Comparison

BLEASS Dragonfly vs VariSpeed

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

Head to head
About

BLEASS Dragonfly

This audio effect plugin offers a unique approach to tremolo, allowing music producers to add dynamic modulation to synths, vocals, and melodies. It syncs tremolo effects with input frequencies, MIDI notes, or sidechained signals for creative sonic textures.

Highlights
  • Pitch tracking for self or sidechain modes
  • MIDI input for precise triggering
  • Manual rate and amplitude control
  • Adjustable smoothing, stereo, attack, and release
  • Wild mode for saturation and waveshaping
  • Animated visualization of effect rate
Read full description

BLEASS Dragonfly is a completely new approach to tremolo effect which brings new sonic possibilities to all music producers. Make your synths, voices or any melody “vibrate” in correspondence with its own frequencies, or with external basses and leads! Just like in Billie Eilish’s song “Xanny”, Dragonfly helps you achieve the same effect as when the voice gets modulated by a heavy bass. BLEASS Dragonfly automatically syncs the tremolo effect applied on a track using various triggers: First, you can use the pitch tracking module on either the input audio track (“self mode”) or a sidechained audio track (“sidechain mode”). You also can use the midi input to trigger Dragonfly with accuracy: the tremolo will automatically sync with the notes’ frequencies. Finally, a manual mode allows you to set a fixed frequency. Then you can finetune your settings by adjusting the fine, factor, smoothness, stereo, attack & release. The “Wild” mode applies a waveshaper to the signal to produce a subtle saturation. The final tremolo effect rate is mirrored by the flapping wings of the Dragonfly. BLEASS Dragonfly is also available for Mac & Windows (AU / VST3) https://www.bleass.com/dragonfly/ ________________________________________________ Technical description: SOURCE stage: - MANUAL: Tremolo rate is set by the Rate knob. Tremolo amplitude is set by the Amplitude knob. - MIDI: Tremolo rate corresponds to the rate of the lowest MIDI note received by the plugin. Tremolo amplitude corresponds to the velocity value of this note. - SELF: Pitch tracking on the input signal gives the tremolo rate. Tremolo amplitude matches the input signal’s amplitude. - SIDECHAIN: Pitch tracking on the sidechain signal gives the tremolo rate. Tremolo amplitude matches the sidechain signal’s amplitude. - SOURCE CHANNEL: Sets the channel to be analysed for SELF and SIDECHAIN modes. - AMPLITUDE: Sets tremolo amplitude in MANUAL mode. - GAIN: Sets the input gain in MIDI, SELF and SIDECHAIN modes. DRAGONFLY stage: - RATE: Sets tremolo rate in MANUAL mode. - FINE: Offsets the detected pitch value by +/- 0.5 semitone in MIDI, SELF and SIDECHAIN mode. - FACTOR: Detected or set rate is multiplied by this factor to give the final tremolo rate. - SMOOTH: Sets the smoothing duration of rate variations. - STEREO: Sets phase difference between left and right channels. - ATTACK: Attack duration of the effect. - RELEASE: Release duration of the effect. - MODE: SIMPLE is a basic tremolo. WILD uses complex waveshaping for warm and saturated effect. - WILDNESS: Sets waveshaping strength in WILD mode. - VISUALISATION: Dragonfly wings are animated to match the rate and amplitude of the effect. Green label on the left indicates the input MIDI note and rate. Blue label on the right indicates the applied MIDI note and Rate. MIX stage: - GAIN: Output gain of the effect. - DRY/WET: Dry/wet balance. NOTE: This is an AUv3 effect which needs a compatible host that ideally offers audio sidechain or MIDI FX routing (such as AUM, Cubasis 3 or Logic)

About

VariSpeed

This app simulates a classic tape echo machine, replicating the functionality of a specific vintage hardware unit. It allows for variable delay times by altering the speed of the tape mechanism.

Highlights
  • Classic tape echo simulation
  • Variable delay time
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • Replicates vintage hardware
Read full description

Please note: this is an AUv3 plugin that can be used with compatible host Apps. GSi VariSpeed is a simulation of the WEM Copicat IC-400 Belt Drive VariSpeed model, the first tape echo machine made by WEM with a DC capstan motor capable of changing speed, thus varying the delay time. GSi VariSpeed replicates the hardware instrument “as is” with all its pros and cons, without any additional feature. This can be considered as the second chapter of a tribute to the genius of Mr. Charlie Watkins that GSi began back in 2008 with the release of the freeware "WatKat", which was a simulation of the "Custom Copicat".

Screenshots

BLEASS Dragonfly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BLEASS Dragonfly at $7.99 against VariSpeed's $11.99. BLEASS Dragonfly also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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

BLEASS Dragonfly costs $7.99 and VariSpeed $11.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for BLEASS Dragonfly against 4.9 for VariSpeed. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 8 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BLEASS Dragonfly ships an update every 24 months, VariSpeed every 41 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BLEASS Dragonfly versus VariSpeed: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBLEASS DragonflyVariSpeed
Price$7.99 — better$11.99
Rating4.8 (17 ratings)4.9 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings17 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 24 months — betterEvery 41 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBLEASSGenuine Soundware

Customer experience

BLEASS Dragonfly

All ratings17 ratings
Positive88.2%
Neutral11.8%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VariSpeed

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

BLEASS Dragonfly

No in-app purchases

None

VariSpeed

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BLEASS Dragonfly free?
BLEASS Dragonfly costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VariSpeed free?
VariSpeed costs $11.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BLEASS Dragonfly or VariSpeed?
VariSpeed is rated higher. BLEASS Dragonfly averages 4.8 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while VariSpeed averages 4.9 from 8 ratings.
Do BLEASS Dragonfly or VariSpeed have ads?
Neither BLEASS Dragonfly nor VariSpeed shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BLEASS Dragonfly or VariSpeed?
BLEASS Dragonfly ships an update every 24 months, and VariSpeed every 41 months. Most recently, BLEASS Dragonfly was updated on September 14, 2026 and VariSpeed on September 10, 2026.

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