Comparison

Group the Loop vs pianoscaper

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

Head to head
About

Group the Loop

This app is a section-based audio looper for mobile devices, enabling users to record, loop, overdub, and add effects. It allows for the creation of songs with distinct structures like verses and choruses, facilitating real-time switching between them. It's a powerful tool for musicians to compose and perform.

Highlights
  • Record, loop, and overdub audio
  • Create song sections (verse, chorus)
  • Real-time section switching
  • Import audio files
  • Built-in and AUv3 effects
  • Drum machine
  • MIDI control
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

A section based audio looper for iPad and iPhone. Record, loop, overdub, add effects and much more! The perfect music creation tool for performers, songwriters and beat boxers. Create songs with verse, bridge and chorus structures and switch between them in real time. Full list of features: • Record, loop and mix your voice or instruments. • Groups - Create song sections (e.g. Verse, Bridge, Chorus). • Universal support (iPad & iPhone). • Import audio files • Drag and drop • Ableton Link • Audiobus. • Inter-App Audio. • AudioShare. • Built in effects. • Audio unit v3 effects. • Drum machine. • Overdub. • Undo/redo. • Master Group - A dedicated group for drums and percussion which plays throughout your song. • MIDI control. • Metronome. • Mix - Volume and pan on every loop and group. • Input monitoring. • Count in - Counts you in to record. • CUE mode - Automatically play sections and record loops. • Manual tempo recording - Set the tempo by punching in/out the first loop. • Instant recording - Start/stops recording instantly, loop lengths are calculated automatically. • Performance Recording - Record your performances in real time. • Move - Move loops between groups. • Merge - Combine multiple loops. • Copy - Duplicate loops. • Name labels - Label instruments and song sections. • Tap tempo. • External audio interface support - Use an audio interface to connect instruments, PA's and amplifiers. • Pitch algorithm - Change the tempo by altering the pitch. • Time stretch algorithm - Change the tempo without altering the pitch. • Unique group tempo - Set a unique tempo for each section of a song. • Landscape, portrait and split view orientation (iPad only). • Sample accurate recording and playback - Keeps your loops in perfect sync. • 32bit floating point audio engine. and more...

About

pianoscaper

This app generates unique, evolving ambient soundscapes from processed acoustic piano sounds. It can be used for relaxation, study, or as a non-intrusive musical companion. It also functions as a virtual instrument with performance tools and sound customization.

Highlights
  • Generative ambient soundscapes
  • Virtual instrument play
  • Performance loop recorders
  • Reverb, delay, and character effects
  • Auto-accompaniment and note hints
  • Royalty-free use in recordings
Features
Read full description

Pianoscaper is a generative music app and virtual instrument that’s easy on the ears and fun to play. Launch the app, and with a single tap of the auto-play button, pianoscaper will create evolving and ambient soundscapes that are unique every time. While all of the pianoscaper sounds originated from acoustic pianos, many have been extensively processed to create an “impossible piano” that can morph between orchestral-type swells and ethereal choir-like sounds. Think of it as piano DNA taken to the next level! Pianoscaper in auto-play mode is the perfect companion for relaxing, studying or providing non-intrusive headphone music at work or on your commute. You can even set a timer so you can fall asleep to its gentle and soothing tones. You can also play pianoscaper as a virtual instrument using the dedicated keypads and performance loop recorders, and tailor the sounds with built-in reverb, delay and “character” effects parameters. And while you’re playing, pianoscaper can lend a hand by adding auto-accompaniment parts and even provides hints for notes it thinks might sound good depending on which notes you play! As a sample-based instrument, pianoscaper currently supports two “moods” – a happy mood, based on the G major pentatonic scale, and a sad mood, based on the Dm pentatonic scale. Please note that pianoscaper is not a chromatic or MIDI-compatible instrument, and it is unlikely to become one, although additional moods and scales may be added as free updates. You can also record and process the audio output of pianoscaper using any Inter-App Audio host that supports IAA Generators. You are free to use pianoscaper in your own recordings or live events and installations on a royalty-free basis. All I would ask for is a simple credit that includes the name of the app – “pianoscaper”. I hope you will agree the pianoscaper interface, while minimalist and a perhaps a little cryptic initially, will eventually become very easy to use. Please do take the time to read the quick-start guide which can be found on the website. This is also the best place to ask questions, get technical support or report any issues. Happy pianoscaping! *** Please note that this app is now in maintenance / bug fixes only mode as it relies on "deprecated" (by Apple) technology such as IAA. ***

Screenshots

Group the Loop4 screens
pianoscaper1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: pianoscaper at $1.99 against Group the Loop's $13.99. pianoscaper also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Group the Loop's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 76%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Group the Loop costs $13.99 and pianoscaper $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

pianoscaper holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 14 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 92% of Group the Loop's written reviews are positive against 76% of pianoscaper's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Group the Loop ships an update every 2 months, pianoscaper every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Group the Loop versus pianoscaper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGroup the Looppianoscaper
Price$13.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.7 (32 ratings)4.9 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.1% of reviews — better76.5% of reviews
Number of ratings32 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#196 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB366 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJack MarshallRob Jackson

Customer experience

Group the Loop

All ratings32 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.6%
Negative5.3%

pianoscaper

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral11.8%
Negative11.8%

In-app purchases

None

Group the Loop

No in-app purchases

None

pianoscaper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Group the Loop free?
Group the Loop costs $13.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is pianoscaper free?
pianoscaper costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Group the Loop or pianoscaper?
pianoscaper is rated higher. Group the Loop averages 4.7 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while pianoscaper averages 4.9 from 14 ratings.
Do Group the Loop or pianoscaper have ads?
Neither Group the Loop nor pianoscaper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Group the Loop or pianoscaper?
Group the Loop ships an update every 2 months, and pianoscaper every 6 months. Most recently, Group the Loop was updated on November 6, 2026 and pianoscaper on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons