Comparison

Nota vs AurA LAB

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

Head to head
About

Nota

This app provides a full-featured audio playback experience directly from your system's Files app and cloud storage. Enjoy background playback, advanced sound customization with an equalizer, and flexible playback controls. It also offers robust file management capabilities, allowing you to organize and transfer your audio files seamlessly.

Highlights
  • Playback from Files app and cloud
  • Background playback and AirPlay
  • 10-band equalizer
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • File management (import, export, rename)
  • Sleep timer
  • Smart shuffle and loop
Features
Read full description

Nota is the first full-featured file-based audio player, which is able to inplace playback from system Files app and its File Providers*. That opens an unique opportunity to access other apps and cloud sources without copying files. Highlights: - Background playback and AirPlay support - Adjust sound with 10-band equalizer for local and remote files - Sleep timer - Control playback speed (0.5x - 2x) - Organize playback queue - Intuitive gestures - Smart shuffle and loop one-all - Delicate handling of system events - playback never stops - Import, Export, Manage, Copy, Move, Rename, Reorder and Transfer files The feature - Stability and battery-safe mode -- app has successfully passed 24h-playback tests without draining the battery or terminating. *File Providers are extensions by other developers, so that other apps can access the documents and directories stored and managed by 3rd party apps. Learn more at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206481.

About

AurA LAB

Transform your smartphone into a receiver controller. Adjust sound settings, manage audio sources, and customize backlight colors for compatible receiver models. Save your personalized sound profiles for easy recall.

Highlights
  • Sound adjustment
  • Receiver function control
  • Audio source selection
  • Multi-band equalizer
  • Volume control
  • Backlight color adjustment
  • Save sound presets
Features
Read full description

The AurA LAB app turns your smartphone into a powerful tool for adjusting sound and controlling the functions of your receiver! Supported receivers: all models of the series STORM, INDIGO, VENOM AMH-66DSP, AMH-77DSP, AMH-78DSP, AMH-79DSP, AMH-88DSP, AMD-772DSP, AMD-782DSP AMH-520BT, AMH-525BT, AMH-530BT, AMH-535BT, AMH-550BT, AMH-600BT, AMH-605BT The list of supported models may change depending on the update of the AurA receiver models. Application functions (for models with the DSP index): - selection of the audio signal source; - adjustment of the cutoff frequency, filter order, time delays for each channel; - control of the multi-band equalizer; - volume control; - backlight color adjustment; - display of ID3 information about tracks being played; - ability to save up to 6 personal sound settings (presets); Application functions (for models without DSP index): - audio source selection; - multi-band equalizer control; - volume control; - backlight color setting; - display ID3 information about tracks being played;

Screenshots

Nota4 screens
AurA LAB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: AurA LAB at none against Nota's shown. AurA LAB also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Nota's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 13). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Nota against 4.2 for AurA LAB. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nota has 1.5K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Nota's written reviews are positive against 56% of AurA LAB's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nota ships an update every 4 months, AurA LAB monthly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Nota versus AurA LAB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotaAurA LAB
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (1.5K ratings) — better4.2 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews58.8% of reviews — better55.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1.5K — better13
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarkuss IrbeSIU KEUNG CHAN

Customer experience

Nota

All ratings1,504 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral4.1%
Negative14.2%
Written reviews277 reviews
Positive58.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative32.9%

AurA LAB

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral18.2%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive55.9%
Neutral8.8%
Negative35.3%

Bugs and requests

Nota

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Inability to download music from certain sources
  • Playback stops when device is locked
  • Metadata editing not working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add playlist/queue functionality
  • Implement cloud storage integration
  • Allow batch import of files
  • Add more customization options (themes, gestures, etc.)
  • Improve shuffle/repeat functionality

AurA LAB

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Nota

No in-app purchases

None

AurA LAB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nota free?
Nota is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AurA LAB free?
AurA LAB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nota or AurA LAB?
Nota is rated higher. Nota averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while AurA LAB averages 4.2 from 13 ratings.
Do Nota or AurA LAB have ads?
Nota shows ads; AurA LAB does not.
Which is updated more often, Nota or AurA LAB?
Nota ships an update every 4 months, and AurA LAB monthly. Most recently, Nota was updated on October 29, 2026 and AurA LAB on October 29, 2026.

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