# Stage Master vs Ruffio

The clearest difference is rating: Ruffio at 4.5 against Stage Master's 3.7. Ruffio also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (443 vs 3). Stage Master's advantage is iOS requirement (10.3 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stage Master sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Ruffio asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ruffio holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ruffio has 443 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 67% and 66% positive.

Stage Master ships an update every 3 weeks, Ruffio every 10 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stage Master | Ruffio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stage-master/id1478812537/reviews) | **[4.5 (443 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruffio-backing-track-creator/id1544449867/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **443** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 65.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 81 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.3** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [DejaWorks LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1051410230) | [Rufus Mall](https://appshunter.io/developer/887043621) |

## What reviewers say

### Stage Master

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stage-master/id1478812537)

This music app helps musicians manage lyrics, chords, and backing tracks for live performances. It allows for flexible playback of imported audio files and automatic switching of hardware effect presets. Control is enhanced with MIDI controller support for hands-free operation.

**Highlights:** Multi-track backing audio playback, Synchronized lyrics and chords, Automatic MIDI effect preset switching, External MIDI controller support, On-the-fly song part looping, Playlist creation for gigs, Audio import from DAWs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $1.49 | per month |
| 1 Year Subscription | $7.49 | per year |
| Full Features Forever | $30.99 | one-time |


### Ruffio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruffio-backing-track-creator/id1544449867)

This app uses advanced AI to split any song into its individual instrument stems, allowing you to mute or isolate vocals, drums, bass, and more. Create custom backing tracks, karaoke versions, or practice your instrument with isolated parts. All processing happens on your device for privacy and offline use.

**Highlights:** AI stem separation, Mute vocals for karaoke, Isolate instruments for practice, Real-time mixing controls, Offline audio processing, Supports various audio/video formats

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Excellent audio stem separation quality
- 💰 Completely free with no ads
- 👍 User-friendly and easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and efficient processing
- ⭐ Works better than paid competitors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 YouTube import feature frequently broken
- 📱 iPad compatibility issues and crashes
- 🔊 Audio quality sometimes muddy or unclear
- 🎚️ Slider controls can be imprecise
- ❌ Missing export/save functionality

**Reported bugs**

- YouTube import not working (multiple reports)
- App crashes on iPad
- Audio phasing in and out during playback
- Sliders not responding to input
- Staticky sound quality

**Requested features**

- Export stems as individual audio files
- Pitch change and tempo adjustment
- Ability to play songs backwards
- Better slider controls and responsiveness
- Playlist management system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stage Master free?

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

### Is Ruffio free?

Ruffio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Stage Master or Ruffio?

Ruffio is rated higher. Stage Master averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Ruffio averages 4.5 from 443 ratings.

### Do Stage Master or Ruffio have ads?

Neither Stage Master nor Ruffio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stage Master or Ruffio?

Stage Master ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ruffio every 10 days. Most recently, Stage Master was updated on November 3, 2026 and Ruffio on November 3, 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.*