Comparison

Mantis vs volumeCTRL

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

Head to head
About

Mantis

This audio plugin emulates a vintage 70s analog delay/echo unit, offering a warm, authentic sound. It features four echo taps, swell selectors, and a unique modulation section for chorus-like effects.

Highlights
  • Emulates rare 70s BBD delay/echo
  • Warm analog sound
  • Four echo taps
  • Four swell selectors
  • Rotafaze modulation section
  • Mimics tape echo wow/flutter
  • Chorus-delay effect
Features
Read full description

Mantis is a plugin that emulates a rare BBD (bucket-brigade device) delay/echo unit of the 70s, faithfully recreating its warm and analog sound. Available as AUv3 and Standalone. As the original unit, Mantis features an echo section with four taps and four swell selectors. It also features the rotafaze section, a modulation that can mimic the wow/flutter of a tape echo or turn the unit into a unique chorus-delay.

About

volumeCTRL

Gain precise control over your device's audio levels with this utility app. Adjust volume by percentage or dBFS, fine-tune with incremental steps, and temporarily dim or mute sound. Ideal for music, podcasts, and late-night media consumption.

Highlights
  • Precise volume adjustment by percentage or dBFS
  • Keypad for exact value input
  • Fine-tune volume with customizable step sizes
  • Temporary dim and mute functions
  • Seamless integration with device volume controls
  • Universal app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
Currently charting
Read full description

volumeCTRL is a simple utility that works alongside your iPhone/iPad’s built-in volume controls to give you precise control over its level. It is designed for anyone who needs or wants tighter, repeatable control over volume level. volumeCTRL lets you set the volume level using either Percent or dBFS (decibels from Full Scale). You can key in exact values with a handy on-screen keypad. Fine tune your setting using buttons which change the value in small steps. Dim or Mute the sound when you get interrupted temporarily. volumeCTRL is the perfect iPad Split View or Slide Over companion for listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. Use it with your favorite music app, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Qobuz, TIDAL Music, or Pandora. With volumeCTRL, you can get your late night listening level just right when you stream movies or TV shows while everything else is quiet. If you're picky about exactly how loud your device audio is, volumeCTRL is the right app for you. FEATURES - volumeCTRL lets you set your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch volume precisely + New Favorite Volume options let you set preferred volumes for various listening cases - Selectable Units: Percent (%) or Decibels from Full Scale (dBFS) - Virtual Keypad allows you to key in exact values - Volume Up/Down Buttons let you change the volume in fine-grained 0.5 % or about 0.5 dB steps + New in Version 1.1 You can customize the step size - Dim and Mute Buttons let you temporarily lower the volume and easily get back to your previous level - Dim lowers the volume by a fixed amount (Customizable, Default: 18 dB) Super handy for quieting down loud commercials! - Mute silences the audio completely - volumeCTRL peacefully coexists with the device’s built-in volume controls — use either and the other follows seamlessly - Supports both Dark and Light Mode Appearances - Supports Hardware Keyboards connected to iPads - volumeCTRL is a Universal App - it works on iPad, iPhone, & iPod touch - User Guide embedded in App - no internet connection required to read it - auDSPr strives to design Apps for Everyone - Languages: All auDSPr audio apps support for 简体中文, Español, русский, 日本語, Français, Deutsch, Svenska, Latviešu - Accessibility Features - VoiceOver screen reader support assists visually impaired users APPLICATIONS - Setting impactful yet safe listening levels when using headphones or in-ear monitors - Setting repeatable reference volumes for studio control rooms or audiophile listening rooms - Setting precise levels for hearing aid intelligibility SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - BUYER BEWARE: Some Bluetooth devices have coarse volume implementations (see picture above). The coarse hardware volume defeats volumeCTRL’s fine software volume setting and prevents performance from behaving optimally! - volumeCTRL is verified to work beautifully with Apple AirPods - Compatible with iOS 11.0 & up (iPhone 5S, iPhone SE (1st Generation), iPod touch (6th Generation) & up) - Compatible with iPadOS 11.0 & up (iPad (5th Generation), iPad Pro (1st Generation), iPad Air (1st Generation), iPad mini 2,& up)

Screenshots

Mantis1 screens
volumeCTRL3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: volumeCTRL at $4.99 against Mantis's $14.99. volumeCTRL also leads on chart position (#156 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). Mantis's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.2). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Mantis costs $14.99 and volumeCTRL $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mantis holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 9 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Mantis versus volumeCTRL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMantisvolumeCTRL
Price$14.99$4.99 — better
Rating5.0 (8 ratings) — better3.2 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews—45.5% of reviews
Number of ratings89 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#156 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudioThing Ltd.auDSPr

Customer experience

Mantis

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

volumeCTRL

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative45.5%

In-app purchases

None

Mantis

No in-app purchases

None

volumeCTRL

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mantis free?
Mantis costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is volumeCTRL free?
volumeCTRL costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mantis or volumeCTRL?
Mantis is rated higher. Mantis averages 5.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while volumeCTRL averages 3.2 from 9 ratings.
Do Mantis or volumeCTRL have ads?
Neither Mantis nor volumeCTRL shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mantis or volumeCTRL?
Mantis ships an update every 9 months, and volumeCTRL every 9 months. Most recently, Mantis was updated on September 26, 2026 and volumeCTRL on September 13, 2026.

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