Comparison

SoundFlow vs Knobbler

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

Head to head
About

SoundFlow

Control your digital audio workstation remotely from your iPad or iPhone. Design custom faders and buttons to send MIDI or trigger DAW functions and macros.

Highlights
  • Remote DAW control
  • Custom fader design
  • XY pad creation
  • MIDI instrument control
  • DAW macro triggering
  • Support for Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Cubase, Nuendo, Ableton Live
Read full description

Take control of your DAW from your iPad or iPhone. Remote control apps like Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Cubase, Nuendo or Ableton Live. Design your own Faders or XY Pads to send MIDI to your instruments - or make buttons that control your DAW to start/stop playback, or trigger any of the macros you can build in SoundFlow.

About

Knobbler

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful, auto-labeling control surface for Ableton Live. Seamlessly navigate tracks, control parameters, and build custom interfaces that save with your Live sets. Keep your focus on creativity without leaving the music-making flow.

Highlights
  • Auto-labeling and auto-coloring control surface
  • Multitouch parameter control
  • Customizable interface saved with Live sets
  • Real-time parameter updates with units
  • Fast track, group, and device navigation
  • Channel strip mixer controls
Features
Read full description

Knobbler turns your iPhone or iPad into an auto-labeling, auto-coloring, multitouch control surface for Ableton Live. 30 day fully-functioning trial of all features. The Mixer, Clips, Session, and Nav pages are available during the trial and after a one-time purchase of Knobbler or a subscription. Ableton Live 12 Suite or Ableton Live 12 Standard with the Max for Live add-on is required. Simply add the free Knobbler4 device to your Live Set and use the Knobbler app to use your iPhone or iPad to control devices and parameters. ** Control every parameter and build a customized interface, including sliders and X-Y pads that is saved with your Live sets. ** Navigate your tracks, groups, racks and devices faster and easier than ever. ** Full screen Cilps and Mixer views keep you connected to your music. ** Session View gives you a combined clips and mixer view for full control. ** Full access to capture and recall rack variations. ** Navigate cue points and locators in your set. ** Engage Spring mode for momentary effects. Visit https://plugins.steinkamp.us/m4l-Knobbler4 to download the Ableton Live device to use with this app. Map parameters in your Ableton Live set to unmapped sliders on the tablet with a single touch. No need to enter and exit a mapping mode. Access every parameter in the currently selected device, directly on the phone or tablet. Parameter mapping configuration is saved with your Live Set, so you can switch between songs with minimal friction. Track, device, and parameter names are kept synchronized with your Live Set as you change them, even track colors! Parameter sliders and values are updated in real time, with the same units (e.g. dB, ms, %) displayed as what you see in Live. Double tap a slider on the tablet to reset the parameter to its default value. Swipe in the Navigation controls on the right side to dive into your tracks, groups, racks, and devices faster than ever before. Swipe in from the left to show a channel strip with familiar mixer controls, including color-coded sends. Works on phones and tablets, even in multi-window view on the latest IOS 26. Knobbler is there to keep you out of the computer and in the creative moment, unlocking more of your music making potential. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SoundFlow3 screens
Knobbler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SoundFlow at none against Knobbler's 3. SoundFlow also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 88%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.4). Knobbler's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, ratings volume, 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

Both are free to download. Knobbler sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. SoundFlow asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Knobbler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 16 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of SoundFlow's written reviews are positive against 88% of Knobbler's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SoundFlow ships an update every 4 months, Knobbler every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SoundFlow versus Knobbler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSoundFlowKnobbler
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (10 ratings)4.8 (16 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better87.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1016 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSoundFlow ApSZACHARY STEINKAMP

Customer experience

SoundFlow

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Knobbler

All ratings16 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral8.3%
Negative4.2%

In-app purchases

None

SoundFlow

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Knobbler

Subscriptions2
  • Knobbler Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Knobbler Annual$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Knobbler Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is SoundFlow free?
SoundFlow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Knobbler free?
Knobbler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SoundFlow or Knobbler?
Knobbler is rated higher. SoundFlow averages 4.6 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Knobbler averages 4.8 from 16 ratings.
Do SoundFlow or Knobbler have ads?
Neither SoundFlow nor Knobbler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SoundFlow or Knobbler?
SoundFlow ships an update every 4 months, and Knobbler every 9 days. Most recently, SoundFlow was updated on October 24, 2026 and Knobbler on October 21, 2026.

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