QLC+, Sunlite
or MyStrow?
“Why MyStrow and not QLC+, which is free? Or Sunlite, like my friends use?” We get asked this a lot. Here is the honest answer: three good programs, built for different people.
Programming, or playing?
Let's say it up front: QLC+ and Sunlite are good programs. They have been driving DMX for years and thousands of people use them every weekend. This comparison isn't here to knock them down.
The real difference isn't “which one is best” but who each one is for. QLC+ and Sunlite are programming tools: you build your show scene by scene, step by step, then you play it. MyStrow goes the other way: you plug in and play, and you program only if you want to.
Depending on whether you enjoy programming or just want things to work on the night, the right answer changes completely.
Free, complete… and to be programmed
QLC+ (Q Light Controller Plus) is free, open-source software that runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and even Raspberry Pi. It is very complete: scenes, chasers, RGB matrices, a virtual console, sound triggers, browser access, and a 3D view in version 5.
Its logic is that of a lighting programmer. You patch your fixtures, then create every scene, every chaser and every function yourself. On the MIDI side, QLC+ knows many controllers, but it's up to you to assign every button and fader to a function of the virtual console.
- Pros: free, unlimited, cross-platform, a large community.
- Cons: everything is built by hand. Expect several evenings before you have a playable show if you start from scratch.
- Best for: people with time, who like to understand and tweak every detail, on a zero software budget.
The software that comes with its interface
Sunlite, published by Nicolaudie, is a well-established name in DMX. The software comes with the brand's interfaces, which makes it a popular all-in-one purchase. It has a 3D view and a large fixture library.
It also relies on a programming approach, by scenes and steps. Sunlite Suite 3 is Windows software: on Mac, you need other programs from the Nicolaudie range.
One important thing to know before buying: Nicolaudie interfaces are locked to the brand's own software. Neither MyStrow nor QLC+ can drive them. If you ever switch software, the interface won't follow you. We checked it with the Sushi-Z1.
- Pros: software and interface bought together, a proven tool, 3D view.
- Cons: step-by-step programming, Windows for Sunlite Suite 3, interface tied to the brand.
- Best for: people who already own a Sunlite interface, work on a PC and prepare their shows in advance.
Plug in and play
MyStrow was built for DJs, bands, associations and anyone who wants a pro result without becoming a lighting technician. What it does differently:
- Controller recognised automatically. Plug in an AKAI APC mini: it is detected on startup, with colour pads, effects and memories already in place. No button-by-button mapping.
- LIVE / AI mode. MyStrow listens to the music in real time. Colours and moving heads lock onto the tempo and follow the build-ups and drops, with nothing to program. Learn more.
- Light Rec. Play the lights over your tracks or videos: MyStrow records them and the playlist replays them on its own. See the guide.
- 3D stage plot. Prepare your show without the gear and see the result before the big day. Discover it.
- Tablet and phone. Control the lights from the dance floor or the back of the room. The app.
- Windows and Mac, with support from the people who develop the software.
The limits, to be fair: MyStrow is paid after the trial, and it doesn't replace a programming console for a tour with hundreds of fixtures. On Mac, you need a “PRO” USB-DMX interface or an Art-Net node: the cheapest passive adapters are only guaranteed on Windows.
The three programs side by side
| QLC+ | Sunlite | MyStrow | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software price | Free | Included with the Sunlite interface | Free 15-day trial, then €9.99/month or €299.99 lifetime (excl. VAT) |
| Operating systems | Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi | Windows (Suite 3) | Windows, Mac |
| DMX interface | Wide choice (USB, Art-Net…) | The brand's own interfaces | Open USB-DMX interfaces and Art-Net nodes |
| Approach | Programming (scenes, chasers, functions) | Programming (scenes, step by step) | Live playing, programming optional |
| First playable show | Several evenings | A few hours to a few evenings | About ten minutes |
| MIDI controller | Map button by button | To be mapped | AKAI APC mini ready to play |
| Following the music | Sound triggers, to set up | Depends on the version | Automatic LIVE / AI mode |
| 3D view | Yes (version 5) | Yes | Yes |
| Tablet / phone | Yes, via the browser | Depends on the version | Yes, dedicated app |
| Support | Community forum | Publisher | Publisher, by the developers |
An honest note: on paper, the three programs tick many of the same boxes. The difference is the time it takes to get a result: in QLC+ or Sunlite, these features are building blocks to assemble; in MyStrow, they are ready when you open it.
Free vs paid: the real calculation
QLC+ costs nothing, that's a fact. But there is always a DMX interface to buy, and above all time spent programming. If you charge for your gigs, those hours have a price.
MyStrow's prices are public:
- Free 15-day trial, no credit card, every feature (without DMX output).
- Pro annual: €9.99/month excl. VAT, billed yearly.
- Lifetime: €299.99 excl. VAT, one-time payment, updates included.
- USB-DMX interface + licence pack: from €99 incl. VAT, delivered in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Which one to choose?
Choose QLC+ if…
Budget is your priority, you enjoy programming and you have time to build your show. It's also an excellent tool for learning DMX in depth.
Choose Sunlite if…
You already own a Sunlite interface, work on a Windows PC and prefer to prepare your scenes in advance rather than improvise.
Choose MyStrow if…
You want a pro result in ten minutes, to play the lights live on a controller, to let the AI follow the music, and to work on PC as well as Mac.
The simplest way is to try. MyStrow's trial is free for 15 days: plug in your controller, play a track, and compare for yourself.
Questions we often get
Is QLC+ really free?
Yes. QLC+ is free, open-source software with no time or feature limit. You only need to buy a compatible DMX interface. What you don't pay in money, you pay in programming time.
Does my Sunlite interface work with MyStrow?
Generally not. Nicolaudie interfaces (Sunlite, Daslight, Sushi-Z1) are locked to the brand's own software: neither MyStrow nor QLC+ can drive them. MyStrow works with open USB-DMX interfaces (ENTTEC-style) and Art-Net nodes.
I already know QLC+. Will I find my way around MyStrow?
Yes: patch, groups, memories, effects — the concepts are the same. You'll mostly have less to do, since the controller and the basic effects are ready to use. The beginner guide walks you through it in about fifteen minutes.
Does MyStrow run on Mac?
Yes, on Windows and Mac. QLC+ also does (and on Linux). Sunlite Suite 3 is Windows software: on Mac, Nicolaudie offers other programs from its range. On Mac, MyStrow needs a “PRO” USB-DMX interface or an Art-Net node.
Which DMX software is best for a DJ who is new to lighting?
If you want a result on the night without programming anything, MyStrow is built for that: the AKAI APC mini is recognised automatically and LIVE mode follows the music. If you have time and zero budget, QLC+ will do the job — as long as you program it.
Try MyStrow for free
15 days, every feature, no credit card. Plug in, play, and make up your own mind.