# AppLights vs Pocket Cowbell

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Cowbell at 4.4 against AppLights's 3.7. Pocket Cowbell also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 29%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). AppLights's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocket Cowbell sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AppLights asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pocket Cowbell holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of AppLights's written reviews are positive against 64% of Pocket Cowbell's.

AppLights ships an update every 2 months, Pocket Cowbell every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppLights | Pocket Cowbell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applights/id998737330/reviews) | **[4.4 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-cowbell/id6444595768/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **31** |
| Positive reviews | 29.4% of reviews | **63.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gemmy Industries Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/889851671) | [Jesse Hollingsworth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1655567051) |

## What reviewers say

### AppLights

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applights/id998737330)

Create and control stunning holiday light displays directly from your smartphone. This app offers a wide range of effects, colors, and themes for both indoor and outdoor decorating, making custom holiday lighting easy to manage.

**Highlights:** Smartphone control, Dozens of effects and colors, Multiple holiday themes, Customizable color options, Easy setup and management, Indoor and outdoor use

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 🎨 Variety of lighting effects
- ⏱️ Lights last for years
- 👍 Easy to use app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔧 Unreliable/unstable
- 💡 Limited customization
- 🕰️ No timer feature
- 🔍 App not updated/supported

**Reported bugs**

- Lights not responding to app commands
- Lights stuck in demo/default mode
- Bluetooth connectivity problems
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Custom color/pattern creation
- Ability to sync multiple strings
- Timer/scheduling functionality
- More lighting effects/modes
- Improved app UI/UX


### Pocket Cowbell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-cowbell/id6444595768)

This digital noisemaker lets you shake your device to create a cowbell sound. Compete globally on leaderboards, customize your cowbell's look and sound, and track your ringing stats. An optional PRO upgrade offers an ad-free experience and exclusive content.

**Highlights:** Shake to ring cowbell sound, Global leaderboards for competition, Variety of unique cowbell designs, Custom cowbell creation tools, Multiple ringing sound options, Detailed ringing statistics tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Cowbell PRO | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AppLights free?

AppLights is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pocket Cowbell free?

Pocket Cowbell is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AppLights or Pocket Cowbell?

Pocket Cowbell is rated higher. AppLights averages 3.7 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Pocket Cowbell averages 4.4 from 31 ratings.

### Do AppLights or Pocket Cowbell have ads?

Pocket Cowbell shows ads; AppLights does not.

### Which is updated more often, AppLights or Pocket Cowbell?

AppLights ships an update every 2 months, and Pocket Cowbell every 3 weeks. Most recently, AppLights was updated on October 22, 2026 and Pocket Cowbell on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*