Comparison

5ths Machine vs Loop

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

Head to head
About

5ths Machine

Explore the theoretical intricacies of key signatures with an interactive quiz. Learn about the 12-position equal temperament system and discover how to identify keys with an unusual number of sharps. Understand music theory through a unique perspective.

Highlights
  • Key signature quiz
  • Equal temperament system explanation
  • Theoretical key signature exploration
  • Background information on music theory
  • Quiz tips and strategies
  • Chronology of music theory concepts
Features
Read full description

Think you know your key signatures cold? Answer this: which key has 41 sharps? The equal temperament system is a circle with 12 positions, just like a clock. And, just like on a clock, the hands keep going around and around forever. The key signature of 41 sharps is theoretically consistent with the Western diatonic system ― learn why, and learn how to find out what key it is. The Background Information and the Quiz Tips explain the system in detail, and Chronology puts it all in perspective. Enjoy the “Perpetual 5ths Machine Boogie” while key signatures you’ve never seen before pass by on parade. Then, buckle down and solve the Quiz questions. NOW you understand music theory the 5ths Machine way!

About

Loop

Create melodies and drum patterns on a simple grid. Explore free samples or build your own sounds with various synthesis options. Save your creations and make music offline.

Highlights
  • Tap grid to create melodies
  • Build drum patterns
  • Multiple synthesis options
  • Shape sound with effects
  • Save and export loops
  • Offline music creation
Features
Read full description

Turn taps into melodies and beats. Loop is your handheld music studio for sketching ideas, building drum patterns, and creating original loops on a simple grid. Start with five free sample loops or make something of your own. CREATE WITH A TAP • Tap the grid to add notes and hear your melody take shape. • Add kick, snare, and hi-hat patterns. • Build longer phrases across multiple pages. • Follow your music with a moving playback highlight. • Give each loop its own name and color. EXPLORE FIVE FREE SAMPLES From mellow grooves to bright arpeggios, each sample combines a distinct melody, rhythm, and sound. Play them for inspiration, view their sound settings, and restore deleted samples from Settings. Samples do not count toward your free saved-loop limit. SHAPE YOUR SOUND WITH PREMIUM • Explore FM, AM, wavetable, subtractive, and membrane synthesis. • Choose sine, triangle, square, and sawtooth waveforms. • Adjust tempo, octave, and musical scale. • Shape notes with attack, decay, sustain, and release controls. • Add reverb, delay, tremolo, vibrato, and distortion. • Edit sample loops to make them your own. SAVE AND SHARE Create and save one personal loop for free, alongside the five sample loops. Premium unlocks unlimited saved loops and WAV export for sharing, other music apps, or creating a custom ringtone. MAKE MUSIC OFFLINE No account. No ads. No tracking. Your loops stay on your device, so you can make music whenever inspiration strikes. Premium is available through an optional monthly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

5ths Machine4 screens
Loop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Loop at Free against 5ths Machine's $1.99. Loop also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 24 months) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). 5ths Machine's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads 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

Loop is free to download; 5ths Machine costs $1.99 up front. Loop sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. 5ths Machine asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

5ths Machine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

5ths Machine ships an update every 24 months, Loop fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
5ths Machine versus Loop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter5ths MachineLoop
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better3.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews—71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLucy HudsonANCREATIVE INC.

Customer experience

5ths Machine

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Loop

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

None

5ths Machine

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Loop

Subscriptions1
  • Loop Monthly$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • Loop Premium Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is 5ths Machine free?
5ths Machine costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Loop free?
Loop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 5ths Machine or Loop?
5ths Machine is rated higher. 5ths Machine averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Loop averages 3.0 from 3 ratings.
Do 5ths Machine or Loop have ads?
Neither 5ths Machine nor Loop shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 5ths Machine or Loop?
5ths Machine ships an update every 24 months, and Loop fortnightly. Most recently, 5ths Machine was updated on November 14, 2026 and Loop on November 7, 2026.

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