Comparison

STEPS vs SAND

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

Head to head
About

STEPS

Create complex rhythmic patterns with this powerful MIDI sequencer. Control any MIDI-compatible app, send MIDI over network, and synchronize external hardware synths. Features a user-friendly interface for seamless performance and editing.

Highlights
  • MIDI-out system
  • Bluetooth LE MIDI support
  • Audiobus 3 support
  • External hardware synchronization
  • Performance and editing modes
  • Ableton Link integration
  • Global swing and BPM control
Features
Read full description

Steps by Reactable is a small yet powerful MIDI sequencer that allows you to create complex rhythmic patterns in a surprising new way. Forget piano rolls and experiment with Steps’ inspiring dials. With Steps you can control any MIDI compatible app, send MIDI over network to your laptop or any other compatible device, and even synchronize external hardware analog synths such as Korg Volcas or Pocket Operators via an audio cable. Features: - Plug and play MIDI-out system automatically sends to all available MIDI input ports and our own virtual port. - Bluetooth LE MIDI support - Audiobus 3 Support as MIDI and Audio Sender - Connect your iDevice with an external MIDI interface and control MIDI hardware. - Synchronize external hardware synths such as Korg Volca or Pocket operators via the audio output. - A carefully designed user interface that allows you to quickly switch between performance to editing mode. - Play together with Ableton Link and sync multiple apps and devices over WiFi. - Global Swing function (50% - 75%) - applied automatically to eight and sixteenth notes. - Save and recall sequences, seamlessly during playback. - Global bpm control ranging from 20 to 999 BPM. - Global Gate level allows global control of note duration. - Global MIDI velocity control. - Global Glide function applies pitch bend to small distances between adjacent steps (if the synth being controlled supports pitch bend). - Global transpose ribbon allows for easy transposition of the entire pattern. - Step pitch preview function (available while transport is stopped).

About

SAND

This app is a grid-based music sequencer that allows users to create compositions using AUv3 plugins and external MIDI devices. It offers extensive tools for arranging clips, editing notes, automating parameters, and routing MIDI.

Highlights
  • Grid-based MIDI sequencing
  • AUv3 plugin hosting
  • External MIDI device support
  • Advanced clip editing
  • Track and effect management
  • Song mode for arrangement
  • MIDI routing and mapping
Features
Read full description

Have SAND in your pocket. Create music anywhere. Sketch your ideas, compose with MIDI and audio clips, host your favorite plugins. All designed for creative flow, whether you're at home or on the go. SAND is a music sketchpad for AUv3, MIDI, and audio clips—built so you can try ideas quickly, without setup getting in the way. Please note: SAND does not generate sound on its own—it relies on AUv3 plugins you can find on the App Store. Try SAND free for 14 days; in-app purchases unlock features after the trial. GRID SEQUENCER Arrange MIDI and audio clips on a grid to build your ideas. Copy, duplicate, merge, combine, and drag-and-drop clips to shape your project. Quick clip tools: quantize, length, legato, transpose from the clip menu. Render MIDI clips as audio by dropping them onto an audio track. MIDI TRACKS Work with instrument and MIDI tracks in your projects. Load an instrument and unlimited audio and MIDI effects on each track. Hide tracks and assign custom icons to keep sessions organized. Save tracks as templates for future projects. Edit MIDI in a piano-roll clip editor: quantize, legato, split, duplicate, copy, and paste. Build chords with the chord selector. Adjust note position, pitch, duration, and velocity. Handle bars edit position and pitch on the note. Use an adjustable grid or free placement. Scale highlighting helps you stay in key. Record with an optional count-in or from the first note. Quantize recordings for tighter timing. AUDIO TRACKS Add dedicated audio tracks alongside your MIDI material. Import audio into clips from other apps or the clip import flow, with preview before committing. Record audio into clips with per-track input settings and track arming. Set loop or one-shot playback, beat-aligned or immediate start, and optional clip BPM. Looping clips follow project tempo. The audio editor supports copy, paste, crop, gain adjustment, normalize, silence, fades, reverse, pitch, stretch, and split. With automatic or manual preview. PLUGIN HOST Host AUv3 instruments, audio effects, and MIDI processors. Control parameters and presets, and save default states for new instances. Record notes and MIDI from plugin interfaces, and capture output from MIDI plugins. Mark plugins as favorites for faster access. SONG MODE Arrange clips in sections with independent lengths, played back seamlessly in order. Launch every clip in a section at once, sections work as scene launchers. Set a different time signature per section when needed. AUTOMATION Automate volume, pan, effect parameters, and MIDI for dynamic changes across your tracks. MASTER TRACK Apply effects globally across the project. Use the master track's clip to generate bass lines and chord progressions. MIDI ROUTING Record from external MIDI devices, including hardware synths. Send MIDI out for real-time playback and route MIDI between tracks. Use SAND as a virtual MIDI input and output. MIDI MAPPING Map a MIDI controller to control the app with a flexible, customizable layout. "Shift" mappings extend what a single controller surface can do. PROJECT VERSIONS Save and restore named snapshots of a project—experiment freely, then return to an earlier state. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Rename projects and branch copies with Save As…. (iOS 18+) Start new work from project templates. (iOS 18+) SYNC Sync with other apps and DAWs using Ableton Link. ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD AND PADS Record with a velocity-sensitive on-screen keyboard. Choose scale and root to limit keys to a scale, and adjust visible keys to match how you play. Play and record beats with on-screen drum pads. IMPORT / EXPORT Export clips as audio or MIDI. Export projects as Ableton Live sets. Record performances and export audio, including stems for separate processing.

