Lightmate vs Sidus Link
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lightmate
This app functions as a light meter for photographers, offering a clear and intuitive interface. It supports aperture and shutter priority modes, with customizable EV scales and the ability to use both front and back cameras for measurements.
- Aperture priority mode
- Shutter priority mode
- Multiple EV scales
- Back and front camera support
- Tap-to-measure exposure
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Lightmate is a simple light meter app for photographers. The user interface is designed with clarity in mind. Features: • Aperture and shutter priority modes • Multiple EV scales (iOS Settings > Lightmate) • Back and front camera support Instructions: 1. Choose the ISO, Aperture (or Shutter) values according to your camera settings. 2. The priority changes automatically to Aperture (or Shutter) mode when you change the Aperture (or Shutter) value. 3. Tap anywhere on the camera's preview screen to measure and update the exposure values. You can switch the priority mode by just tapping on the Shutter or Aperture values. Settings: You can change the default EV scale individually for Aperture, Shutter Speed or ISO values. 1. Go to the general "iOS Settings" 2. Scroll down until you find "Lightmate" 3. Change to a different EV scale (full stops, 1/2 stops or 1/3 stops)
Sidus Link
Control film lighting fixtures directly from your mobile device. This app offers advanced modes for white light, gels, color, and effects, with features for scene setup and collaboration. It supports over 100 fixtures and simplifies complex lighting workflows.
- Sidus Mesh Intelligent Lighting Network
- White Light, Gel, Color, and Effect Modes
- Unlimited Presets and QuickShots
- On-set Workflow Management
- Multi-device Control
- Sidus Cloud and Creative Collaboration
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Sidus Link provides a brand-new solution for film lighting control. Based on proprietary Sidus Mesh technology, it enables direct connection and control of over 100 film lighting fixtures using mobile devices like smartphones. Sidus Link integrates the most widely used and professional control functions and modes in the lighting field, including White Light Mode, Gel Mode, Color Mode, Effect Mode, and unlimited preset functions. With built-in Sidus Cloud and Creative Collaboration Group features, it simplifies workflows to help gaffers, DPs, and filmmakers quickly complete scene and lighting setups. Language Support: English Simplified Chinese Traditional Chinese Japanese Portuguese French Russian Vietnamese German 1. Sidus Mesh Intelligent Lighting Network 1.Decentralized film lighting network – No additional network equipment (gateways or routers) required; connect and control lighting fixtures directly via smartphones or other smart devices. 2.Multi-layer encryption ensures a secure and reliable lighting network, preventing interference and misoperation. 3.Supports 100+ professional lighting fixtures. 4.Multiple control devices (smartphones or other smart devices) can simultaneously control the same lighting network. 2. Basic Functions Supports four major control modes: White / Gel / Color / Effect. 2.1. White Light 1.CCT – Supports quick adjustment and touchpad-based control. 2.Source Type – Built-in common white light source library for fast selection. 3.Source Match – Quickly match any scene or cct 2.2. Gel Mode 1.Supports traditional CTO/CTB adjustments used in the film industry. 2.300+ Rosco® & Lee® lighting gels.Rosco® and Lee® trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners. 2.3. Color Mode 1.HSI & RGB modes for quick color adjustments. 2.XY Chromaticity Mode supports A Gamut (similar to BT.2020), DCI-P3, and BT.709 color spaces. 3.Color Picker – Instantly sample any visible color. 2.4. Effects Supports fine-tuning and control of all built-in lighting effects in Aputure fixtures. 2.5. Presets & QuickShots 1.Unlimited local presets. 2.QuickShot Scene Snapshots – Save and recall lighting setups instantly. 3. Advanced Effects Sidus Link App supports: PICKER FX MANUAL MUSIC FX Magic Program Pro/Go Magic Infinity FX 4. Compatibility 1.Sidus Link App supports connection and control of all new Aputure film lights, such as LS 300d II, MC, etc. 2.Legacy Aputure lights will require additional accessories for app connectivity and control.* 3.Supports OTA management – Network firmware and lighting updates for continuous optimization. 