Comparison

Numa Player vs Playgrid

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

Head to head
About

Numa Player

This free virtual instrument offers a vast library of high-quality sounds for music creation. It features a flexible multizone system, advanced sound engine, and extensive effects, suitable for both live performances and studio work across multiple platforms.

Highlights
  • Free multitimbral instrument player
  • Cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS)
  • Standalone or plugin mode
  • Multizone sound management
  • Advanced multi-core sound engine
  • Extensive sound library
  • 9 insert effects and 3 master effects
Features
Read full description

Numa Player is a completely free virtual instrument. It's not only the perfect companion for your SL Keyboard, but it is also much more! The User Interface scales to different monitor sizes to fit best in your Audio/MIDI setup and makes Numa Player the first Studiologic Instrument Player available for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. KEY POINTS • A completely free Multitimbral Instrument Player. • The Only Cross-Platform Instrument: macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. • Works in Standalone or Plugin mode. • The perfect match for Studiologic SL Controllers. • Live performances and Studio features. • A new "easy to use" user interface. • 4 Parts, 27 free sounds. • 9 Insert Effects and 3 Master Effects. MULTI-CORE. The advanced sound engine of Numa Player 2 takes your performance to the next level. It's now optimized to harness the full power of your device's multi-core cpu, delivering exceptional performance and ultra-low latency even in the most demanding setups1. Enjoy higher polyphony and smoother playback, no matter how complex your project gets. MULTIZONE. Designed with ultimate flexibility in mind, Numa Player 2 allows you to create and manage infinite Zones effortlessly. Add, duplicate, or drag and reposition zones with ease, all within an intuitive interface that puts full creative control at your fingertips. Customize each zone with its own sound parameters, keyboard ranges, and MIDI settings, or even assign custom colors for clear and easy navigation during your performance. MANY SOUNDS. Numa Player 2 comes packed with an extensive library of professionally recorded, high-quality sounds, covering a wide range of music genres and styles. Among Acoustic Pianos, punchy leads, orchestral textures and intricate percussive elements, find the perfect sound to bring your music to life. WHAT'S YOUR PROGRAM? In a Program you can combine any sound with its own insert effects. Save and load your program sets for Live performances and Studio sessions. 9x3 SOUND EFFECTS. MULTIPLY YOUR MOODS. Numa Player provides up to 9 integrated insert effects for each part and a Master effects section. LIVE OR STUDIO. PLAY SMARTER LIKE NEVER BEFORE. Organize the best Live Performarce setup with your devices and MIDI controllers or use Numa Player as an instrument plugin inside your DAW2 to create professional music sequences.

About

Playgrid

Features
Read full description

Songs and setlists, easy to write and easy to manage. Performance mode puts them on screen, easy to navigate while you play. • Build your gig's setlist from songs, breaks and medleys, and easily drag them into order • Write songs as blocks (headings, chord lines, tabs, reminders, images), or switch to text mode and type or copy-paste a whole chart straight in • Perform from beautifully rendered chord charts and tabs, full screen and legible from a stand, on one continuous scroll so you can read ahead • Choose between Screen, Song and Smart navigation modes, and tap through the set the way that suits you, or use a Bluetooth page turner • Keep the whole library on the device and work offline (no internet needed on stage) Playgrid Pro Playgrid Pro enables syncing through your own iCloud, and unlocks medleys and images inside songs. It is a yearly subscription or a one-time purchase. Everything else in the app is free, with no limit on songs, setlists or blocks. I play out most weekends and read my charts off an iPad. I wrote this because none of the apps I tried held up on stage. Playgrid Pro Yearly is an auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase, and it renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Playgrid Pro Lifetime is a one-time purchase and never renews. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Additional terms: https://playgrid.nl/terms-of-use.html Privacy Policy: https://playgrid.nl/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

Numa Player4 screens
Playgrid4 screens

Verdict

The call

Numa Player and Playgrid are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Numa Player sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Playgrid sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Numa Player versus Playgrid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNuma PlayerPlaygrid
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.2K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size110 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFATAR SRLBart van Raaij

Bugs and requests

Numa Player

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashing issues in GarageBand
  • Incompatibility with some MIDI controllers
  • Sustain pedal causing noise

Requested features

6 requests
  • More types of resonance (aliquot, body, bridge/soundboard)
  • New piano models (Bosendorfer, Yamaha CFX)
  • More instruments (brass, saxes)
  • Ability to save custom patches
  • Ability to resize on-screen keyboard
Show 1 more
  • MIDI learn functionality

Playgrid

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Numa Player

One-time3
  • VINTAGE PIANOS$17.99
  • GRAN CODA$24.99
  • STAGE D$24.99
2 purchases

Playgrid

Subscriptions1
  • Playgrid Pro Yearly$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Playgrid Pro Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Numa Player free?
Numa Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Playgrid free?
Playgrid is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Numa Player or Playgrid have ads?
Neither Numa Player nor Playgrid shows ads.

Other comparisons