Comparison

MXBus vs ThunderBars

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

Head to head
About

MXBus

This app empowers musicians to control their own monitor mixes directly from their iOS device when using Behringer X32/X-Air or Midas consoles. It offers features like stereo channels, namable groups, and automatic console discovery for a streamlined sound check and live performance adjustment.

Highlights
  • Monitor mix control for musicians
  • Supports Behringer X32/X-Air and Midas consoles
  • Stereo channels for screen real-estate
  • Namable groups and automatic console discovery
  • Control send levels for channels, aux tracks, and effects
  • Reorder channels within groups
  • Springboard and Lock Screen widgets
Features
Read full description

MXBus is a monitor mixing app for all Behringer X32 and X-Air mixing consoles that allows musicians on stage to control their own monitor mix with their iOS device. It also supports the Midas versions of these mixers (M32* and M-Air) It features stereo channels to save screen real-estate, namable groups and automatic console discovery. Musicians can control the send levels into their monitoring mix bus for all channels aux tracks and effects returns. You can even reorder the channels within your groups to your liking. It makes the sound check painless and allows you to adjust the mix during the gig. Some key differentiating Features: • Linked channels are treated as a stereo channel to save screen space.  • Double tapping a fader knob sets it 0. • Double tapping the panning control on a stereo channel pans the signal hard L/R. Another double tap reverses the panning. • NEW: Springboard and Lock Screen widgets for quicker access. And as always: The app is built with data privacy in mind - no adds, no tracking! The PRO pack unlocks even more features like: • Decayed meters with peak memory • Compression meters • Gate LEDs • Channel mute buttons (X32) • Group mute buttons (X32) • Unlimited groups • Scenes • Bus EQ • Bus Compressor

About

ThunderBars

Features
Read full description

ThunderBars turns the sound around you into a living, real-time light show. Point your iPhone at music, your voice, or any ambient sound, and watch it come alive as vivid bars and waveforms pulse to every beat. WHAT YOU GET Three visualizations — Radial Bars, Waveform, and Matrix Bars — each with its own character Color themes — Aurora, Ember, Ice, and Mono palettes to match your mood Real-time analysis — beat detection and a sensitivity dial to tune the reaction Clean, dark interface that puts the visual front and center Optional synced lyrics overlay while music plays Privacy: https://romaherman.github.io/thunderbars/privacy.html

Screenshots

MXBus4 screens
ThunderBars1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: MXBus at 15.6 against ThunderBars's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads 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. MXBus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ThunderBars sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MXBus ships an update monthly, ThunderBars every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
MXBus versus ThunderBars: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMXBusThunderBars
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (121 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews71.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings121 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndreas KeldenichRoma Herman

Bugs and requests

MXBus

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • Faders moving/sliding on their own without user input
  • App crashes when changing aux channels
  • Mute button switches to channel info screen
  • Scene saving not working properly (iOS 26)
  • Mix recall/fader recall feature broken after updates
Show 13 more
  • Glitchy fader behavior when locking/unlocking phone
  • Inverted fader behavior (turning down turns up)
  • Random channel muting/unmuting
  • Connection failures with error codes (Error 49, Error 65)
  • App not saving changes on iOS 26
  • Bus EQ affecting all buses instead of individual ones
  • Pan controls not functioning in Pro version
  • Bus labels showing blank on M32
  • Scenes not loading saved mix-bus selection
  • Network permission not requested on first launch (iPad)
  • App not recognizing mixer on certain network configurations
  • Compatibility issues with iOS 15.6.1 and iPadOS versions
  • Scenes lost after iOS/app upgrades

Requested features

15 requests
  • Panning control for individual channels
  • Support for Behringer Wing consoles
  • Individual group controls for sends
  • Main L/R mix access
  • FX send control from channels
Show 10 more
  • Compression and advanced EQ on channels
  • Mute status indicator from console
  • Custom channel ordering/arrangement
  • Demo mode for training
  • Android version of the app
  • Support for Allen & Heath SQ, QU, CQ boards
  • Support for Soundcraft Ui24r
  • Offline scene editing capability
  • More mute groups
  • Mackie DL version

ThunderBars

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

MXBus

One-time1
  • MXBus PRO Package$2.99
1 purchases

ThunderBars

One-time1
  • Thunder Bars Pro$9.99

Questions

Is MXBus free?
MXBus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ThunderBars free?
ThunderBars is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MXBus or ThunderBars have ads?
Neither MXBus nor ThunderBars shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MXBus or ThunderBars?
MXBus ships an update monthly, and ThunderBars every 3 weeks. Most recently, MXBus was updated on November 7, 2026 and ThunderBars on October 31, 2026.

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