# Alien Box vs variStretch

The clearest difference is rating: variStretch at 5.0 against Alien Box's 1.3. variStretch also leads on update cadence (every 7 months vs every 38 months). Alien Box's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $5.99) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Alien Box costs $2.99 and variStretch $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

variStretch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

Alien Box ships an update every 38 months, variStretch every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alien Box | variStretch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [1.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alien-box/id1235647874/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varistretch/id6744925479/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 38 months | **Every 7 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 10 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aleksandar Mlazev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1093798140) | [Satoshi Kajii](https://appshunter.io/developer/1777441634) |

## What reviewers say

### Alien Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alien-box/id1235647874)

This audio effect plugin creates a unique sound with increased sustain and gentle, LFO-modulated vibes. It functions as an AUv3 effect for hosts like GarageBand or as a standalone app for real-time audio input processing.

**Highlights:** Unique sound enrichment, LFO modulated vibes, Complex resonator system, AUv3 plugin for hosts, Standalone app mode, Gain, Vibe, Depth, Reverb controls

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### variStretch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varistretch/id6744925479)

This app allows real-time audio speed manipulation without altering pitch. It offers three distinct playback modes and adjustable buffer settings for precise control over sound processing.

**Highlights:** Real-time speed adjustment (0.5-2.0x), Tape mode (speed & pitch change), Phase Vocoder mode (speed only), Adjustable buffer size, Buffer clear function, AUv3 host compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alien Box free?

Alien Box costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is variStretch free?

variStretch costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Alien Box or variStretch?

variStretch is rated higher. Alien Box averages 1.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while variStretch averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Alien Box or variStretch have ads?

Neither Alien Box nor variStretch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alien Box or variStretch?

Alien Box ships an update every 38 months, and variStretch every 7 months. Most recently, Alien Box was updated on September 20, 2026 and variStretch on September 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*