Comparison

WLED Max vs LED Control+

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

WLED Max controls WLED lights from your iPhone and iPad: LED strips, holiday lights on the roofline and 2D pixel matrices. It needs a WLED controller (an ESP32 or ESP8266 running WLED) and does not work with Bluetooth or IR remote light strips. New in 1.1.4: Pattern Maker. Build bulb patterns like 2 red, 1 white or start from Classic Christmas, Candy Cane or Diwali Diyas, add motion and watch it on your lights as you go. Every feature is free for one light. A one-time purchase adds unlimited lights. No account, no ads, no subscription. EASY 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 Wi-Fi. 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: Wi-Fi, 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, edit them any time and turn on Shuffle if you like. With iCloud sync, your lights, groups and presets follow you across your iPhone and iPad. OTA FIRMWARE UPDATES Update your WLED firmware right from the app. WLED Max picks the right file for your board and handles the install. Release notes included so you know what's new. WIDGETS & SIRI Add a power toggle to your Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets with power, brightness, colors, effects and presets. Use Siri to turn lights on, set colors, apply presets, trigger effects, or control groups, all hands-free. HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT Questions or ideas? Tap Contact Us in Settings. Replies arrive as a notification right in the app. 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. ABOUT WLED WLED is free, open-source firmware built by a community of volunteers. WLED Max is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the official WLED project. Download WLED Max and see what your lights can really do.

About

LED Control+

Features
Read full description

LED Control+ is a premium controller for WLED smart lights on your local network. Turn strips, matrices, and fixtures on and off, change colors and effects, manage presets, and control multiple devices at once — all without sending your lighting commands through a cloud server. BUILT FOR WLED • Works with WLED 0.13.0 and later • Live control: power, brightness, colors, effects, and palettes • Explore curated looks with one tap • Segments, presets, and playlists • Device configuration: network, appearance, audio-reactive settings, and more • OTA firmware updates from the app • Guided setup for new WLED devices on your Wi‑Fi ORGANIZE YOUR HOME • Save devices with custom names and icons • Group lights by room or purpose • Control all devices or an entire group from Group Studio • Scenes to recall saved lighting across devices • Automations to schedule devices on or off at specific times DESIGNED FOR APPLE PLATFORMS • Native app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac • Optimized layouts for phone, tablet, and desktop • Six beautiful app themes including light and dark styles • Immersive device studio with Live preview, Explore, Colors, Effects, and more LOCAL-FIRST & PRIVATE • All WLED control stays on your Wi‑Fi — no account required • Discover devices automatically or add them by IP address • No ads, no analytics trackers, no data sold to third parties • Optional iCloud sync for devices, groups, scenes, automations, and preferences across your Apple devices PERFECT FOR • Addressable LED strips and matrices running WLED • Holiday lighting, home accent lights, desk setups, and DIY installs • Anyone who wants a faster, cleaner alternative to the WLED web UI REQUIREMENTS • WLED-compatible devices on the same local network as your iPhone, iPad, or Mac • Local Network permission recommended for automatic discovery (manual IP entry also supported) • Optional iCloud account for sync across Apple devices Your lights. Your network. Your control.

Screenshots

WLED Max4 screens
LED Control+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LED Control+ at none against WLED Max's 1. WLED Max's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. LED Control+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WLED Max ships an update every 4 days, LED Control+ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
WLED Max versus LED Control+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWLED MaxLED Control+
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMeowScript LLCMatthew Aguiar

In-app purchases

1 purchases

WLED Max

One-time1
  • Premium — Unlimited Devices$9.99
None

LED Control+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WLED Max free?
WLED Max is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LED Control+ free?
LED Control+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do WLED Max or LED Control+ have ads?
Neither WLED Max nor LED Control+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WLED Max or LED Control+?
WLED Max ships an update every 4 days, and LED Control+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, WLED Max was updated on October 24, 2026 and LED Control+ on October 14, 2026.

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