Comparison

Chaptr vs CardBeat

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

Head to head
About

Chaptr

Easily create chapter marks for audio productions on your iPhone or Apple Watch. Import audio files, add marks with simple clicks, and export them in various podcast-friendly formats. Adjust mark timing and listening speed for efficient workflow.

Highlights
  • Create chapter marks on iPhone and Apple Watch
  • Import audio from cloud services or web
  • Add marks with simple earbud clicks
  • Edit mark timecodes
  • Adjust playback speed
  • Export to multiple podcast formats
Features
Read full description

Create chapter marks for your audio production with your iPhone on the Go! Import your audio files from all document providing Apps like Dropbox or iCloud Drive or download them directly from the web. Add marks while listening: Click two or three times with your Apple EarPods to add marks while your iPhone is locked. You can also configure your AirPods to work with Chaptr. Chaptr is also available on your Apple Watch! Create marks from your wrist while you listen to your audio productions! Add edit marks at positions where your production needs improvement. Adjust the timecode of already created marks and move them to their exact position. Choose your favorite listening speed to work faster. Export the marks you created to * Podigee * mp4chaps file format (compatible with Reaper, Auphonic) * Reaper specific chapter marks file format (supports mark colors) * Podlove Simple Chapters Supported audio formats: MP3 und M4A

About

CardBeat

This app provides a digital cork board for writers to plot novels, screenplays, or short stories. It allows users to break down stories into acts, sequences, and scenes, and rearrange them freely. Users can customize cards with colors, lines, or grids, and choose from various drawing tools or keyboard input.

Highlights
  • Digital cork board for story plotting
  • Structure stories into acts, sequences, and scenes
  • Rearrange plot elements freely
  • Customizable cards with colors and backgrounds
  • Multiple drawing tools and keyboard input
  • Export boards as PDF
  • iCloud syncing
Read full description

CardBeat is a simple yet powerful tool for plotting your novel, screenplay or short story. It's a digital cork board that keeps all the fun things about working with index cards – and gets rid of all the rest. - Easily break your story into acts, sequences and scenes, structure your plots and shuffle them around as much as you like – all without wasting ink or paper. - Use cards in different colors, with lines or grids printed on them. - Choose between three different kinds of pencils in various sizes and an almost infinite amount of colors. - Don't have an Apple Pencil? CardBeat lets you draw just as easily with you finger. - Don't like your handwriting or prefer a cleaner look? CardBeat takes keyboard input, too! - Move your cards around freely in any dimension, without the limits of grids or table cells. - Need feedback from a colleague? Export your board as a PDF for easy sharing. - Want to use CardBeat in a Writers' Room? Connect any screen or projector to your iPad or iPhone and get a crisp overview of the board you're working on. CardBeat also has world-class privacy, with no third-party analytics or ad trackers and a simple off switch for iCloud synching.

Screenshots

Chaptr4 screens
CardBeat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chaptr at 100% against CardBeat's 46%. Chaptr also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). CardBeat's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (33 vs 2). On update cadence, ads 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

CardBeat is free to download; Chaptr costs $2.99 up front. CardBeat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chaptr asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chaptr holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CardBeat has 33 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Chaptr's written reviews are positive against 46% of CardBeat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chaptr ships an update every 6 weeks, CardBeat every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and August 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Chaptr versus CardBeat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChaptrCardBeat
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better3.5 (33 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better45.8% of reviews
Number of ratings233 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStefan TrauthStefan Stuckmann

Customer experience

Chaptr

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

CardBeat

All ratings33 ratings
Positive60.6%
Neutral12.1%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive45.8%
Neutral29.2%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Chaptr

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

CardBeat

One-time1
  • Pro Upgrade$19.99

Questions

Is Chaptr free?
Chaptr costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is CardBeat free?
CardBeat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chaptr or CardBeat?
Chaptr is rated higher. Chaptr averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while CardBeat averages 3.5 from 33 ratings.
Do Chaptr or CardBeat have ads?
Neither Chaptr nor CardBeat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chaptr or CardBeat?
Chaptr ships an update every 6 weeks, and CardBeat every 2 months. Most recently, Chaptr was updated on September 16, 2026 and CardBeat on August 15, 2026.

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