Comparison

Spike Recorder vs Stochastic Signal Processing

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

Head to head
About

Spike Recorder

Explore neuroscience with this app, allowing you to view, hear, record, and analyze neural signals from neurons and muscles. It provides tools for students of all ages to conduct hands-on electrophysiology experiments and understand brain communication.

Highlights
  • View neural signals
  • Hear neural signals
  • Record neural data
  • Analyze neural spike trains
  • Measure reaction times
  • Calculate neuroscience statistics
Read full description

Let’s face it. The brain is complex, but it is extremely fascinating. To study the brain, you typically have to be a graduate student at a major university. But not any more! Backyard Brains enables everyone to be a neuroscientist! Coupled with our SpikerBox you can order at: http://backyardbrains.com this app allows you to view, hear, record and analyze actual neural signals. Both from individual neurons and muscles. Backyard Brains provides affordable neuroscience experiment kits for students of all ages to learn (hands-on) about electrophysiology. Now everyone from schoolchildren to grad students and every grade in between can experiment with similar tools used by real neuroscientists worldwide! By following a few simple steps, everyone can experience first-hand how the brain communicates with our senses, memories, hopes, and desires. Our iOS application includes both long continuous and threshold views, and once you have recorded your data, you can analyze the neural spike trains, measure reaction times, and calculate statistics just like professional neuroscientists! Do let us know us know about your experiments. Note: The application normally picks up input through the the iPhone's built-in microphone. If you want to plug directly into your SpikerBox, or any audio device, you need a custom male-to-male headphone cable (a normal one won't work), available from our website. It has to do with routing and filtering an output channel to an input channel.

About

Stochastic Signal Processing

Explore the processing of random signals like speech, music, and climate data. This interactive textbook offers dynamic information, films, animations, and 59 real-time laboratory experiments using your device's camera and microphone. It's designed for those with prior signal processing and probability theory knowledge.

Highlights
  • Interactive textbook format
  • Dynamic information display
  • Films and animations
  • 59 laboratory experiments
  • Real-time signal processing
  • Homework problems
Features
Read full description

Speech, music, seismic vibrations, oil prices, and climate measurements are all examples of stochastic (random) signals. In this textbook—intended for individuals with prior training in introductory signal processing and introductory probability theory—we develop techniques to process such signals to extract useful information. We present case studies ranging from music to photographic images to oil prices to climate data to the motion of individual biomolecules. This textbook, as an interactive textbook ("iBook"), makes use of your device's ability to display dynamic information through films and animations and to hear the results of the techniques applied to music. At the end of every chapter there are homework problems ranging from easy to "olympic". We make use of your device's interactive capabilities to offer 59 laboratory experiments in signal processing. The experiments use the camera, the microphone, the speakers, and the graphical user interface. These experiments are not simulations; they are examples of real digital processing of signals in your device. In this time of at-home and online learning, this is the way to learn signal processing through study and experimentation.

Screenshots

Spike Recorder3 screens
Stochastic Signal Processing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Stochastic Signal Processing at 4.7 against Spike Recorder's 3.4. Stochastic Signal Processing also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). Spike Recorder's advantage is iOS requirement (9.2 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Stochastic Signal Processing holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Spike Recorder's written reviews are positive against 67% of Stochastic Signal Processing's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spike Recorder ships an update every 4 months, Stochastic Signal Processing every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 29, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Spike Recorder versus Stochastic Signal Processing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpike RecorderStochastic Signal Processing
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (17 ratings)4.7 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.5% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.2 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBackyard BrainsIan Young

Customer experience

Spike Recorder

All ratings17 ratings
Positive52.9%
Neutral5.9%
Negative41.2%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive61.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative30.8%

Stochastic Signal Processing

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Spike Recorder

No in-app purchases

None

Stochastic Signal Processing

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spike Recorder free?
Spike Recorder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Stochastic Signal Processing free?
Stochastic Signal Processing is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spike Recorder or Stochastic Signal Processing?
Stochastic Signal Processing is rated higher. Spike Recorder averages 3.4 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Stochastic Signal Processing averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.
Do Spike Recorder or Stochastic Signal Processing have ads?
Neither Spike Recorder nor Stochastic Signal Processing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spike Recorder or Stochastic Signal Processing?
Spike Recorder ships an update every 4 months, and Stochastic Signal Processing every 5 weeks. Most recently, Spike Recorder was updated on July 29, 2026 and Stochastic Signal Processing on September 25, 2026.

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