Comparison

Pumphouse vs lo

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Sidechain pumping effect
  • Integrated compressor
  • Step sequencer
  • Envelope generator
  • Easy-to-understand interface
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

"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

Pumphouse2 screens
lo4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Pumphouse costs $0.99 and lo $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pumphouse ships an update every 4 months, lo fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Pumphouse versus lo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPumphouselo
Price$0.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.3 (6 ratings)5.0 (29 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings629 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudio Damage, Inc.Unfiltered Audio

Customer experience

Pumphouse

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral2.8%
Negative41.7%

lo

All ratings29 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Pumphouse

No in-app purchases

None

lo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pumphouse free?
Pumphouse costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is lo free?
lo costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pumphouse or lo?
lo is rated higher. Pumphouse averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while lo averages 5.0 from 29 ratings.
Do Pumphouse or lo have ads?
Neither Pumphouse nor lo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pumphouse or lo?
Pumphouse ships an update every 4 months, and lo fortnightly. Most recently, Pumphouse was updated on October 26, 2026 and lo on October 23, 2026.

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