Stage Looper 2 vs ARGate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Stage Looper 2
This app provides musicians with dynamic live performance tools, allowing for flexible backing track playback and on-stage improvisation. Easily import audio, structure songs, and loop parts live with touch or MIDI control. Organize sets with custom playlists and share song structures with bandmates.
- Audio import
- Intuitive song structuring
- Live looping with touch/MIDI
- On-stage improvisation
- Custom gig playlists
- Shareable song structures
Read full descriptionHide full description
Stage Looper redefines the possibilities of live performance technology, empowering musicians with unparalleled flexibility and improvisation capabilities. Say goodbye to the constraints of traditional backing tracks and hello to a new era of dynamic live music! Current Features: Audio Import: Easily import backing tracks from your computer drag and drop. Intuitive Song Structuring: Sequence your song parts effortlessly using our built-in backing track sequencer. Live Looping: Instantly loop the song part with a single touch, whether using your finger or a Bluetooth MIDI foot controller. On-Stage Improvisation: Break free from rigid beats and bars, allowing you to improvise live on stage whenever inspiration strikes. Custom Gig Playlists: Organize your live sets with ease by creating customised gig playlists. Shareable Song Structures: Export your structured songs as .stage files and effortlessly share them with bandmates via email. Learn More at stagelooper.com Exciting Updates on the Horizon We're constantly working on new features to enhance your experience with Stage Looper. Keep an eye out for our updates, as we have plenty of exciting additions in store for you!
ARGate
Read full descriptionHide full description
ARGate Attack / Release Gate Plugin (AUv3) ARGate is an audio effect plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host application such as Logic Pro or GarageBand. Overview - more than just a noise gate... ARGate is an audio gate utility with a few twists, with the addition of attack and hold times, plus support for hysteresis. At its core, ARGate uses an AHR (attack-hold-release) envelope to control gain adjustment of an incoming audio signal, with support for different threshold values to open and close the gate (hysteresis). ARGate can function as a noise gate for instrument or vocal audio tracks, but can also be used as an "auto-swell" effect on instruments such as electric guitar so you can leave that bulky volume pedal at home! ARGate can even be used to "tighten-up" drum and percussion loops by gating out the quieter elements. A G R Indicators Above the view selector are 3 indicators to show what state the gate is in: Attack, Gate (open) and Release. Each indicator will light when in that particular state. Please note these are not interactive buttons that you click on, even though they share the same fabulous color scheme :-) Note - if you see the R indicator flickering a lot, please consider increasing the Hold time slightly, as described below. Controls Active - Toggles the effect On or Off. Threshold - Sets the dB level of the signal required to open the gate. At its lowest setting, the gate will let pretty much everything through, and at the highest setting, none shall pass! For background noise reduction, set the Threshold to minimum, then slowly increase it until you see that the G indicator is not opening when there is only background noise in the input. Hysteresis - This sets the difference between the open gate and close gate threshold which is useful when you want to hear more of the decay sound once the gate has been triggered. The default of -6dB is a good place to start - this means that the close threshold will be 6dB less than the threshold to open the gate. This feature tends to avoid the "fluttering" effect you sometimes get with more basic noise gates. Reduction - Sets the amount of gain reduction applied when the gate is closed. At its lowest setting, this is effectively silence and is probably the setting you want to use in most applications. Alternatively, you might just want to attenuate background noise by a certain amount so the result doesn't sound obviously gated. Attack - Choose between a linear or exponential attack curve, then set an attack time. At zero, the gate will open as soon as the Threshold is hit. For auto-swell type effects, a long attack time around 1000ms and an exponential curve can work well. Hold - Sets a variable hold time which can also be useful for avoiding gate "fluttering" and works in tandem with the Hysteresis control. This time is essentially how long the input level has to remain below the close threshold (open threshold + hysteresis) before going into release mode. If the input level goes above the close threshold, then the hold timer is reset. This feature is especially useful for vocal and instrument gating, but can also be used to achieve some interesting rhythmic effects on drum loops and the like. Release - Chose between linear or exponential release curve, then set a release time. An exponential release curve might work better on percussive sounds if you need the gate to really "snap" shut. The minimum release time of 10ms is there to avoid pops or clicks when the gate closes. For more info and support please visit: www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ARGate at $1.99 against Stage Looper 2's $9.99. ARGate also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.5). On update cadence, 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
Stage Looper 2 costs $9.99 and ARGate $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Stage Looper 2 ships an update every 4 weeks, ARGate every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Stage Looper 2 | ARGate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DejaWorks LTD | Rob Jackson |
In-app purchases
Stage Looper 2
No in-app purchases
ARGate
No in-app purchases