5. Sidus On-Set Lighting Workflow On-set workflow management – Create scenes, add devices, and quickly complete lighting setups. Console Workspace Mode – Quickly configure scenes and lighting. Group Management – Fast grouping and control of multiple fixtures. Power Management – Real-time monitoring of battery levels and remaining runtime. Device-Controller Parameter Sync – Instantly retrieve detailed device status and settings. QuickShot Scene Snapshots – Save and recall lighting setups. CC Collaboration Group Workflow Supports multi-user collaboration for controlling and adjusting lighting setups. 6. Sidus Cloud Services Free cloud storage for presets, scenes, and effects (requires compatible hardware/software; existing devices will be supported via firmware updates). CC Collaboration Group Workflow Share lighting networks with group members. Supports quick sharing via temporary verification codes. 7. UX Design Dual UI modes – Precise parameter control & WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). Fixture Locator Button – Added to device lists and group management for quick identification. Onboarding guides – Clear instructions on adding/resetting devices.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightmate at 83% against Sidus Link's 62%. Lightmate also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15). Sidus Link's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (626 vs 79). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sidus Link holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sidus Link has 626 ratings behind it against 79, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Lightmate's written reviews are positive against 62% of Sidus Link's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Lightmate ships an update every 5 weeks, Sidus Link every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.
| Parameter | Lightmate | Sidus Link |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (79 ratings) | 4.3 (626 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.0% of reviews — better | 61.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 79 | 626 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 381 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Luis Laugga | Sidus Link Ltd. |
Customer experience
Lightmate
Sidus Link
User reviews
Lightmate
From 79 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Fast and accurate metering
- 💰 Free to use, no ads
- ✨ Minimalist and clean design
- 📸 Great for film photography
Room to improve
- 🤏 Small text size
- ❓ Confusing for beginners
- ⚠️ Values change too quickly
- 🎛️ Clumsy to use
- 🚫 No whole scene average reading
Sidus Link
From 626 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🔒 Seamless connectivity
- 💡 Powerful lighting control features
- 🎨 Excellent color management
- 🌟 Comprehensive ecosystem integration
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔁 Frequent need to reconnect
- 🕰️ Slow response times
- 🔒 Unnecessary password requirements
- 🤯 Confusing UI for advanced features
Bugs and requests
Lightmate
Reported bugs
5 issues- F stop disappeared
- Aperture reading disappeared
- Not working on iOS 11
- Link for camera association not working
- App requests to open association with camera
Requested features
20 requests- Add space between S, A, I
- Lock ISO values
- Add whole scene average reading
- Add tutorial/demo video for beginners
- Add dedicated screenshot button
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- Keep exposure circle on screen longer
- Add widget for quicker access
- Add option to control stop numbers
- Add exposure compensation setting
- Add shutter angle for video
- Add 1/50th shutter speed
- Add ability to lock ISO/Shutter/Aperture
- Add 1/3 stops
- Rotate to landscape mode
- Add exposure compensation by dragging exposure point
- Add 125 ISO
- Add intermediate ISO values (12, 32, 64, 80, 160)
- Add shutter speed 50 for 24 FPS video
- Add volume button for metering
- Add spot/weighted metering
Sidus Link
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes on launch
- Inability to save/restore light settings
- Inconsistent behavior when switching devices
Requested features
5 requests- Artnet support for lighting automation
- Siri/voice control integration
- Dedicated desktop/tablet app
- Improved background operation and reconnection
- More comprehensive tutorials and documentation
In-app purchases
Lightmate
No in-app purchases
Sidus Link
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Lightmate free?
Is Sidus Link free?
Which has better reviews, Lightmate or Sidus Link?
Do Lightmate or Sidus Link have ads?
Which is updated more often, Lightmate or Sidus Link?
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