Comparison

BPM Detector vs Refader

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

Head to head
About

BPM Detector

This application automatically detects the tempo (BPM) of any music or rhythm in real-time using your device's microphone. It offers features like song identification, detection history, and a visual BPM graph for precise timing analysis.

Highlights
  • Automatic BPM detection
  • Real-time tempo analysis
  • Shazam song identification
  • BPM detection history
  • Fullscreen BPM display
  • BPM variation graph
Features
Read full description

Any song. Any room. Instant BPM. Point your iPhone at the music and watch the tempo appear — automatically, in real time. No tapping. No guessing. BPM Detector listens through your mic and locks onto the beat of whatever's playing — a track, a live band, a drum loop, a record — and shows the BPM the moment it hears it. WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT • Zero tapping — the BPM just appears, and keeps updating live. • Real-time accuracy — watch the number lock in within seconds. • Made for how you work — DJs, producers, drummers, dancers, fitness instructors, and curious listeners. FEATURES • Automatic BPM detection — read the live tempo of any music or instrument, hands-free. • Shazam built in — grab the song title and artist while you read its BPM. • Apple Watch app — see the tempo right on your wrist. • Detection history — every reading saved with timestamp, track info, and BPM. Perfect for sets, rehearsals, and crate-digging. • Fullscreen mode — huge, high-contrast numbers you can read across the room. • Variation graph — see how steady the tempo holds, beat for beat. Open it, hear the music, get the BPM. That's it. Download BPM Detector and never guess a tempo again. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Refader

Control MIDI devices and hosts remotely via USB or Wi-Fi. Connect your device to a computer using "Audio MIDI Setup" to establish a networked MIDI session.

Highlights
  • MIDI fader controller
  • Control MIDI devices
  • Control MIDI hosts
  • USB connectivity
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Networked MIDI sessions
Features
Read full description

Refader is a MIDI fader controller to control MIDI devices and hosts via USB or wi-fi sessions. To connect to your computer, use "Audio MIDI Setup" and join the networked MIDI session on the "MIDI Studio" app.

Screenshots

BPM Detector3 screens
Refader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Refader at none against BPM Detector's 13. Refader also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (80% vs 59%). BPM Detector's advantage is ratings volume (254 vs 6). On price, rating, update cadence and device support 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. BPM Detector sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Refader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for BPM Detector against 4.2 for Refader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BPM Detector has 254 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of BPM Detector's written reviews are positive against 80% of Refader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BPM Detector ships an update every 3 days, Refader every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
BPM Detector versus Refader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBPM DetectorRefader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (254 ratings) — better4.2 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews58.9% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings254 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperQuentin HayotPedro Yamada

Customer experience

BPM Detector

All ratings254 ratings
Positive82.3%
Neutral2.8%
Negative15.0%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive58.9%
Neutral6.3%
Negative34.7%

Refader

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

BPM Detector

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Ads cover screen and won't go away
  • Ads get stuck and cannot be exited
  • Music cuts out during detection
  • Inaccurate BPM for certain genres (e.g., drum and bass)
  • App gets hot on iPhone Pro
Show 4 more
  • BPM readings drop significantly after initial detection
  • Inappropriate advertisements (e.g., gambling)
  • App sometimes registers double BPM for slow tracks
  • Sensitivity settings don't detect subtle sounds

Requested features

8 requests
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Ableton Link support
  • Dark mode
  • Metronome function with click sound
  • DJ Tap Tempo feature
Show 3 more
  • Custom BPM detection range
  • Graph of last 30s BPM
  • Mac version

Refader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

BPM Detector

Subscriptions6
  • BPM Detector Pro$0.991 Month
  • BPM Detector Pro3 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • BPM Detector Pro$1.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • BPM Detector Pro Weekly7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • BPM Detector Pro Weekly7 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • BPM Detector Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
One-time6
  • BPM Detector Pro 4 FriendsFree
  • BPM Detector Pro Unlimited$3.99
  • BPM Detector Pro Unlimited$4.99
Show 3 more
  • BPM Detector Pro Unlimited2 variants$7.99
  • BPM Detector Pro Lifetime$9.99
  • BPM Detector Pro Unlimited$12.99
None

Refader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BPM Detector free?
BPM Detector is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Refader free?
Refader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BPM Detector or Refader?
BPM Detector is rated higher. BPM Detector averages 4.3 out of 5 from 254 ratings, while Refader averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.
Do BPM Detector or Refader have ads?
BPM Detector shows ads; Refader does not.
Which is updated more often, BPM Detector or Refader?
BPM Detector ships an update every 3 days, and Refader every 2 days. Most recently, BPM Detector was updated on October 17, 2026 and Refader on October 15, 2026.

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