Comparison

Zero Reverb vs RoughRider3

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

Head to head
About

Zero Reverb

Enhance your music production with a modern, high-quality reverb effect. This Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) works within compatible host apps, offering a rich, hall-like sound with adjustable parameters for diverse textures. Easily tweak settings with its expandable controls.

Highlights
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) plugin
  • Modern hall-like reverb character
  • Rich feedback and smooth decay
  • Expandable controls for easy tweaking
  • Wide variety of reverb textures
  • Compatible with popular DAWs and hosts
Read full description

Tired of the stock reverb in your DAW? Looking for a more modern sound? Zero Reverb is an Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) that works as a plug-in inside host apps. Just open up your favorite host that supports Audio Units and add it as an effect. The controls expand when touched so they can be easily seen while tweaking. Zero Reverb will soon become your go-to reverb plug-in on iOS. Compatible with GarageBand, Cubasis, Auria, BeatMaker, AudioBus, AUM, Modstep, and more. Zero Reverb is a high quality Feedback Delay Network reverberator. The algorithm has rich feedback with smooth decay for a modern hall-like reverb character. Blamsoft brings their experience creating high quality plug-ins for the desktop to iOS. The same algorithm is found in the popular Zero Hybrid Synthesizer Rack Extension for Propellerhead Reason. The available parameters allow you to dial in a wide variety of reverb textures. Tap Developer Website for sound examples. Note: Second screenshot shows the effect of touching a control.

About

RoughRider3

This audio effect plugin offers advanced compression with new features like external sidechain input and a sidechain HPF control. It allows for cleaner sound with full bandwidth control and includes input/output level adjustments for easier tuning.

Highlights
  • External Sidechain Input
  • Sidechain HPF control
  • Input and Output level controls
  • FULL BANDWIDTH control
  • AUv3 and Standalone
  • Inter-App Audio support
Features
Read full description

With almost a quarter million downloads, the free Rough Rider compressor from Audio Damage is one of the most popular plugin effects on the planet. RoughRider3 expands on the original RoughRider and RoughRider2. New features: • External Sidechain Input in hosts that support it. (Currently only AUM) • Sidechain HPF control (works on both normal operation and external sidechain, for removing the low end from the compression algorithm.) • Input and Output level controls, for easier level tuning. • FULL BANDWIDTH control removes the warming features and high end attenuation from the original RoughRider, for a cleaner sound. All this in addition to the original RoughRider compression you know and love. RoughRider3 installs both an AUv3 and a standalone with Inter-App Audio.

Screenshots

Zero Reverb2 screens
RoughRider32 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RoughRider3 at 87% against Zero Reverb's 35%. RoughRider3 also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (4.6 vs 3.4). 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

RoughRider3 is free to download; Zero Reverb costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RoughRider3 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 76 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Zero Reverb's written reviews are positive against 87% of RoughRider3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zero Reverb ships an update every 6 months, RoughRider3 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Zero Reverb versus RoughRider3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZero ReverbRoughRider3
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.4 (46 ratings)4.6 (76 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.8% of reviews87.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4676 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlamsoft, Inc.Audio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

Zero Reverb

All ratings46 ratings
Positive54.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative41.3%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive34.8%
Neutral8.7%
Negative56.5%

RoughRider3

All ratings76 ratings
Positive88.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative7.9%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive87.0%
Neutral8.7%
Negative4.3%

In-app purchases

None

Zero Reverb

No in-app purchases

None

RoughRider3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zero Reverb free?
Zero Reverb costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RoughRider3 free?
RoughRider3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Zero Reverb or RoughRider3?
RoughRider3 is rated higher. Zero Reverb averages 3.4 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while RoughRider3 averages 4.6 from 76 ratings.
Do Zero Reverb or RoughRider3 have ads?
Neither Zero Reverb nor RoughRider3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zero Reverb or RoughRider3?
Zero Reverb ships an update every 6 months, and RoughRider3 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Zero Reverb was updated on October 16, 2026 and RoughRider3 on October 4, 2026.

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