo into a living, animated lighting mockup—right on-site. LumiSketch is built for professional installers and homeowners who want to see permanent RGB roofline lights before the ladder ever leaves the truck. What you can do as a Guest (no sign-up) Tap-to-Light on a sample home image Zoom & pan for pixel-perfect placement Test a single static color Upgrade to LumiSketch Pro (in-app subscription) Upload your own photo – visualize any roofline in seconds Smart Color Modes – Outward, Downward, or strict 3-color RGB patterns Real Animations – preview Pulse, Wave, Snake, and more at true playback speed Instant Exports – create MP4 or animated GIF previews ready to text, email, or embed Multi-Device Login – Sign in with Apple, Google, or Facebook Built for Installers Snap a photo at the door (Pro) Sketch the design while you chat Hand the client their own animated preview (Pro) Close the sale—often before you leave the driveway Installers report up to 40 % faster closes and higher upsell rates when using LumiSketch in the field. Great for Homeowners Compare colors before you buy (Guest) Plan holiday, game-day, or mood lighting (Pro) Share designs with family or your installer (Pro) Subscription & Free Trial New users get a 3-day free trial of LumiSketch Pro. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation and renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel subscriptions in Settings ▸ Apple ID ▸ Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://lumisketch.net/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://lumisketch.net/privacy Support & Feedback Email us: lumisketchsupport@lumisketch.net Download LumiSketch now and bring permanent lighting to life—before the ladder ever leaves the truck.

About

SurfaBeam

Transform any surface into a dynamic display with this intuitive mobile projection mapping tool. Easily map videos, animations, and images onto real-world objects without complex desktop software. Ideal for creators, artists, and event planners seeking powerful visual effects on the go.

Highlights
  • Intuitive mobile projection mapping
  • Map videos, images, and animations
  • Advanced shape library & multi-surface mapping
  • Export maps for professional content creation
  • Precision grid warping with gesture controls
  • Real-time rendering and video sync
  • Multi-media support
Read full description

TRANSFORM REALITY WITH SURFABEAM: THE ULTIMATE PROJECTION MAPPING TOOL Turn your projector into a magic wand. SurfaBeam is the most intuitive projection mapping tool designed specifically for mobile creators, digital artists, and event planners. Whether you are a professional VJ, a creative designer, or just hosting an unforgettable house party, SurfaBeam lets you map videos, animations, and images onto any real-world surface—instantly. Forget complex desktop software, expensive media servers, and heavy hardware. SurfaBeam puts the power of a professional video mapping studio right in your pocket. Connect your device to any digital projector and start warping reality in seconds. This is Projection Mapping made easy, accessible, and powerful. EASY CONNECTION No computer needed! Connect your phone or tablet to any projector using: Wired (Recommended): Use a USB-C to HDMI or Lightning Digital AV Adapter for zero lag. Wireless: Supports AirPlay, Screen Mirroring. WORKFLOW IN 3 STEPS Notice: Advanced features listed below are available via In-App Purchase (Subscription or One-Time). Connect: Link your device to the projector. Map: Drag the on-screen grid to match your physical object (wall, box, or decor). Play: Pick a video or image and watch it warp instantly! KEY FEATURES & CAPABILITIES Advanced Shape Library & Multi-Surface Mapping New in this version! Your creativity is no longer limited to squares. Use our new Multiple Shapes tool to map complex geometries, irregular sculptures, and detailed architectural elements simultaneously. Export Maps for Professional Content Creation Bridge the gap between mobile mapping and desktop editing. Export your mapped layouts directly from SurfaBeam. Use these exports as templates in video editing software (like Adobe After Effects) to design custom content that fits your specific mapping setup perfectly. Precision Grid Warping with New Gesture Controls We have completely overhauled our touch interaction workflow. Fit your visuals perfectly to any shape with our Rebuilt Gesture System. Whether it represents a flat wall or a cylinder, our advanced mesh allows for detailed Keystone Correction and Corner Pinning. Includes a new in-app tutorial for beginners! Real-Time Rendering & Video Sync See your adjustments live! There is no rendering time. As you move the grid points, the projection updates instantly. Features a new Video Synchronization Button to ensure your loops and visuals play back smoothly without stuttering—perfect for live VJ performances. Multi-Media Support Project high-resolution videos, photos, logos, or custom graphics directly from your device's gallery. SurfaBeam handles high-quality playback for crisp, stunning visual effects with transparency control and layering. PERFECT FOR EVERY USE CASE Live Events & VJing: Elevate your DJ set. Use SurfaBeam as a mobile VJ tool to create stunning stage visuals and music visualizers that sync with the vibe , also similar to lazy lighting app. Holiday Digital Decoration: Halloween: Project singing pumpkins, spooky ghosts, or portals onto your windows. Christmas: Map animated snow and festive lights onto your tree or walls without physical wiring. Art Installations & Exhibitions: Project dynamic textures and motion graphics onto sculptures. Create immersive Augmented Reality (AR) experiences visible to the naked eye. Business & Branding Displays: Make your brand pop! Project your logo onto unique surfaces at trade shows or corporate lobbies. A projection-mapped logo grabs far more attention than a TV screen. SurfaBeam is more than just an app; it is a creative revolution. Privacy Policy: https://www.surfabeam.com/privacy Terms Of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Quick Workflow Video: Watch here: https://youtube.com/shorts/NjB2owlqp-4?si=HZoRPMUXDV8W0w_p

Screenshots

Lumisketch4 screens
SurfaBeam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Lumisketch at 5.0 against SurfaBeam's 3.4. Lumisketch also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 78%). SurfaBeam's advantage is ratings volume (18 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Lumisketch sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $139.99 per month and SurfaBeam sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lumisketch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SurfaBeam has 18 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Lumisketch's written reviews are positive against 78% of SurfaBeam's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lumisketch ships an update every 8 days, SurfaBeam fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Lumisketch versus SurfaBeam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLumisketchSurfaBeam
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better3.4 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better78.4% of reviews
Number of ratings218 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB520 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperHorizon Home Lights LLPOsman Ahsan Sheikh

Customer experience

Lumisketch

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SurfaBeam

All ratings18 ratings
Positive61.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative38.9%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive78.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative21.6%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Lumisketch

Subscriptions1
  • Lumisketch Monthly7 Days trial$139.991 Month
4 purchases

SurfaBeam

Subscriptions3
  • SurfaBeam Pro – Monthly$6.991 Month
  • SurfaBeam Pro – Quarterly$19.993 Months
  • SurfaBeam Pro – Yearly$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro Access$99.99

Questions

Is Lumisketch free?
Lumisketch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SurfaBeam free?
SurfaBeam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lumisketch or SurfaBeam?
Lumisketch is rated higher. Lumisketch averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while SurfaBeam averages 3.4 from 18 ratings.
Do Lumisketch or SurfaBeam have ads?
Neither Lumisketch nor SurfaBeam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lumisketch or SurfaBeam?
Lumisketch ships an update every 8 days, and SurfaBeam fortnightly. Most recently, Lumisketch was updated on October 16, 2026 and SurfaBeam on October 19, 2026.

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