# AudioLayer vs KeyStage

The clearest difference is price: AudioLayer at $12.99 against KeyStage's $29.99. AudioLayer also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (179 vs 37). KeyStage's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 56%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

AudioLayer costs $12.99 and KeyStage $29.99 up front. AudioLayer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and KeyStage sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

KeyStage holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 179 and 37 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of AudioLayer's written reviews are positive against 91% of KeyStage's.

AudioLayer ships an update fortnightly, KeyStage every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AudioLayer | KeyStage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$12.99** | $29.99 |
| Rating | [4.4 (179 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiolayer/id1381478666/reviews) | **[4.7 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keystage/id1406132634/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **179** | 37 |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | **91.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 242 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Harry Gohs](https://appshunter.io/developer/382428644) | [Ali Gokturk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1406132633) |

## What reviewers say

### AudioLayer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiolayer/id1381478666)

This app is a powerful mobile multi-sampler for music production, offering advanced features for creating and manipulating complex instruments. It integrates seamlessly with iOS production environments and supports iCloud for easy collaboration and storage.

**Highlights:** Streaming Sample Engine (SSE), Hierarchical Layer and Zone editing, Seamless Instrument Switching (SIS), Integrated audio sample recorder, Auto Sampler for hardware synths, AUv3 AudioUnit integration, iCloud storage and collaboration

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SoundFont Import | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎹 Powerful multi-layer sampling capabilities
- 📥 EXS24 and SFZ file import support
- 🎯 Round-robin functionality for realistic instruments
- ⚡ Efficient performance on older devices
- 🎚️ Comprehensive effects rack with quality sound

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes across multiple iOS versions
- ⚠️ Stability issues in AUM and other hosts
- 🔌 High CPU/DSP usage causing performance spikes
- 🔋 Battery drain and device heating
- ❌ Missing undo function

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup (splash screen)
- Reverb and chorus effects cause sound to disappear
- Pitch resets to -24 after stopping Logic Pro playback
- Layer voice polyphony controls not working properly
- SFZ batch import distributes samples incorrectly across layers

**Requested features**

- Time-stretching/pitch-shifting capability
- Program Change MIDI support
- Undo/Redo functionality
- GigaSampler .gig library support
- Soundfont SF2 import (now paid feature)


### KeyStage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keystage/id1406132634)

This app acts as a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer for keyboard players. It allows simultaneous control of multiple hardware and software instruments via MIDI, with advanced mapping, scripting, and audio mixing capabilities.

**Highlights:** Connect multiple MIDI controllers to instruments, Load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI processors, Create complex keyboard splits and layers, Advanced MIDI mapping and scripting, Audio mixer with volume and pan control, Play and automate audio files, View PDF and JPG files

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instrument Units | Free | one-time |
| Effect Units | Free | one-time |
| Player, Input, and Mixer Units | Free | one-time |
| MIDI Units | Free | one-time |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AudioLayer free?

AudioLayer costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is KeyStage free?

KeyStage costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AudioLayer or KeyStage?

KeyStage is rated higher. AudioLayer averages 4.4 out of 5 from 179 ratings, while KeyStage averages 4.7 from 37 ratings.

### Do AudioLayer or KeyStage have ads?

Neither AudioLayer nor KeyStage shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AudioLayer or KeyStage?

AudioLayer ships an update fortnightly, and KeyStage every 3 months. Most recently, AudioLayer was updated on September 23, 2026 and KeyStage on September 18, 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.*