# PartyPulse vs STAELLA

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PartyPulse at none against STAELLA's 7. PartyPulse also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (56% vs 45%). STAELLA's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 35 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 5). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. STAELLA sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. PartyPulse asks for nothing beyond the download.

STAELLA holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STAELLA has 1.7K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of PartyPulse's written reviews are positive against 45% of STAELLA's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PartyPulse ships an update every 35 months, STAELLA every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PartyPulse | STAELLA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/partypulse/id1001674473/reviews) | **[3.9 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staella-music-visualizer-vj/id1370376584/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **1.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **55.6% of reviews** | 44.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 256 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stratospherix Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/323133606) | [monocro](https://appshunter.io/developer/368219917) |

## What reviewers say

### PartyPulse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/partypulse/id1001674473)

Transform your space into a dynamic light show that reacts to ambient music. Customize colors, shapes, and movements to set the perfect party mood. Extend the experience by mirroring to a larger screen.

**Highlights:** Music-reactive light show, Customizable colors, shapes, and movements, Camera integration for custom images, AirPlay and video cable support for larger displays, Ambient music detection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### STAELLA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staella-music-visualizer-vj/id1370376584)

Create dynamic, real-time music visualizations with customizable effects. Import audio from various sources, record your creations, and share them on social media. Offers advanced control with MIDI integration and keyboard shortcuts.

**Highlights:** Real-time audio-reactive visuals, Customizable effects and colors, Import music from playlists, mic, or simulation, One-touch video recording, MIDI device integration, Keyboard shortcuts for control, Gesture controls

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| STAELLA Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| STAELLA Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Toolkit pro | $9.99 | one-time |
| STELLA | $9.99 | one-time |
| TERRA | $9.99 | one-time |
| MACHINA | $9.99 | one-time |
| NEX | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Amazing visuals
- 👍 Great for music production
- 💡 Customizable effects
- 🚀 Responsive app
- 👍 Fantastic customer service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Limited free features
- 🐛 Buggy recording functionality
- 🔒 Restrictive music integration

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Music playback issues and controls not working
- Inability to import user's own music files
- Exported videos have poor quality and audio sync issues

**Requested features**

- Add support for streaming services
- Improve export and download options
- Expand customization and control over visuals
- Implement portrait mode and different aspect ratios
- Add ability to layer and blend multiple visuals


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PartyPulse free?

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

### Is STAELLA free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PartyPulse or STAELLA?

STAELLA is rated higher. PartyPulse averages 3.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while STAELLA averages 3.9 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do PartyPulse or STAELLA have ads?

STAELLA shows ads; PartyPulse does not.

### Which is updated more often, PartyPulse or STAELLA?

PartyPulse ships an update every 35 months, and STAELLA every 2 months. Most recently, PartyPulse was updated on November 1, 2026 and STAELLA on November 2, 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.*