# Bandmates vs Area

The clearest difference is rating: Area at 4.9 against Bandmates's 2.0. Area also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 60%) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bandmates sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Area sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Area holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Area has 40 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Bandmates's written reviews are positive against 95% of Area's.

Bandmates ships an update every 2 months, Area every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bandmates | Area |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bandmates/id1465299575/reviews) | **[4.9 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-messenger-for-creators/id1580244544/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **40** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **95.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Magnifico Apps Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465299574) | [Holograph](https://appshunter.io/developer/1531040795) |

## What reviewers say

### Bandmates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bandmates/id1465299575)

Connect with musicians and bands to collaborate, find gigs, and share your music. Create profiles, record audio clips, and discover industry experts. Advanced search filters help you find the perfect match based on location, instrument, and genre.

**Highlights:** Musician and band profiles, Audio clip recording and sharing, Global search by location, instrument, genre, Gig creation and invitations, Connect with music industry experts, Private chat

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bandmates (Standard) | $1.99 | per month |
| Bandmates (Industry) | $2.99 | per month |


### Area

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-messenger-for-creators/id1580244544)

This messaging app is designed for musicians to collaborate by organizing music files directly within group chats. It offers features like timestamped comments on audio, song version tracking, and continuous listening to streamline the creative process.

**Highlights:** Organize music files within group chats, Timestamped comments on audio, Track song versions, Dedicated song notes, Continuous listening as a playlist, Listen with phone locked

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Area Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Area Pro | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bandmates free?

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

### Is Area free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bandmates or Area?

Area is rated higher. Bandmates averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Area averages 4.9 from 40 ratings.

### Do Bandmates or Area have ads?

Neither Bandmates nor Area shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bandmates or Area?

Bandmates ships an update every 2 months, and Area every 8 days. Most recently, Bandmates was updated on October 17, 2026 and Area on October 22, 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.*