AmpliTube MESA/Boogie vs Overdrive Special
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AmpliTube MESA/Boogie
This app brings the iconic MESA/Boogie® high-gain guitar tone to your mobile device. It offers official MESA/Boogie amplifiers, cabinets, and stompbox effects, allowing you to build and record your dream guitar rig. Practice and perform with built-in tools like a looper and drummer.
- Official MESA/Boogie amps and cabinets
- Collection of 6 stompbox effects
- Build custom rigs with up to 6 effects
- 2-track recorder
- Practice tools with pitch and speed control
- Live Mode for stage performance
- Super Looper and Loop Drummer
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Now put the power and high-gain magic tone of MESA/Boogie® on your iPhone or iPad! AmpliTube MESA/Boogie is the only collection of official MESA/Boogie gear available. MESA/BOOGIE DREAM MACHINES Created in collaboration with the tone gurus at MESA Engineering, AmpliTube MESA/Boogie gives you a full spread of gear that represents the breadth and versatility of the many faces of MESA/Boogie. The line-up includes 5 amplifiers with matching cabinets: The Boogie Mark III, MESA and Boogie Mark IV, MESA Dual Rectifier, MESA Triple Rectifier and the master of mid to classic gain Brit, the TransAtlantic TA-30. STOMPBOX EFFECTS In addition you also get a collection of 6 stompboxes: Noise Filter, Metal Wah, Sustainer, Obsession Delay, Surfer Flanger and Monster Booster, all designed specifically to work with all of the MESA/Boogie dream machines. With AmpliTube MESA/Boogie, you can build your dream rig with up to 6 stompbox effects (4 pre amp, 2 post amp), an amplifier and speaker cabinet with dual mic placement. HIT RECORD Use the new 2-track recorder to record over backing tracks, or expand the studio section (available via in-app purchase) to record, edit and share your compositions via SoundCloud, FTP, file sharing or email. Need some practice? AmpliTube MESA/Boogie comes with a built-in learning tool to import your favorite song and set loop points so you can pick out difficult riffs note for note. You can change the pitch of material without affecting the speed and vice versa. Like to loop? You can get creative with the new Super Looper. It makes it easy to record, play back, adjust levels and play along with up to 4 loops. (Looper feature is available for in-app purchase.) Need a drummer? Use the included Loop Drummer to jam to killer drum tracks. Make your own patterns or let it create some inspiring drums for you. Get more loops via in-app Style Packs. Ready to perform? Live Mode offers an optimized GUI specifically for live use. See your entire chain at a glance, with all the settings and controls you need in an easy-to-read format designed for the stage. Control your virtual rig just as easily as you would a traditional pedalboard with new iRig Stomp I/O integration, so you can change presets, control effects and more right from your feet. Or go wireless with iRig Blueboard, a Bluetooth controller for basic control on the go. Now you can get a taste of the first complete mobile tone studio for acoustic instruments! AmpliTube MESA/Boogie features: • 5 MESA/Boogie amps with matching Cabinets — MARK III, MARK IV, Dual Rectifier, Triple Rectifier and TransAtlantic TA-30. • 6 stomps — Noise Filter, Metal Wah, Sustainer, Obsession, Surfer and Monster Booster • Build a rig with up to 6 stompboxes + amp with effects + cabinet + mic • Included 2-track recorder (in-app purchase unlocks up to 8-tracks) • Studio mode for intuitive DAW-style editing (unlocked via in-app purchase) • Live Mode shows you your entire rig at a glance, with all the parameters you need on stage easily accessible • Loop drummer module that plays in sync with the recorder • Includes speed trainer, metronome and tuner • Inter-App Audio support • Project sharing between versions and devices • Import and play songs as backing tracks from your Music Library or computer • Export audio via E-mail, SoundCloud, FTP or File Sharing • MIDI controllable and with built-in integration for iRig Stomp I/O, iRig Blueboard and other controllers More info: http://www.ikmultimedia.com/mesaboogie Accessory info: http://www.ikmultimedia.com/irig
Overdrive Special
This guitar amplifier plugin emulates a classic Dumble schematic, offering clean and cascading overdrive channels. It features a 3-band EQ, individual gain controls, and a built-in noise gate. Works as a standalone app or audio effect.
- Clean and overdrive channels
- Cascading gain stages
- 3-band equalizer
- Individual gain controls per channel
- Harmonic gain change
- Noise gate circuit
- Standalone, AUv3, and IAA support
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Nembrini Audio Overdrive Special Guitar Amplifier plugin is based on a Overdrive Special By Dumble* schematic #124. Nembrini Audio Overdrive Special s a two channel amplifier, which includes a clean channel and an “overdrive”channel. The overdrive channel is described as “cascading” from the first channel into, at least, one additional gain stage in the overdrive channel. This means that the clean channel’s tone stack and gain stages will “cascade” into the gain stage of the overdrive channel, causing the clean channel to become “overdriven". Nembrini Audio Overdrive Special features a 3-band equalizer and one volume control for both channels, but each channel has its own gain control. The gain controls LEVEL and RATIO interact when the overdrive channel is engaged to allow a harmonic change in gain. The Overdrive Special guitar amplifier plugin includes a complete recording chain emulation and our custom design noise gate circuit. Works as a standalone app, AudioUnit v3 effect, or Inter-App Audio effect Legal Disclaimer: Overdrive Special By Dumble is a registered trademark of Dumble. Nembrini Audio Overdrive Special was developed by Nembrini Audio SRL based on its own modelling techniques. Dumble has not endorsed nor sponsored the Nembrini Audio Overdrive Special in any manner, nor licensed any intellectual property for use in this product.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: AmpliTube MESA/Boogie at 76% against Overdrive Special's 0%. Overdrive Special's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $29.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). On update cadence, ads, monetization model 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
AmpliTube MESA/Boogie costs $29.99 and Overdrive Special $9.99 up front. AmpliTube MESA/Boogie sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Overdrive Special asks for nothing beyond the download.
AmpliTube MESA/Boogie ships an update every 19 months, Overdrive Special every 26 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AmpliTube MESA/Boogie | Overdrive Special |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $9.99 — better |
| Rating | — | 4.3 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 76.5% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 8 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 19 months — better | Every 26 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 460 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | IK Multimedia US, LLC | Nembrini Audio |
Customer experience
AmpliTube MESA/Boogie
Overdrive Special
In-app purchases
AmpliTube MESA/Boogie
- LD Rock Pack$4.99
- LD Metal Pack$4.99
- LD Metal 2 Pack$4.99
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- UltraTuner$9.99
- Looper$9.99
- Microphones Bundle$9.99
- LD All Styles Pack$14.99
- Recorder + Studio$19.99
- AmpliTube 4 Bundle$19.99
- All Style Packs 1 & 2$24.99
Overdrive Special
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AmpliTube MESA/Boogie free?
Is Overdrive Special free?
Do AmpliTube MESA/Boogie or Overdrive Special have ads?
Which is updated more often, AmpliTube MESA/Boogie or Overdrive Special?
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