# Sidecar MIDI Controller vs Radio Unit

The clearest difference is rating: Sidecar MIDI Controller at 4.9 against Radio Unit's 4.6. Sidecar MIDI Controller also leads on price ($4.99 vs $6.99). Radio Unit's advantage is ratings volume (59 vs 14). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Sidecar MIDI Controller costs $4.99 and Radio Unit $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sidecar MIDI Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 59 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of Sidecar MIDI Controller's written reviews are positive against 81% of Radio Unit's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sidecar MIDI Controller ships an update every 3 months, Radio Unit every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sidecar MIDI Controller | Radio Unit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $6.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecar-midi-controller/id1073305840/reviews)** | [4.6 (59 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-unit/id1545928014/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **59** |
| Positive reviews | 76.2% of reviews | **81.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Secret Base Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/413007812) | [BeepStreet](https://appshunter.io/developer/321412321) |

## What reviewers say

### Sidecar MIDI Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecar-midi-controller/id1073305840)

Transform your QWERTY keyboard or game controller into a powerful MIDI controller for your iOS music apps. Play melodies, trigger chords, and adjust synth parameters with ease, even while running other apps in the background.

**Highlights:** QWERTY keyboard piano mapping, Configurable pads for notes, chords, and messages, Scale-configurable virtual keyboard, Game controller support, AUv3 plugin integration, Slide-over and side-by-side mode compatibility

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Radio Unit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-unit/id1545928014)

Stream over 35,000 internet radio stations with this app. Enhance your audio experience by using it as an AUv3 plugin with other compatible music apps. Discover new music and save your favorites.

**Highlights:** Access 35,000+ radio stations, Enhance audio with AUv3 plugins, Intuitive interface, Song discovery and saving, Favorites sync across devices, MIDI control for AUv3 plugin

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Great for sampling and soundscapes
- 👍 Integrates well with other apps (AUM, Drambo, Logic Pro, Cubasis)
- 🎵 Wide variety of radio stations
- 🚀 Easy to use standalone and as AUv3
- ✨ Song recognition feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Cannot remove recognized songs
- 🐛 Cannot remove favorite saved songs (Mac)
- 🐛 Some stations don't connect or have connection issues
- 🐛 Loading times can be long
- 🐛 No way to disable auto-song detection

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot remove recognized songs
- Cannot remove favorite saved songs (Mac)
- Last update ruined experience with loading times and connection issues
- Sadé channel frequently disconnects
- Some stations don’t connect at all

**Requested features**

- Option to remove or filter hostile nations
- Add more stations (Golha radio, IRIB radio)
- Ability to organize, tag, and edit stream specifications
- Ability to use with CarPlay
- Pitch slider within the app to slow down radio in real time


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sidecar MIDI Controller free?

Sidecar MIDI Controller costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Radio Unit free?

Radio Unit costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sidecar MIDI Controller or Radio Unit?

Sidecar MIDI Controller is rated higher. Sidecar MIDI Controller averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Radio Unit averages 4.6 from 59 ratings.

### Do Sidecar MIDI Controller or Radio Unit have ads?

Neither Sidecar MIDI Controller nor Radio Unit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sidecar MIDI Controller or Radio Unit?

Sidecar MIDI Controller ships an update every 3 months, and Radio Unit every 2 months. Most recently, Sidecar MIDI Controller was updated on October 13, 2026 and Radio Unit on October 15, 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.*