Comparison

Discover Music vs Startle Studio

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

Head to head
About

Discover Music

Interact with background music players at supported venues. See what's playing, request songs from the venue's playlist, and get notified when your track is up. You can also preview songs and rate them for music suppliers.

Highlights
  • Location-aware venue interaction
  • View current and upcoming songs
  • Browse venue playlists
  • Request songs for free
  • Receive request notifications
  • Preview tracks before requesting
  • Rate songs for suppliers
Features
Read full description

Please only install Discover Music if you have been instructed to do so by the bar, restaurant or hotel you are currently situated. Discover Music allows you to interact with the background music player in supported venues. It shows what’s currently playing and allows you to request music within the confines of the timetabled playlists allowed by the venue. • Location aware, you must inside the supported venue. • See what’s currently playing now and next. • View a selection of the venues current music playlist. • Request a track to play free of charge and see if it gets accepted. • Receive notifications when your request will play. • Share your experience on Facebook or Twitter. • Buy tracks from the venue’s playlist via iTunes referral. • Rate tracks which will be posted to the venue music suppliers. • Preview tracks before requesting by listening to the first few seconds. Disclaimer Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Startle Studio

Manage music, audio messages, and digital screen content for your business locations. Optimize tech performance and energy efficiency with smart monitoring and tips.

Highlights
  • Control playlists
  • Manage audio messages
  • Digital screen content
  • Multi-location management
  • Tech performance monitoring
  • Energy efficiency tips
Features
Read full description

Startle Studio puts your music and tech at your fingertips, making it easier than ever to create an atmosphere that’s totally in sync with your customers. From one single platform, control your playlists, audio messages, digital screen content and more, knowing you have full control, whether you’ve got 1 location or 1,000. With our brand spanking new feature Tune-Up™, we’ll help you make the most of your Startle products by monitoring and scoring your tech’s performance. Hardware using power during down-time? We’ll sort that. Due a playlist refresh? You’ll get a heads up. Christmas music scheduled in May? Well, we’d hope not, but we’ll be checking on the off-chance something looks fishy. And with newly added tips and tricks to make your experience more energy efficient, you’ll not only be doing your bit to help the planet but will be saving your business money, money, money (as our Swedish friends ABBA would say) along the way. Download the Startle Studio app now to get building your pitch perfect experience.

Screenshots

Discover Music3 screens
Startle Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Startle Studio at 50% against Discover Music's 29%. Startle Studio also leads on update cadence (every 6 months vs every 13 months). Discover Music's advantage is iOS requirement (11.1 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Discover Music ships an update every 13 months, Startle Studio every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Discover Music versus Startle Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDiscover MusicStartle Studio
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.6% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 6 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.1 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB43 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperImagesound, MusicStylingStartle

Customer experience

Discover Music

Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative57.1%

Startle Studio

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Discover Music

No in-app purchases

None

Startle Studio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Discover Music free?
Discover Music is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Startle Studio free?
Startle Studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Discover Music or Startle Studio have ads?
Neither Discover Music nor Startle Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Discover Music or Startle Studio?
Discover Music ships an update every 13 months, and Startle Studio every 6 months. Most recently, Discover Music was updated on October 24, 2026 and Startle Studio on October 15, 2026.

Other comparisons