# Upstream™ Essentials vs RouteEffect

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Upstream™ Essentials at none against RouteEffect's 4. Upstream™ Essentials also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RouteEffect sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Upstream™ Essentials asks for nothing beyond the download.

Upstream™ Essentials ships an update every 5 months, RouteEffect every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Upstream™ Essentials | RouteEffect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routeeffect-video-router/id6743954602/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 68 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IOGEAR, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/616415832) | [Adam Tow](https://appshunter.io/developer/376550492) |

## What reviewers say

### Upstream™ Essentials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-essentials/id1513876380)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### RouteEffect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routeeffect-video-router/id6743954602)

This app provides professional control for Blackmagic Design Videohub video routers. It offers intuitive routing management, customization options, and real-time switching for live events, studios, and broadcast environments.

**Highlights:** Support for various Blackmagic Design 12G-SDI Videohubs, Multiple routing views (Button, Split, List, Wheel, Crosspoint), Real-time switching with instant feedback, Customizable inputs/outputs with icons and colors, Offline simulator for testing configurations, Picture-in-Picture mode for background control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly - Individual | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly + Family Sharing | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual - Individual | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual + Family Sharing | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Upstream™ Essentials free?

Upstream™ Essentials is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RouteEffect free?

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

### Do Upstream™ Essentials or RouteEffect have ads?

Neither Upstream™ Essentials nor RouteEffect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Upstream™ Essentials or RouteEffect?

Upstream™ Essentials ships an update every 5 months, and RouteEffect every 3 months. Most recently, Upstream™ Essentials was updated on November 3, 2026 and RouteEffect on November 4, 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.*