Screenshots

STEPS4 screens
SAND4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SAND at Free against STEPS's $0.99. SAND also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (79% vs 56%). STEPS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On 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

SAND is free to download; STEPS costs $0.99 up front. SAND sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. STEPS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SAND holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAND has 86 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of STEPS's written reviews are positive against 79% of SAND's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

STEPS ships an update every 3 weeks, SAND every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
STEPS versus SAND: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSTEPSSAND
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (13 ratings)4.6 (86 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews79.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1386 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReactable Systems SLMatteo Caldari

Customer experience

STEPS

All ratings13 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.3%

SAND

All ratings86 ratings
Positive90.7%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive79.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative14.7%

Bugs and requests

STEPS

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SAND

Reported bugs

27 issues
  • Record function always starts when entering Midi Instrument or FX
  • Sand not opening in overview
  • Integration with other apps seems off
  • Record does not pick up data
  • Cannot save ideas from one app to another
Show 22 more
  • Auv3 interfaces don't scale well
  • Note editing, snapping/quantization awkward and buggy
  • Sand won't run within AUM anymore
  • Sand not recognized within AUM
  • Sand wouldn't recognize other apps as host
  • Rendering issues
  • Editing notes in pitch grid flies up
  • Entering note values difficult
  • Changing note length has issues
  • Bugs not worked out, more brought in
  • Clips out of sync when manually triggered
  • Unpredictability for creating new notes
  • Selecting notes for editing difficult
  • Synchronizing between tracks problematic
  • Occasional crashes
  • Notes editing/selection/moving process is a pain
  • No BT headphone support
  • Less than 50% of synths/plugins show up
  • Many plugins don't work properly
  • App prompts for purchase again after buying
  • Pattern length adjustment by 1 is crazy
  • No snapping for note length stretch

Requested features

58 requests
  • Sand always open in overview
  • Long press in sequence track window
  • Random/chance abilities in clips (Polyend Play style)
  • Semi-generative function or scale-based patterns/sequences
  • Save AUv3 presets
Show 53 more
  • Audio integration with audio quantization
  • Audio clips
  • Return to zero button
  • More clip actions for performance (fire clip/scene, count in, repeat, single shot)
  • Trigger sequences not just on bars
  • Packaged as a MIDI AUv3 processor
  • Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
  • Triplet time signatures (3/4, 6/8)
  • MIDI channels for instruments
  • Export to MIDI file
  • Deep piano roll note editing
  • Song mode
  • Stem support
  • Automation
  • Lower OS requirement
  • Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
  • Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
  • Proper mixer view
  • Support for Bluetooth headphones
  • More clip actions for performance
  • MIDI AUv3 processor
  • Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
  • Triplet Time Signatures
  • MIDI channels for instruments
  • Export to MIDI file
  • Deep piano roll note editing
  • Song mode
  • Stem support
  • Automation
  • Lower OS requirement
  • Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
  • Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
  • Proper mixer view
  • Support for Bluetooth headphones
  • Pattern length adjustment in note editor
  • Snapping for note length stretch
  • More clip actions for performance
  • MIDI AUv3 processor
  • Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
  • Triplet Time Signatures
  • MIDI channels for instruments
  • Export to MIDI file
  • Deep piano roll note editing
  • Song mode
  • Stem support
  • Automation
  • Lower OS requirement
  • Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
  • Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
  • Proper mixer view
  • Support for Bluetooth headphones
  • Pattern length adjustment in note editor
  • Snapping for note length stretch

In-app purchases

None

STEPS

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

SAND

One-time4
  • 14-day trialFree
  • 14 Days TrialFree
  • Unlock$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Audio Tracks$9.99

Questions

Is STEPS free?
STEPS costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SAND free?
SAND is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, STEPS or SAND?
SAND is rated higher. STEPS averages 3.9 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while SAND averages 4.6 from 86 ratings.
Do STEPS or SAND have ads?
Neither STEPS nor SAND shows ads.
Which is updated more often, STEPS or SAND?
STEPS ships an update every 3 weeks, and SAND every 2 months. Most recently, STEPS was updated on September 24, 2026 and SAND on September 30, 2026.

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