# Tempo vs Equalizer

The clearest difference is rating: Equalizer at 4.3 against Tempo's 3.7. Equalizer also leads on ratings volume (6.5K vs 7). Tempo's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (33% vs 16%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tempo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Equalizer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Equalizer holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Equalizer has 6.5K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Tempo's written reviews are positive against 16% of Equalizer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Tempo ships an update every 2 months, Equalizer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tempo | Equalizer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-adaptive-audio/id1456559283/reviews) | **[4.3 (6.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/equalizer-volume-booster-eq/id1550086698/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **6.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 15.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 185 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lucas Klein](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180465891) | [Gismart Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1550086700) |

## What reviewers say

### Tempo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tempo-adaptive-audio/id1456559283)

This app automatically adjusts your music volume based on your activity, such as walking, biking, or skiing. Customize modes and enjoy seamless audio control without manual adjustments. It prioritizes privacy and works with most audio apps and devices.

**Highlights:** Adaptive volume adjustment, Customizable modes, Ski lift audio handling, WatchOS app integration, Privacy-focused location data, Wide audio app compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tempo Pro | $1.99 | one-time |


### Equalizer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/equalizer-volume-booster-eq/id1550086698)

Enhance your music listening experience with advanced audio controls. Adjust bass, volume, and frequency with various presets and effects. Access your music library and enjoy immersive sound.

**Highlights:** EQ Presets, Volume Maximizer, Frequency Equalizer, Spatial Audio, Pitch/Time Effect, iTunes & DropBox Integration

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Equalizer Premium Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Equalizer Premium access | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Music One | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Equalizer Premium access | $14.99 | per month |
| Full Access to Pro Features | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Equalizer Premium access | $24.99 | per year |
| Equalizer Premium access | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Good sound quality
- 🔊 Enhances audio experience
- 👍 Interesting and clever features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🚫 Limited functionality without subscription
- 🤔 Misleading free trial and pricing information
- 🔒 Restricted access to personal music libraries
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes frequently
- Inability to save or export edited audio
- Incompatibility with certain music libraries and streaming services

**Requested features**

- Ability to use equalizer with all audio apps, not just in-app music player
- Support for more music streaming services like Spotify
- Option to purchase a one-time license instead of subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tempo free?

Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Equalizer free?

Equalizer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Tempo or Equalizer?

Equalizer is rated higher. Tempo averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Equalizer averages 4.3 from 6.5K ratings.

### Do Tempo or Equalizer have ads?

Equalizer shows ads; Tempo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tempo or Equalizer?

Tempo ships an update every 2 months, and Equalizer every 3 months. Most recently, Tempo was updated on November 2, 2026 and Equalizer on November 4, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*