LU vs Larix Broadcaster
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LU
This app enables video professionals to transmit high-quality video from mobile devices by combining Wi-Fi and cellular networks. It requires a LiveU receiving server for full functionality. Be aware that continuous GPS use can impact battery life.
- Bonded transmission technology
- Combines Wi-Fi and cellular networks
- Optimal video quality
- Mobile transmission for professionals
- Requires LiveU receiving server
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The LU-Smart HD Mobile App Solution for video professionals brings LiveU's bonded transmission technology to iPhone or iPad, combining Wi-Fi and cellular networks to reach optimal video quality. NOTE: For the Live and FTP functionality, requires a LiveU receiving Server. Battery use disclaimer: This application uses GPS for location services. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Larix Broadcaster
This professional streaming camera app enables high-performance live broadcasting from mobile devices. It supports a wide range of protocols including SRT, RTMP, and NDI, offering advanced features for video and audio contribution. Configure multiple streams, add overlays, and record your broadcasts with ease.
- Multiple streaming protocols (SRT, RTMP, NDI, WebRTC, RTSP, RIST)
- High-performance H.264/HEVC video encoding
- Configurable connection profiles and multi-destination streaming
- Overlay features (image, text, HTML, GPS-based)
- Multi-camera capture and picture-in-picture modes
- Recording and screenshot capabilities
- Adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR)
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Stream live from your iPhone or iPad - broadcast-quality video to any server, platform, or production switcher. No encoder box, no desktop setup required. Whether you're streaming IRL to Twitch or Kick, covering breaking news in the field, or feeding a remote production over NDI - Larix Broadcaster gives you the tools professional broadcasters rely on. PROTOCOLS & CODECS Supports SRT, RTMP/RTMPS, WebRTC WHIP, NDI HX2, RTSP, RIST, and Zixi. Video encoding in H.264 and H.265/HEVC. Audio in AAC or Opus depending on protocol. Multiple simultaneous outputs available (Premium). CAMERA & VIDEO Multi-camera capture with picture-in-picture and side-by-side modes. Front and back cameras with live switching, portrait and landscape rotation. UltraHD resolution, Dolby Vision HDR, and adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR). USB camera input on iPadOS 17 and later. Center Stage supported on iPad. OVERLAYS & RECORDING Image, text, HTML, and GPS-based overlays. Assign different overlay sets to live, paused, and stand-by states. Record streams as MP4 to iCloud. SEI/NTP metadata insertion for multi-camera sync. PROFESSIONAL FEATURES Talkback audio return via SRT, RTMP, Icecast, and SLDP. NDI tally light for on-air feedback. Stand-by mode for pre-configured stream launch. Larix Grove for sharing connection settings via QR code or deep link. LARIX PREMIUM - $9.99/month Removes the default watermark. Unlocks multiple simultaneous outputs, Talkback, HEVC encoding, advanced overlays, ABR streaming, and more. Manage licenses and control devices remotely via Larix Tuner. Learn more: https://softvelum.com/larix/premium/ RESOURCES Docs: https://softvelum.com/larix/docs/ Video tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhj0_QbtfTw Larix Broadcaster uses Apple's Standard License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LU at none against Larix Broadcaster's 3. LU also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.6) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Larix Broadcaster's advantage is review sentiment (56% vs 25%) and ratings volume (131 vs 8). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. Larix Broadcaster sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. LU asks for nothing beyond the download.
LU holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Larix Broadcaster has 131 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of LU's written reviews are positive against 56% of Larix Broadcaster's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
LU ships an update every 2 months, Larix Broadcaster every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LU | Larix Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (8 ratings) — better | 3.6 (131 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | 56.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 131 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | LiveU | Furtree Systems, Inc. |
Customer experience
LU
Larix Broadcaster
Bugs and requests
LU
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Larix Broadcaster
Reported bugs
17 issues- App crashes frequently after recent updates
- Overlay rotation bug - upside down in preview mode
- Audio drops when switching between cameras
- Auto-focus triggering every other second during streams
- Audio encoder crashes when changing lenses mid-stream
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- Bluetooth microphone crashes entire audio stack
- RTMP connection drops without error messages
- Web widget add button non-functional on iPhone 15
- Stream breaks every few seconds on some devices
- Audio distortion and popping with increasing frequency during long streams
- Garbled audio during streaming
- App crashes on iPhone 7 Plus - camera won't display
- Connection setup issues for RTSP streaming
- Incompatibility with iPad OS 13.1 causing crashes
- Audio interface (PreSonus AudioBox iOne) not recognized reliably
- YouTube streaming no longer works - outdated guide
- Camera won't show on certain iPhone models despite permissions
Requested features
18 requests- Custom resolution and canvas size adjustment
- External SDI/HDMI source support via USB capture cards
- Working video stabilization mode
- In-app feedback mechanism
- Zoom in/out functionality
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- Microphone gain/level adjustment for built-in mic
- Pause screen customization with user-selected images/audio
- Watermark/overlay icon support
- Current zoom level indicator
- Browser overlay for live chat and alerts
- Screen recording and streaming capability
- SRTLA protocol support
- Manual and feature documentation
- Lower pricing tiers for limited use cases
- Lifetime license option
- Disable iPhone image stabilization toggle
- 60 FPS support
- Keep stream active when switching apps with audio continuation
In-app purchases
LU
No in-app purchases
Larix Broadcaster
- Larix Premium$9.991 Month
- NDI Streaming$19.991 Month
- Larix Premium One Year$119.001 Year
Questions
Is LU free?
Is Larix Broadcaster free?
Which has better reviews, LU or Larix Broadcaster?
Do LU or Larix Broadcaster have ads?
Which is updated more often, LU or Larix Broadcaster?
Other comparisons
