Comparison

Lightmate vs Sidus Link

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Aperture priority mode
  • Shutter priority mode
  • Multiple EV scales
  • Back and front camera support
  • Tap-to-measure exposure
Features
Read full description

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)

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Lightmate3 screens
Sidus Link4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightmate ships an update every 5 weeks, Sidus Link every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Lightmate versus Sidus Link: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightmateSidus Link
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (79 ratings)4.3 (626 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.0% of reviews — better61.8% of reviews
Number of ratings79626 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB381 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLuis LauggaSidus Link Ltd.

Customer experience

Lightmate

All ratings79 ratings
Positive78.5%
Neutral5.1%
Negative16.5%
Written reviews88 reviews
Positive83.0%
Neutral4.5%
Negative12.5%

Sidus Link

All ratings626 ratings
Positive82.7%
Neutral3.0%
Negative14.2%
Written reviews380 reviews
Positive61.8%
Neutral5.0%
Negative33.2%

User reviews

Lightmate

From 79 App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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
Show 15 more
  • 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

None

Lightmate

No in-app purchases

None

Sidus Link

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lightmate free?
Lightmate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sidus Link free?
Sidus Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lightmate or Sidus Link?
Sidus Link is rated higher. Lightmate averages 4.1 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while Sidus Link averages 4.3 from 626 ratings.
Do Lightmate or Sidus Link have ads?
Neither Lightmate nor Sidus Link shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightmate or Sidus Link?
Lightmate ships an update every 5 weeks, and Sidus Link every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lightmate was updated on October 1, 2026 and Sidus Link on October 1, 2026.

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