Pumphouse vs lo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pumphouse
This app provides a sidechain pumping effect for iOS DAWs lacking native support. It combines a compressor with a step sequencer to drive an envelope generator, allowing for sidechain compression without external inputs. Achieve a popular audio effect easily with its intuitive interface.
- Sidechain pumping effect
- Integrated compressor
- Step sequencer
- Envelope generator
- Easy-to-understand interface
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What do you do when you need the sidechain pumping effect in an iOS DAW that doesn't have sidechaining? Pumphouse to the rescue! Pumphouse is a simple and excellent compressor (taken straight from our RoughRider 2 codebase) coupled with a step sequencer driving an envelope generator. In this manner, you can sidechain-compress your pads or bassline against a 1-measure pattern, no other inputs required. With an easy-to-understand interface, Pumphouse is a quick method for getting That Sound. Pumphouse requires transport information to work. Please note that some iOS AUv3 hosts do not have a transport. (At this time, Auria Pro that we're aware of.) There is an Inter-App Audio version supplied, but it also requires transport info. We have tested and approve the AUv3 with AudioBus 3, Cubasis, GarageBand, AUM, ModStep, Zmors Modular, and Beatmaker 3.
lo
This app offers a versatile toolkit for manipulating audio with a variety of lo-fi effects. Explore historical audio degradation, modern digital artifacts, and analog warmth to transform your sound.
- Convolution reverb with unique impulse responses
- Spectral processing for MP3 simulation and pitch shifting
- Digital section with bitcrusher and CD stutter
- Analog section with tape saturation and noise generation
- Rearrangeable processing sections
- Dozens of presets for sound warping
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"LO‑FI‑AF is a very capable lo‑fi toolkit capable of surgically targeted destruction and it could easily find applications in just about any musical genre" -SoundOnSound Unfiltered Audio's lo-fi-af is now available on iOS as a Standalone app or AUv3 plugin! lo-fi-af takes your sound on a journey of artifacts and noise throughout recorded history, from tape warbles and vinyl noise to MP3 chirps and cell phone speaker chatter. lo-fi-af's many sections and versatile algorithms can place your sound in a different decade, or give it a thoroughly modern spin through compound processing. The first section is a convolution reverb preloaded with impulse responses from broken microphones, toy speakers, cell phones, and more. With this section alone, you can place your sound into an entirely different space. The Spectral section then splits your sound into thousands of frequencies before reconstructing it with a twist. Here you can reproduce the sound of a pirated MP3 or pitch shift your signal with clean perfection. Your signal then takes a trip through the digital section. All sorts of hazards are present here, from a skipping CD stutter effect to a multimode bitcrusher. Finally, the rich, colorful analog section adds that vibe that you crave. A maximizer, a tape saturator, a noise generator, an analog-style filter, a pitch warbler, and a radio demodulator all work together in harmony to toss your sound into the past. But wait! That's only one possible signal chain. The Convolution, Spectral, Digital, and Analog sections can be completely rearranged in any order. Dozens of presets will get your started on your sound warping adventure. As an AUv3 plugin, lo-fi-af has been tested to work perfectly with Garageband, Drambo, AUM, Cubasis, Beatmaker, Nanostudio, apeMatrix, Loopy Pro, and more! Additionally, with its clear layout and smart resizing, lo-fi-af can be used on tablets and phones with ease. (Note for Drambo users: Drambo does not yet have automatic Plugin Delay Compensation for managing plugins with latency. As a result, tracks with lo-fi-af will not line up properly with other tracks. An upcoming patch for Drambo will add this feature in.)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: lo at 5.0 against Pumphouse's 4.3. lo also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 56%). Pumphouse's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $9.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Pumphouse costs $0.99 and lo $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
lo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 29 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Pumphouse's written reviews are positive against 67% of lo's.
Pumphouse ships an update every 4 months, lo fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pumphouse | lo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.3 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (29 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 29 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 11.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Audio Damage, Inc. | Unfiltered Audio |
Customer experience
Pumphouse
lo
In-app purchases
Pumphouse
No in-app purchases
lo
No in-app purchases









