Comparison

JAX ESSENTIALS vs tapeworm

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

Head to head
About

JAX ESSENTIALS

This AudioUnit plugin creates multi-stage chorus effects for music production. It allows for micro pitch shifting and low-frequency oscillation to add depth and movement to audio signals, compatible across Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Multi-stage chorus modulation
  • Low-frequency oscillator control
  • Cross-device preset sharing
  • Includes ~200 factory presets
  • User-created preset import/export
  • Universal app for iOS, macOS, visionOS
Features
Read full description

( THIS IS AN AUDIOUNIT. AudioUnits are app extensions, requiring an audio host application to perform. ) Use the same AudioUnits across all modern Apple devices, including the iPhone , the Vision Pro and the Mac (Apple Silicon). Native MacOS apps like GarageBand, MainStage 3 and Logic Pro X are tested and supported. Any 3rd-party AUv3 supporting host should be able to host the plugin too. The JAX ESSENTIAL SERIES Chorus is a multi stage chorus modulation effect that uses multiple copies of the audio signal, micro pitch shifted, to produce all kinds of the famous chorus effect. A low frequency oscillator modulates depth and speed of the pitch shift on both stereo channels for various living and moving sound nuances. Make static sounding voices more interesting or create swirrling special effects. You may share the presets for this effect across all your supported devices. Around 200 factory presets are included, you can make and export/import your own. The manual is included and can be previewed on our support website. For advanced usage (i.e. mastering and exciting), we recommend to select the chorus from our SELECTIVE RANGE SERIES, which allows to limit the frequency range for processing. This build is truly 'universal', meaning, the audio unit is available for: - iOS (all actual iPhones) - iPadOS (all actual iPads) - macOS (Apple Silicon) - visionOS (Apple Vision Pro) Requirements: MacOS 10.15++ iOS 14.0++ Behaviour on all devices is identical. The parametric interface is resizeble and adopts to any screen size and orientation. This especially applies to Logic Pro X and all hosts with adjustable window sizes on all platforms. Display contrast can be adjusted freely and is now saved with each preset.

About

tapeworm

This music app offers a unique tape delay effect with a "wiggly, dirty" sound. Control delay time by stretching or flicking a virtual tapeworm, with options for manual or random adjustments. It includes analog-modeled saturation, compression, and amplifier stages for a rich audio experience.

Highlights
  • Interactive tape delay time control
  • Manual and free modes for delay
  • Analog-modeled tape saturation and compression
  • Overdrivable feedback
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • Performative sound design elements
Features
Read full description

Tapeworm is a tape echo with a unique method of changing the delay time, and a wiggly, dirty sound. You can set the delay time manually by stretching the worm. The record button will flash to show the current interval. You can exit the fixed time mode and enter free mode by toggling. This lets the delay time change randomly, which you can encourage by flicking the tapeworm around. Double tap to reset, adding a fun performative element to your sound. Feedback can be overdriven. An analog-modeled tape saturation and compression, and amplifier and limiter stage, keep it sounding juicy when it gets loud. Tapeworm is audio unit (AUv3) compatible, meaning you can use it as a plugin in your app of choice like AUM, GarageBand or Logic. We hope you enjoy using tapeworm for music, or just for fun.

Screenshots

JAX ESSENTIALS4 screens
tapeworm3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: tapeworm at Free against JAX ESSENTIALS's $4.99. tapeworm also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (12 vs 2). JAX ESSENTIALS's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.6). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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

tapeworm is free to download; JAX ESSENTIALS costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

tapeworm holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: tapeworm has 12 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JAX ESSENTIALS ships an update fortnightly, tapeworm every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
JAX ESSENTIALS versus tapeworm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJAX ESSENTIALStapeworm
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.3 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings212 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJens GuellRadii Research

Customer experience

JAX ESSENTIALS

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

tapeworm

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

None

JAX ESSENTIALS

No in-app purchases

None

tapeworm

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is JAX ESSENTIALS free?
JAX ESSENTIALS costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is tapeworm free?
tapeworm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, JAX ESSENTIALS or tapeworm?
tapeworm is rated higher. JAX ESSENTIALS averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while tapeworm averages 4.3 from 12 ratings.
Do JAX ESSENTIALS or tapeworm have ads?
Neither JAX ESSENTIALS nor tapeworm shows ads.
Which is updated more often, JAX ESSENTIALS or tapeworm?
JAX ESSENTIALS ships an update fortnightly, and tapeworm every 2 weeks. Most recently, JAX ESSENTIALS was updated on October 19, 2026 and tapeworm on October 16, 2026.

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