# HFM vs SoundLab

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HFM at none against SoundLab's 3. HFM also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). SoundLab's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (15K vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SoundLab sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. HFM asks for nothing beyond the download.

HFM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SoundLab has 15K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of HFM's written reviews are positive against 65% of SoundLab's.

HFM ships an update every 2 months, SoundLab weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HFM | SoundLab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hfm/id381507442/reviews)** | [4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundlab-audio-editor/id1450417400/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 64.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#119** |
| Size | 32 MB | 173 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Infonote](https://appshunter.io/developer/381507445) | [孛 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/998793507) |

## What reviewers say

### HFM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hfm/id381507442)

Listen to live radio streams and stay updated with local news headlines. Submit song requests directly to the station after completing your preferences.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Local news headlines, Request forwarding, User preferences setup, Twitter feed integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SoundLab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundlab-audio-editor/id1450417400)

**Currently charting:** #119 Top Free · Music, #142 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

This app provides desktop-grade audio editing tools on your mobile device. It features a multi-track editor with numerous effects, an AI vocal separator, and a robust audio recorder. It's designed for music and podcast creators needing a convenient, on-the-go solution.

**Highlights:** 16-track audio editor, Over 20 audio effects, AI Vocal Separator, Audio recorder with input selection, Recording studio with external mic support, Video composer for soundtrack videos, Lossless output formats

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| PRO Annual Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Permanent PRO | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 AMAZING EXPERIENCE
- 👍 Easy to use and simple layout
- 🚀 Exactly what I was looking for
- 👍 Great app for creating recordings
- 🚀 Excellent

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't separate two vocals
- 🐛 Pitch change issues
- 🐛 Saving issues
- 🐛 Crashes and corrupted files
- 🐛 Confusing UI

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when using EQ
- Inability to open/delete projects
- Audio files not recognized
- Saving issues causing data loss

**Requested features**

- Ability to add unlimited tracks
- More precise tempo control
- Stronger vocal remover
- Ability to create custom album covers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HFM free?

HFM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SoundLab free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HFM or SoundLab?

HFM is rated higher. HFM averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while SoundLab averages 4.6 from 15K ratings.

### Do HFM or SoundLab have ads?

Neither HFM nor SoundLab shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HFM or SoundLab?

HFM ships an update every 2 months, and SoundLab weekly. Most recently, HFM was updated on October 8, 2026 and SoundLab on October 31, 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.*