Comparison

Fugue Machine vs Looperverse

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Fugue Machine

This music sequencer uses multiple playheads to create complex melodic patterns inspired by Baroque and serialist composition techniques. Manipulate speed, direction, and pitch to generate unique soundscapes.

Highlights
  • Multi-playhead piano roll
  • Manipulate speed, direction, and pitch
  • Create complex melodic patterns
  • Inspired by Baroque and serialist music
  • Supports MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link
  • Inter-App Audio and Audiobus compatibility
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

A music sequencer reimagined with multiple playheads. "How Bach would have made a sequencer." (Create Digital Music) "A musical feat." (Creator's Project) "A new approach to sequencing." (XLR8R) "A next generation music sequencer." (Ask Audio) Fugue Machine Classic is a tool inspired by composition techniques used in Baroque music and Serialism — e.g. Bach’s canons and fugues, and Schoenberg’s twelve-tone technique. The idea was to design a tool to manipulate a melody’s speed, direction, and pitch, as well as play multiple variations of the melody simultaneously. As it turned out, the best implementation for this was to reimagine one of the most fundamental building blocks of all music sequencers: the piano roll. Fugue Machine Classic is the world’s first multi-playhead piano roll. Create a music sequence and play it back with up to four playheads at once — each at various speeds, directions, pitches, and more. Watch the playheads dance, and hear the complex patterns that emerge. It’s mesmerizing. Fugue Machine Classic supports iPhone, iPad, MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link, Audiobus, Audiobus 3 MIDI, and Inter-App Audio. Thanks to the AUv3 standard, you can run multiple instances of Fugue Machine Classic on a single device when hosted in an AUv3 MIDI host app — like AUM, Logic Pro for iPad, Loopy Pro, and Cubasis.

About

Looperverse

Record, edit, and customize up to 16 tracks of audio with advanced looping features. This app offers extensive editing tools, built-in effects, and seamless integration with other music apps and hardware.

Highlights
  • 16 track loop recorder
  • Time stretching and pitch shifting
  • Delay and reverb effects
  • Advanced waveform editing
  • Ableton Link support
  • Stem export for DAWs
  • AudioCopy/AudioPaste support
Features
Read full description

Looperverse is the ultimate loop recording and performance system for iOS! Continuously record up to 16 tracks worth of content, and immediately edit them. Inter App Audio and AudioBus support ensures that you can record any virtual instrument. Need help? Have an issue or question? Please email us at support@retronyms.com. Looperverse makes recording, editing, and customizing loops simple. The 16 track loop recorder includes sound-on-sound, overwrite, and next track modes. You can adjust track sends to the built-in delay and reverb effects, as well as adjusting pan, gain, mute, and solo in the mixer. Looperverse features advanced waveform editing, pitch shifting, time stretching, live reverse, extensive undo/redo, and time signature support. Limitlessly modify your scenes and explore your phrases and riffs with Looperverse. Looperverse also supports Ableton Link, allowing you to lock tempo with Ableton Live or apps on other devices. AudioCopy support allows you to quickly publish music on SoundCloud, copy and paste from hundreds of compatible apps, and choose from millions of loops and sounds available in the Content Store.   Features: - Advanced 16 track loop recorder - Time stretching and pitch shifting for scenes, tracks, and segments - Delay and reverb send effects - Built in mixer with pan, gain, mute, and solo - Advanced waveform editing - Snap to grid or transient for extensive editing - Advanced time signature support for every musical style - Tap tempo - Stem export for DAWs - Reverse songs or musical segments in real time while recording or playing back - Extensive undo/redo - Audio trigger record - Play scene with keyboard - IAA, Audiobus and Ableton Link support - MIDI and MIDI learn support - AudioCopy and AudioPaste support 
 The app is integrated and enhanced with the Looperverse pedal, which provides 6 premium quality switches pre-mapped to undo, redo, clear, tap tempo, record, and playback. Each setting is fully customizable, so you can remap to their liking. It can be controlled from your iOS device and will work as a standalone pedal with any device that supports MIDI. Because the Looperverse pedal supports the Bluetooth (BTLE) MIDI standard, it’s compatible with virtually any software on any device. You can control Looperverse from external hardware and remap to your liking with MIDI and MIDI Learn support. Check out some of our other apps! We have partnered with music legends including AKAI Professional to develop iMPC and iMPC Pro, allowing you to turn your iOS device into an MPC. For more information about the Looperverse pedal, please visit www.retronyms.com.

Screenshots

Fugue Machine4 screens
Looperverse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fugue Machine at 90% against Looperverse's 45%. Fugue Machine also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.2) and chart position (#155 vs unranked). Looperverse's advantage is price ($6.99 vs $19.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Fugue Machine costs $19.99 and Looperverse $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fugue Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 623 and 138 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Fugue Machine's written reviews are positive against 45% of Looperverse's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fugue Machine ships an update every 8 days, Looperverse every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Fugue Machine versus Looperverse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFugue MachineLooperverse
Price$19.99$6.99 — better
Rating4.9 (623 ratings) — better4.2 (138 ratings)
Positive reviews90.3% of reviews — better44.8% of reviews
Number of ratings623 — better138
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#155 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexandernautRetronyms Inc

Customer experience

Fugue Machine

All ratings623 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews238 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral5.0%
Negative4.6%

Looperverse

All ratings138 ratings
Positive78.3%
Neutral7.2%
Negative14.5%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive44.8%
Neutral22.4%
Negative32.8%

Bugs and requests

Fugue Machine

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Looperverse

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App crashes frequently
  • Distorted audio playback
  • Audio quality altered through Audiobus
  • IAA not working reliably
  • Mute on record button behavior inconsistent
Show 5 more
  • Keyboard hides save button
  • Crackling sound on playback and with in-app piano
  • File loading crashes
  • Screen turns off during use
  • IAA broken with various apps

Requested features

10 requests
  • Redesign UI for better usability
  • Improve loop import convenience
  • Add EQ support
  • Better integration with external apps/effects
  • AUv3 support
Show 5 more
  • Sync transport controls with Ableton Link
  • Add MIDI track
  • Improve loop trimming tools
  • Add input source level adjustment
  • Make pedals available for purchase

In-app purchases

None

Fugue Machine

No in-app purchases

None

Looperverse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Fugue Machine free?
Fugue Machine costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Looperverse free?
Looperverse costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Fugue Machine or Looperverse?
Fugue Machine is rated higher. Fugue Machine averages 4.9 out of 5 from 623 ratings, while Looperverse averages 4.2 from 138 ratings.
Do Fugue Machine or Looperverse have ads?
Neither Fugue Machine nor Looperverse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fugue Machine or Looperverse?
Fugue Machine ships an update every 8 days, and Looperverse every 2 weeks. Most recently, Fugue Machine was updated on September 25, 2026 and Looperverse on September 19, 2026.

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