# XPad vs SoftPads

The clearest difference is price: XPad at Free against SoftPads's $4.99. SoftPads's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 14). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

XPad is free to download; SoftPads costs $4.99 up front. XPad sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. SoftPads asks for nothing beyond the download.

SoftPads holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 41 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of XPad's written reviews are positive against 81% of SoftPads's.

XPad ships an update every 4 weeks, SoftPads every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | XPad | SoftPads |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xpad/id1338505908/reviews) | **[4.5 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softpads-background-loop-pads/id1362791362/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **41** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **81.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1.2 GB | 216 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 12.4 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte](https://appshunter.io/developer/428367741) | [Forward Sounds, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362791361) |

## What reviewers say

### XPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xpad/id1338505908)

This app provides professional pad sounds for keyboardists, aiming to replicate warm analog synth tones with advanced digital features. It offers intuitive glissando control, real-time sound morphing, and extensive MIDI compatibility for a dynamic playing experience.

**Highlights:** Modern pad sounds, Realistic glissando control, Tone Width morphing, Sensible sound controls, MIDI remote control, Extensive sound library search

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weirdo Sound Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pluck Sound Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| Metal Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Bass Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Choir Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Altro Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Organ Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Percussive Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Silicon Sound Set | $4.99 | one-time |
| Vintage Sound Set | $4.99 | one-time |
| Atmo Sound Set | $5.99 | one-time |
| Space Sound Set | $5.99 | one-time |
| Nature Sound Set | $5.99 | one-time |
| Sequence Sound Set | $5.99 | one-time |


### SoftPads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softpads-background-loop-pads/id1362791362)

This app provides ambient background loops for musicians to fill sonic gaps during performances. It offers a variety of high-quality pad sounds that can be layered and customized, with options to save and recall combinations for set lists. Enhance your live sound with a versatile and easy-to-use tool.

**Highlights:** 10+ ambient loop pad sounds, Selectable in 12 musical keys, Layer multiple sounds for unique combinations, Save and recall pad combinations, Create and save set lists, Customizable background colors, Enhanced stage viewing mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XPad free?

XPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SoftPads free?

SoftPads costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, XPad or SoftPads?

SoftPads is rated higher. XPad averages 3.8 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while SoftPads averages 4.5 from 41 ratings.

### Do XPad or SoftPads have ads?

Neither XPad nor SoftPads shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, XPad or SoftPads?

XPad ships an update every 4 weeks, and SoftPads every 3 weeks. Most recently, XPad was updated on September 29, 2026 and SoftPads on October 19, 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.*