# AppLights vs illumibot

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AppLights at none against illumibot's 12. AppLights also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). illumibot's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 29%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. illumibot sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $8.00 per month. AppLights asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for AppLights against 4.0 for illumibot. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: illumibot has 22 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of AppLights's written reviews are positive against 57% of illumibot's.

AppLights ships an update every 2 months, illumibot every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppLights | illumibot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applights/id998737330/reviews) | [4.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illumibot/id6470222013/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **22** |
| Positive reviews | 29.4% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 166 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Gemmy Industries Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/889851671) | [Ross Arroyo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1746581103) |

## 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


### illumibot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/illumibot/id6470222013)

Transform any surface into a dynamic digital art display using your smartphone and a projector. Control lighting, shadows, and details with voice commands and share your creations with a community. Experience limitless creativity and illuminate your world.

**Highlights:** Smartphone to projector connection, Voice-controlled art creation, Precise lighting and shadow control, Community sharing platform, Multi-projector synchronization, Transforming ordinary surfaces

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter - Monthly | $8.00 | per month |
| 1 illumibot | $14.99 | per month |
| 2 illumibots | $29.99 | per month |
| Professional - Monthly | $30.00 | per month |
| 3 illumibots | $44.99 | per month |
| 4 illumibots | $59.99 | per month |
| Supporter - Yearly | $60.00 | per year |
| 5 illumibots | $74.99 | per month |
| Professional - Yearly | $239.00 | per year |
| Tokens - Pack 1 | $15.00 | one-time |
| Tokens - Pack 2 | $65.00 | one-time |
| Tokens - Pack 3 | $119.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AppLights free?

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

### Is illumibot free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AppLights or illumibot?

AppLights and illumibot are both rated 4.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 22 ratings respectively.

### Do AppLights or illumibot have ads?

Neither AppLights nor illumibot shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AppLights or illumibot?

AppLights ships an update every 2 months, and illumibot every 2 weeks. Most recently, AppLights was updated on June 10, 2026 and illumibot on September 24, 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.*