# Group the Loop vs Play by Ear

The clearest difference is price: Play by Ear at Free against Group the Loop's $13.99. Play by Ear also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). Group the Loop's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Play by Ear is free to download; Group the Loop costs $13.99 up front. Play by Ear sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Group the Loop asks for nothing beyond the download.

Group the Loop ships an update every 2 months, Play by Ear every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Group the Loop | Play by Ear |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $13.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/group-the-loop/id1029416579/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **32** | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 17 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jack Marshall](https://appshunter.io/developer/1029416578) | [David Rowthorn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876358361) |

## What reviewers say

### Group the Loop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/group-the-loop/id1029416579)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Play by Ear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-by-ear/id6759010556)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Group the Loop free?

Group the Loop costs $13.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Play by Ear free?

Play by Ear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Group the Loop or Play by Ear have ads?

Neither Group the Loop nor Play by Ear shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Group the Loop or Play by Ear?

Group the Loop ships an update every 2 months, and Play by Ear every 3 days. Most recently, Group the Loop was updated on October 14, 2026 and Play by Ear on October 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*