Comparison

JBL OnBeat vs PatchRig FX

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

Head to head
About

JBL OnBeat

This application allows users to browse and play music directly from their iPod, iPad, or iPhone. It also includes a convenient alarm clock feature for added functionality.

Highlights
  • Browse and play music
  • Music from iPod, iPad, iPhone
  • Alarm clock functionality
Features
Read full description

JBL OnBeat App can browse and play music from your iPod, iPad or iPhone, and offers alarm clock functionality.

About

PatchRig FX

Features
Read full description

PatchRig FX turns sound ideas into playable, editable effects rigs for guitar, bass, keys, vocals, drums, and reference audio. Start with 500 generated pedalboards, 500 generated pedals, 60 super pedals, built-in audition performances, and 31,777 bundled song-tone profiles. Create a board from a sound description, a song-title trait profile, or an imported recording/reference loop. Then audition it, edit pedals, amps, voices, MIDI tools, and DSP blocks, save favorites, export audio, sync privately, or share playable patches. Create fast: - Play through a ready pedalboard. - Describe a sound and generate an editable rig. - Create an inspired board from bundled song-tone traits. - Import local audio and build around guitar, bass, keys, vocals, drums, or the full mix. - Design individual pedals, amps, preamps, vocal tools, instrument voices, and safe Open DSP patches. - Preview pedals, amps, voices, and DSP blocks before adding them. - Compare, tune, rename, save, export, sync, and share. For live use and auditioning, PatchRig works with standard USB Audio Class compliant USB or USB-C audio interfaces and Core Audio compatible devices supported by iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Use an interface with instrument, line, or microphone inputs for guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals, or other sources, then monitor through the interface outputs or a supported system output. On Mac, registered Audio Unit effects can be validated and used when they are available through the system Audio Unit host path. PatchRig does not require a specific hardware brand and does not download executable plug-in code at runtime. The free app includes a polished starter set, built-in audition sounds, prompt-created board preview, designer preview, and basic import/reference analysis. PatchRig Pro unlocks the full 500-board library, the full generated pedal catalog, 60 super pedals, amp and DSP designers, MIDI and instrument voices, unlimited saved creations, export, sharing, iCloud sync, and community publishing. PatchRig includes loop audition, richer built-in reference performances, A/B comparison, meters, spectrum views, bypass controls, graph editing, inline pedal/amp insertion, recent boards, rename/save flows, and shareable preview audio for community items. PatchRig is honest about audio boundaries. Song and artist requests create original boards inspired by broad tone traits, not exact recording, preset, artist, amp, cabinet, IR, or clone claims. PatchRig only uses built-in safe audio blocks and bundled resources; it does not download executable plugin code at runtime. Unsupported or design-only requests fail visibly instead of silently substituting something else.

Screenshots

JBL OnBeat4 screens
PatchRig FX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JBL OnBeat at none against PatchRig FX's 1. JBL OnBeat also leads on iOS requirement (3.0 vs 17.0). PatchRig FX's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads and device support 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. PatchRig FX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. JBL OnBeat asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JBL OnBeat ships an update every 3 months, PatchRig FX every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
JBL OnBeat versus PatchRig FX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJBL OnBeatPatchRig FX
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (53 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews20.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings53 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS3.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB428 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarman International IndustriesRob Rightmyer

Bugs and requests

JBL OnBeat

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • App crashes on iPhone 5 iOS 6.1.4
  • Wi-Fi connection constantly crashes
  • App doesn't wake device from standby
  • Alarm doesn't sound when device is in standby
  • EQ settings disappeared
Show 15 more
  • Cannot select Wi-Fi network in setup
  • App freezes when trying to secure settings
  • App doesn't work with iPad (2nd gen) iOS 6
  • Charging not working on iOS 6.0.1
  • App crashes on startup after firmware update attempt
  • Cannot connect to Wi-Fi after changing network
  • App is not compatible with iOS 11
  • App is still 32-bit, not compatible with iOS 11
  • Device goes to sleep and doesn't wake up for alarm
  • Speaker sleep mode overrides device sound
  • App doesn't wake speakers from sleep mode
  • App doesn't allow selection of music for alarm
  • App overrides iOS autolock settings
  • App doesn't wake dock from standby
  • App doesn't wake speakers with alarm

Requested features

11 requests
  • Update app for latest iOS versions
  • Add firmware update functionality
  • Improve UI/UX
  • Add sleep and alarm functions
  • Enable manual SSID entry for Wi-Fi
Show 6 more
  • Fix alarm clock functionality to wake device
  • Add EQ settings
  • Support for newer iPhone models
  • Improve AirPlay connection speed
  • Add podcast support
  • Allow selection of music for alarm

PatchRig FX

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

JBL OnBeat

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PatchRig FX

One-time1
  • PatchRig Pro$39.99

Questions

Is JBL OnBeat free?
JBL OnBeat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PatchRig FX free?
PatchRig FX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do JBL OnBeat or PatchRig FX have ads?
Neither JBL OnBeat nor PatchRig FX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, JBL OnBeat or PatchRig FX?
JBL OnBeat ships an update every 3 months, and PatchRig FX every 3 days. Most recently, JBL OnBeat was updated on October 9, 2026 and PatchRig FX on September 23, 2026.

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