# Flare Scratch vs Roland Zenbeats

The clearest difference is price: Roland Zenbeats at Free against Flare Scratch's $4.99. Roland Zenbeats also leads on ratings volume (268 vs 71) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Flare Scratch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and review sentiment (66% vs 44%). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Roland Zenbeats is free to download; Flare Scratch costs $4.99 up front. Roland Zenbeats sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Flare Scratch asks for nothing beyond the download.

Roland Zenbeats holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 71 and 268 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of Flare Scratch's written reviews are positive against 44% of Roland Zenbeats's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Flare Scratch ships an update every 3 weeks, Roland Zenbeats monthly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flare Scratch | Roland Zenbeats |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.5 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flare-scratch/id324824802/reviews) | **[3.7 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roland-zenbeats/id1473380367/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 71 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | **65.9% of reviews** | 44.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | — |
| Size | 9 MB | 415 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Async](https://appshunter.io/developer/324824805) | [Roland Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/387333694) |

## What reviewers say

### Flare Scratch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flare-scratch/id324824802)

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This app simulates a high-torque DJ turntable, allowing users to scratch music from their iPod library or pre-loaded beat loops. It offers various classic scratching techniques and features like zoom mode for precision and mirror mode for left-handed users.

**Highlights:** Scratch iPod Library tunes, High torque turntable simulation, Loop player, Zoom mode for precision, Classic scratch techniques, Mirror mode for left-handers, Preloaded beat loops

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Hardest working dev
- 👍 Realistic scratching experience
- 💡 Ability to use own music library
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashing issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔋 App not optimized for newer devices

**Reported bugs**

- Crashing when adding music
- Inability to change loop or turntable tracks
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Pitch control
- Crab scratch button
- More skins/customization options
- Recording functionality
- Ability to load own beats/loops


### Roland Zenbeats

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roland-zenbeats/id1473380367)

Create music anywhere, anytime on any device. Build beats, compose songs, and sample sounds with a vast library of modern and legendary Roland sounds. Edit, refine, and mix your tracks with powerful tools and share your creations easily.

**Highlights:** Multitrack song composition, ZR1 Drum Sampler, ZC1 Synthesizer, Sample import and editing, Full-screen mixer, LoopBuilder and Timeline view, Cross-platform project sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Roland Cloud Core Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Roland Cloud Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Roland Cloud Ultimate Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Roland Cloud Core Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| 2 Store Points | $1.99 | one-time |
| 4 Store Points | $3.99 | one-time |
| 5 Store Points | $4.99 | one-time |
| 7 Store Points | $6.99 | one-time |
| 8 Store Points | $7.99 | one-time |
| 10 Store Points | $9.99 | one-time |
| 15 Store Points | $14.99 | one-time |
| 30 Store Points | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth workflow
- 👍 Comprehensive feature set
- 🎨 High-quality sounds
- 💻 Cross-platform compatibility
- 🤖 Powerful synth engine

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Confusing UI navigation
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔌 Poor MIDI integration
- 🔋 Battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing audio files
- Unresponsive MIDI learn
- Incompatibility with iOS 13
- Broken tutorial screens
- Inconsistent plugin behavior

**Requested features**

- Improved MIDI support
- Audio file export options
- Sidechain compression
- Deeper synth editing capabilities
- Audiobus/IAA compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flare Scratch free?

Flare Scratch costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Roland Zenbeats free?

Roland Zenbeats is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Flare Scratch or Roland Zenbeats?

Roland Zenbeats is rated higher. Flare Scratch averages 3.5 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while Roland Zenbeats averages 3.7 from 268 ratings.

### Do Flare Scratch or Roland Zenbeats have ads?

Neither Flare Scratch nor Roland Zenbeats shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Flare Scratch or Roland Zenbeats?

Flare Scratch ships an update every 3 weeks, and Roland Zenbeats monthly. Most recently, Flare Scratch was updated on October 29, 2026 and Roland Zenbeats on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*