Comparison

STAELLA vs Music Visualizer

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

Head to head
About

STAELLA

Create dynamic, real-time music visualizations with customizable effects. Import audio from various sources, record your creations, and share them on social media. Offers advanced control with MIDI integration and keyboard shortcuts.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio-reactive visuals
  • Customizable effects and colors
  • Import music from playlists, mic, or simulation
  • One-touch video recording
  • MIDI device integration
  • Keyboard shortcuts for control
  • Gesture controls
Features
Read full description

Real-time music visualization. 30 Visuals × 78 Shapes — every play, a different piece. ■ Design the visuals from a free combination 4 categories with 30 Visuals and 78 Shapes, Knobs, Text, backgrounds, 10 Screen Effects and 10 Wallpaper Blends. Layer them into anything from a club-style spectrum to an ambient nebula. Visuals and Shapes switch on the beat of the song. On HDR displays, glows and gradients render with brightness beyond SDR. ■ Preset sharing Save the look you made as a preset and share it with a code or a link. ■ Two recording modes for different intents Recording keeps every knob move and Visual switch you make. Export locks the UI so a stable, hands-off render finishes on its own. Before exporting, you can also edit the show along the flow of the song, like in a video editor. Both hide the UI, support up to 4K with HDR export, and can auto-record a full song in Playlist mode. ■ Four audio sources Files (music on device; iOS also imports from the iTunes library) Microphone (low-latency input) Simulation (visuals keep moving with no source) AUv3 (visualize plugin audio) ▸ Time-synced lyrics Songs available in a supported lyric database can display lyrics in time with the music. Song title and artist name too. You can also show lyrics you typed yourself. ▸ External display output (AirPlay / HDMI adapters) Connect a TV or projector via iOS Screen Mirroring (AirPlay) or an HDMI adapter. The visuals go full screen while the UI stays on your device. ■ Play with whatever's in your hand Touch and flick iPad + Magic Keyboard shortcuts MIDI controllers (long-press any knob to assign, BLE MIDI supported) Gamepad (D-pad, buttons, sticks) ■ Where to use it · VJ sets at clubs, live shows and streams · Music videos and lyric videos for social · Screen visuals for a room or a party ■ Notes · DRM-protected tracks (e.g. Apple Music) can't be played. · For issues or requests, reach out via in-app feedback or support. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Music Visualizer

Create dynamic visualizers for your audio clips. Load songs from files, play your music, and arrange stunning visual effects. Upgrade to PRO for recording, saving presets, and aspect ratio adjustments.

Highlights
  • Visualize audio clips
  • Load songs from files
  • Arrange visual effects
  • PRO tier features
  • Record creations
  • Save presets
Features
Read full description

Spectrum Music Visualizer helps you with quickly visualize your songs which you can load from files. Play your music, arrange your visuals and enjoy the show! With our additional PRO tier you can record your creations, save presets and adjust the aspect ratio of the canvas. Discover and share visualizer presets with the community. Browse, download, and rate presets created by other users. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

STAELLA4 screens
Music Visualizer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Music Visualizer at 4.6 against STAELLA's 3.9. Music Visualizer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months). STAELLA's advantage is ratings volume (1.7K vs 163) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. STAELLA sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Music Visualizer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Music Visualizer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STAELLA has 1.7K ratings behind it against 163, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of STAELLA's written reviews are positive against 50% of Music Visualizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

STAELLA ships an update every 2 months, Music Visualizer every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
STAELLA versus Music Visualizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSTAELLAMusic Visualizer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (1.7K ratings)4.6 (163 ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.6% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better163
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size256 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DevelopermonocroMarvin Krueger

Customer experience

STAELLA

All ratings1,696 ratings
Positive71.1%
Neutral6.3%
Negative22.6%
Written reviews612 reviews
Positive44.6%
Neutral14.4%
Negative41.0%

Music Visualizer

All ratings162 ratings
Positive87.7%
Neutral6.8%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral17.9%
Negative32.1%

Bugs and requests

STAELLA

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Music playback issues and controls not working
  • Inability to import user's own music files
  • Exported videos have poor quality and audio sync issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for streaming services
  • Improve export and download options
  • Expand customization and control over visuals
  • Implement portrait mode and different aspect ratios
  • Add ability to layer and blend multiple visuals

Music Visualizer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

STAELLA

Subscriptions2
  • STAELLA Premium3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • STAELLA Premium$49.991 Year
One-time5
  • Toolkit pro$9.99
  • STELLA$9.99
  • TERRA$9.99
Show 2 more
  • MACHINA$9.99
  • NEX$9.99
7 purchases

Music Visualizer

Subscriptions6
  • Spectrum PRO3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Spectrum PRO$4.997 Days
  • Spectrum PRO$8.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Spectrum PRO$24.991 Year
  • Spectrum PRO Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Spectrum PRO3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock all features$49.99

Questions

Is STAELLA free?
STAELLA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Music Visualizer free?
Music Visualizer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, STAELLA or Music Visualizer?
Music Visualizer is rated higher. STAELLA averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Music Visualizer averages 4.6 from 163 ratings.
Do STAELLA or Music Visualizer have ads?
STAELLA shows ads; Music Visualizer does not.
Which is updated more often, STAELLA or Music Visualizer?
STAELLA ships an update every 2 months, and Music Visualizer every 11 days. Most recently, STAELLA was updated on November 6, 2026 and Music Visualizer on November 4, 2026.

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