Comparison

WLED Max vs Modern WLED

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

Head to head
About

WLED Max

Effortlessly control your WLED lights with a user-friendly interface. Manage multiple devices, customize effects, and update firmware directly from your iPhone or iPad. Offers advanced features like segment editing and device grouping.

Highlights
  • Effortless device setup and discovery
  • Full color and brightness control
  • 180+ effects with live animated previews
  • Visual segment editor for zone control
  • In-app WLED configuration
  • Device grouping and iCloud sync
  • OTA firmware updates
Features
Read full description

The best way to control your WLED lights. Built for iPhone and iPad from the ground up. Whether you just plugged in your first LED strip or you're running 20 devices across the house, WLED Max gives you fast, reliable, beautiful control. Free with all features for up to 2 devices. Unlock unlimited devices for $9.99. One-time purchase, no subscription. EFFORTLESS SETUP Open the app and your WLED devices appear automatically. Just tap to add them. Got a brand new device still in setup mode? A step-by-step wizard walks you through connecting it to your WiFi. No computer required. You can also add devices by IP address if they're on a different network. FULL CONTROL AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Adjust brightness with a slider or tap 25/50/75/100% quick-set buttons. Pick colors from a full color wheel, choose from quick-access swatches, or dial in a warm-to-cool white temperature. Set up to 6 favorite effects for one-tap access. Everything responds instantly. 180+ EFFECTS WITH LIVE PREVIEWS Every WLED effect renders a live animated preview right in the grid. See exactly what each one looks like before you apply. Search, filter by category (solid, rainbow, fire, 2D, audio-reactive), and tune speed, intensity, custom parameters, and palette in real time. Pair any effect with any color palette. SEGMENTS STUDIO A visual zone editor with drag-to-resize and full 2D matrix support. Split a single LED strip into independent zones and give each one its own effect, colors, brightness, speed, and direction. Light your desk, shelf, and ceiling from one controller with completely different looks. The visual editor shows you exactly what you're building. FULL WLED CONFIG IN-APP Every native WLED setting is available right in the app: WiFi, LED layout, sync interfaces, schedules, macros, user mods, security, and updates. No more opening device IPs in your browser. DEVICE GROUPS Organize lights into groups like Living Room, Bedroom, or Gaming Setup with custom icons. Turn an entire group on or off with one tap. Devices can belong to multiple groups. PRESETS & CLOUD SYNC Save any lighting setup as a preset and reapply it instantly. Build playlists that cycle through your favorites. With iCloud sync, your presets follow you across all your Apple devices. Save on your iPhone, apply from your iPad. OTA FIRMWARE UPDATES Update your WLED firmware right from the app. WLED Max detects your device's chip type, downloads the correct file, and handles the install. Release notes included so you know what's new. WIDGETS & SIRI Add a power toggle to your Lock Screen and full power and brightness controls to your Home Screen. Use Siri to turn lights on, set colors, apply presets, trigger effects, or control groups. Completely hands-free. DESIGNED FOR YOUR SETUP Dark interface that looks great next to your LEDs. Clean card-based layout. Five tabs: Devices, Control, Effects, Presets, and Settings. Everything is exactly where you expect it. Download WLED Max and see what your lights can really do.

About

Modern WLED

Read full description

Modern WLED is a simple, modern controller for WLED-compatible LED lights. Connect to WLED devices on your local Wi-Fi network, control power, brightness, solid colors, segments, and saved presets from one clean iPhone app. You can also create new lighting looks with AI-assisted design tools, then save your favorite generated designs for quick reuse. Features: - Discover WLED-compatible devices on your local network - Control power, brightness, and solid color - Create and manage segmented LED designs - Generate lighting ideas with On-Device AI Design and OpenAI Design - Save up to 3 favorite generated designs - Rename and apply saved presets quickly - Use Demo Light to explore the app without physical WLED hardware - Store your OpenAI API key securely in Keychain Modern WLED is designed for people who want a faster, cleaner way to control WLED lights and experiment with custom LED looks. A WLED-compatible ESP32 or ESP8266 device running WLED on the same Wi-Fi network is required for real light control. Pro features are optional and unlock On-Device AI Design and OpenAI Design. OpenAI Design requires the user to provide their own OpenAI API key. Privacy Notice: https://anshitbansal21.github.io/smartdesign-app-website/privacy.html Support Page: https://anshitbansal21.github.io/smartdesign-app-website/support.html

Screenshots

WLED Max4 screens
Modern WLED4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: WLED Max at weekly against Modern WLED's every 6 weeks. WLED Max also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. WLED Max sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Modern WLED sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WLED Max ships an update weekly, Modern WLED every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
WLED Max versus Modern WLED: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWLED MaxModern WLED
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMeowScript LLCAnshit Bansal

In-app purchases

1 purchases

WLED Max

One-time1
  • Premium — Unlimited Devices$9.99
2 purchases

Modern WLED

Subscriptions1
  • WLED Pro Monthly3 Days trial$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • WLED Pro Lifetime$14.99

Questions

Is WLED Max free?
WLED Max is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Modern WLED free?
Modern WLED is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do WLED Max or Modern WLED have ads?
Neither WLED Max nor Modern WLED shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WLED Max or Modern WLED?
WLED Max ships an update weekly, and Modern WLED every 6 weeks. Most recently, WLED Max was updated on October 3, 2026 and Modern WLED on October 3, 2026.

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