# apeMatrix vs RE

The clearest difference is price: RE at $4.99 against apeMatrix's $14.99. RE also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). apeMatrix's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

apeMatrix costs $14.99 and RE $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for apeMatrix against 4.7 for RE. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 84 and 132 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of apeMatrix's written reviews are positive against 66% of RE's.

apeMatrix ships an update monthly, RE every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | apeMatrix | RE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $14.99 | **$4.99** |
| Rating | [4.7 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apematrix/id1378343729/reviews) | **[4.7 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/re-1-tape-machine/id1407764053/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 84 | **132** |
| Positive reviews | **72.7% of reviews** | 65.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 21 MB | 107 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [apeSoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/464660782) | [Kai Aras](https://appshunter.io/developer/370820899) |

## What reviewers say

### apeMatrix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apematrix/id1378343729)

This app acts as a powerful host for audio plugins, allowing users to connect and automate various aspects of music creation. It facilitates the integration of favorite FX, MIDI routing, and control over built-in and external plugin parameters.

**Highlights:** Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio support, MIDI and audio routing, Control Manager for parameter modulation, Multiple Matrix grids for plugin hosting, MIDI Patch-bay for routing, High-quality audio processing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### RE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/re-1-tape-machine/id1407764053)

This app is a versatile virtual tape machine offering authentic tape echo and chorus effects. It also functions as a sampler, looper, and overdubbing tool, allowing for creative audio manipulation and real-time performance.

**Highlights:** Virtual tape deck with 3 read heads, Authentic tape echo emulation, Tape loop mode with overdubbing, Sample/loop library, Real-time parameter visualization, Wow, Flutter, Color, Hiss & Saturation controls

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is apeMatrix free?

apeMatrix costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RE free?

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

### Which has better reviews, apeMatrix or RE?

RE is rated higher. apeMatrix averages 4.7 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while RE averages 4.7 from 132 ratings.

### Do apeMatrix or RE have ads?

Neither apeMatrix nor RE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, apeMatrix or RE?

apeMatrix ships an update monthly, and RE every 3 months. Most recently, apeMatrix was updated on October 24, 2026 and RE on October 25, 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.*