# XP Soundboard vs Sound Effects!

The clearest difference is rating: XP Soundboard at 4.6 against Sound Effects!'s 3.4. XP Soundboard also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 63%). Sound Effects!'s advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. XP Soundboard sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sound Effects! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

XP Soundboard holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 66 and 51 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of XP Soundboard's written reviews are positive against 63% of Sound Effects!'s.

XP Soundboard ships an update every 3 months, Sound Effects! every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | XP Soundboard | Sound Effects! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xp-soundboard/id383673896/reviews)** | [3.4 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-effects/id537432480/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **66** | 51 |
| Positive reviews | **76.9% of reviews** | 62.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DSP](https://appshunter.io/developer/383673904) | [TMSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/288669797) |

## What reviewers say

### XP Soundboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xp-soundboard/id383673896)

Experience the classic sounds of Windows XP with this soundboard app. It features 36 authentic system sounds, perfect for pranks, meme creation, or evoking 90s nostalgia. Discover hidden easter eggs and enjoy a retro interface.

**Highlights:** 36 Classic System Sounds, Startup, Shutdown & Logon Sounds, Error Notifications & Alerts, Hardware Connection Sounds, Hidden Blue Screen of Death, Retro XP-Styled Interface

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Nostalgic Windows XP sounds
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🎵 Great variety of iconic sounds
- ⚡ Works immediately without crashes
- 🎮 Fun for pranks and entertainment

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Many sounds don't play or are non-functional
- 📢 Persistent ads even after paying for removal
- 🔇 Sounds don't play when phone is on silent
- ❌ Some buttons have no sound assigned
- 🔧 Widget broken on iOS 14

**Reported bugs**

- Non-functional sound buttons with no audio files
- Sounds fail to play despite visible buttons
- Ad removal purchase not working properly
- Widget crashes on iOS 14
- Silent mode prevents all sound playback

**Requested features**

- Add missing sounds (Print Complete, Ringin, Ringout)
- Ability to customize and change sounds
- Use sounds as ringtones and alarms
- Windows 7, Vista, 95, 98 sound options
- Export sounds to iMovie


### Sound Effects!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-effects/id537432480)

Play and mix multiple sound effects for any situation, from meetings to jokes. Customize your soundboard with over 50 stock sounds and import your own audio files. Perfect for entertainment and even podcasting.

**Highlights:** Play and mix multiple sounds, Import custom audio files, Customizable soundboard layouts, Sound catalog for quick access, Sound timers for delayed playback, Supports multiple sound formats

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun to use
- 💡 Useful for podcasts and entertainment
- 🚀 Simple and straightforward layout
- 👍 Good sound quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Ads disrupt usage
- 🔋 Limited sound selection
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 👎 Low-quality sound effects

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save favorites
- Sounds not working properly
- Compatibility issues across devices
- Ads taking over the screen

**Requested features**

- More sound effects
- Ability to record and import custom sounds
- Improved layout and navigation
- Removal of ads or paid version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XP Soundboard free?

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

### Is Sound Effects! free?

Sound Effects! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, XP Soundboard or Sound Effects!?

XP Soundboard is rated higher. XP Soundboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while Sound Effects! averages 3.4 from 51 ratings.

### Do XP Soundboard or Sound Effects! have ads?

Both XP Soundboard and Sound Effects! show ads.

### Which is updated more often, XP Soundboard or Sound Effects!?

XP Soundboard ships an update every 3 months, and Sound Effects! every 5 months. Most recently, XP Soundboard was updated on October 23, 2026 and Sound Effects! on October 21, 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.*