FabFilter Pro vs VU950 FX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FabFilter Pro
This professional audio tool offers a high-quality equalizer for mixing and mastering. It features an intuitive interface with up to 24 bands, multiple phase modes, and advanced tools like Spectrum Grab and EQ Match for precise audio editing.
- Up to 24 EQ bands
- Natural Phase mode
- Spectrum Grab
- EQ Match
- Interactive EQ display
- Universal filter slope support
- Mid/side processing
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FabFilter Pro-Q 2 is a transparent, high-quality equalizer plug-in for mixing and mastering purposes, with up to 24 bands and a gorgeous interface for easy and precise editing. With its unique Natural Phase mode, it matches both the magnitude and phase response of analog EQ'ing perfectly. Innovative features like Spectrum Grab and EQ Match together with its intelligent interactive EQ display make Pro-Q 2 an absolute joy to use. The Pro-Q 2 app filters the microphone input and plays it back in real-time. To use Pro-Q 2 as a plug-in, you need an AUv3-compatible host app like Auria, AUM or Cubasis. Pro-Q 2 will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for effect plug-ins in the host app. Key features: - Highest possible sound quality - Gorgeous Retina interface with large interactive EQ display, multi-band selection and editing for maximum ease of use and efficiency - Up to 24 EQ bands - Operates in zero latency mode, linear phase mode with adjustable latency or the unique Natural Phase mode - Filter shapes: Bell, Notch, High/Low Shelf, High/Low Cut, Band Pass, Tilt Shelf - Universal filter slope support for all filter types, up to 96 dB/oct - Spectrum Grab: just grab and adjust a peak in the real-time spectrum analyzer right away! - EQ Match feature to automatically match the spectrum of another track - Optional Gain-Q interaction - Each band can operate on the stereo signals or on the left or right channels independently for per-channel EQ-ing - Built-in spectrum analyzer with Pre-EQ, Post-EQ and SC modes, adjustable range, speed, resolution, tilt and freeze - Auto Gain and Gain Scale - Mid/side mode where you can EQ the mid and side signals separately - Optional piano roll display to quantize EQ frequencies to musical notes - Different display ranges: 3 dB and 6 dB ranges for mastering, 12 dB and 30 dB for mixing - Intelligent solo mode makes it easy to find problem frequencies and hear the effect of a band - Phase Invert option to change polarity - Large output level meter with peak level readout - Undo/redo and A/B comparison "FabFilter Pro-Q 2 is sure to be the first plug-in we add to almost every channel on every mix we do for the next few years. Absolutely brilliant! Verdict: 10/10!" — MusicTech Magazine "FabFilter Pro-Q 2 is practically impossible to fault, being absolutely stunning in terms of usability, functionality and sound. Verdict: 10/10!" — Computer Music Magazine
VU950 FX
This audio effect plugin emulates classic sampler tones with 12-bit DSP. It offers sample-rate reduction, input drive, and an adjustable anti-aliasing filter to shape your sound. Perfect for adding gritty character to your music productions.
- 12-bit DSP model
- Sample-rate reduction
- Input drive
- Adjustable anti-aliasing filter
- Bass and presence coloration
- Noise generation
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VU950 FX is an AUv3 effect plug-in built around a gritty 12-bit DSP model, designed to bring classic sampler-style tone shaping directly into your iOS music host. At its core, VU950 FX combines sample-rate reduction, 12-bit DAC character, input drive, bass and presence coloration, noise, and an anti-aliasing filter that naturally closes as the sample rate goes down. You can keep that authentic behavior, or edit the AA Filter manually to fine-tune how dark, crunchy, clean, or aliased the sound becomes. Use RATE to set the modeled sample rate, from cleaner high-bandwidth processing to darker low-rate texture. Use FILTER to shape the main tone filter from wide open to heavily rolled off. Use CHANNELS to choose whether the left or right input channel becomes the focused mono source. The jog wheel edits the active RATE or FILTER page. ON/+ and OFF/- switch the selected channel when CHANNELS mode is active. The top knobs give you direct control over AA Filter, Input Drive, and Output Gain, so you can push the DSP model harder, tame the final level, or dial in just the right amount of anti-aliasing response. VU950 FX is made for fast AUv3 workflows: load it in your favorite compatible host, automate the parameters, and turn clean audio into controlled 12-bit character in seconds.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: VU950 FX at $0.99 against FabFilter Pro's $29.99. VU950 FX also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). FabFilter Pro's advantage is ratings volume (24 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement 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
FabFilter Pro costs $29.99 and VU950 FX $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VU950 FX holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FabFilter Pro has 24 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of FabFilter Pro's written reviews are positive against 100% of VU950 FX's.
FabFilter Pro ships an update every 9 months, VU950 FX every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FabFilter Pro | VU950 FX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (24 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 24 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #173 — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | FabFilter | Dariusz Chynek |
Customer experience
FabFilter Pro
VU950 FX
In-app purchases
FabFilter Pro
No in-app purchases
VU950 FX
No in-app purchases









