Comparison

Tabletop vs Cubasis 2

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

Head to head
About

Tabletop

Create music with a modular studio environment. Mix and match over 40 virtual instruments, effects, and sequencers to compose songs, beats, and mashups. Expand your sound palette by purchasing additional devices.

Highlights
  • Modular music creation environment
  • Over 40 virtual instruments and effects
  • Mix and match devices
  • Create beats, songs, and mashups
  • Piano roll timeline editor
  • MIDI support
  • Share music to SoundCloud
Features
Read full description

Tabletop is an expandable studio with over a dozen included musical devices. Tabletop is a modular environment where you can mix and match different devices. Select from over 40 devices including samplers, mixers, effects, sequencers and more. Buy only the gear you need from an expanding catalog. Need help? Email support@retronyms.com and we’ll answer your questions. Retronyms has partnered with industry giants like Akai Professional and Arturia to create some of the Tabletop-Ready Apps, like iMPC, iMini, and iProphet! Using the Tabletop features of time stretching and pitch shifting, you can slice loops and time stretch them to different tempos and pitches in iMPC Pro. You can also use sliced loops from purchased AudioCopy sound packs inside Gridlock and iMPC Pro. Loops from these sound packs will automatically match the tempo of your sessions. Tabletop is an audio playground where you can create beats, compose songs, mix live, make mashups with samples from your iPod library, and more... the possibilities are endless. Plug the output of a keyboard into a delay to add an echo, or wire it up to a mixer and adjust the pan. Chain up multiple effects to create new and evolving sounds. FEATURES: • 43 devices including effects, sequencers, drum machines, and synths • 14 devices are included for free • 64 bit audio support • Access powerful Tabletop-Ready Apps • Piano Roll style timeline editor • Cut, copy, paste, duplicate, and create notes • Control Tabletop’s keyboards, drum pads, knobs, faders, and other parameters • Correct note timing with Fix to Grid • Edit note length and velocity • Undo changes and edits with Tabletop’s History Menu • Features Core MIDI Support • Works with any MIDI-compatible hardware • Customize control mapping with Midi Learn mode • Connect multiple devices • Share your music to SoundCloud and interact with other Tabletop users

About

Cubasis 2

This mobile music creation system allows users to record, edit, mix, and share their music. It offers real-time time-stretching, pitch-shifting, a studio-grade channel strip, and a variety of instruments and effects to enhance musical projects.

Highlights
  • Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks
  • Real-time time-stretching and pitch-shifting
  • Virtual analog synthesizer and sampler
  • Studio-grade channel strip with effects
  • MIDI Editor with CC support
  • Export to Cubase and cloud services
Read full description

*** CUBASIS 3 IS NOW AVAILABLE *** Enjoy a brand-new and fully redesigned Cubasis app, which runs on the iPhone and iPad, and adds many user-requested features and improvements! Cubasis 2 equals ease of use and is as powerful as a fully featured iOS-based music production system can be pushing your capabilities out of limits. Whether you’re capturing simple ideas or complex musical masterpieces — It ships with outstanding, touch-optimized tools carrying you into the fun of recording, editing, mixing and sharing your music with the world right away. Get fascinated by the brand new features that Cubasis 2 comes with such as real-time time-stretching and pitch-shifting, a studio-grade channel strip, pro-sounding effects, massive instrument refills, a refreshed MIDI Editor and many more powerful features. Put hands on three internal instruments, numerous loops and instrument sounds to creatively lift your music to perfection using the included mixer and effects. Once recorded, share your music with the world via a simple tap or transfer it directly to Cubase. Key features • Unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks • 24 assignable physical inputs and outputs • 32-bit floating point audio engine • Audio I/O resolution of up to 24-bit/96 kHz • iOS 32- and 64-bit support • Real-time time-stretching and pitch-shifting featuring zplane’s élastique 3 • Micrologue virtual analog synthesizer with 126 ready-to-go presets • MicroSonic with over 120 virtual instrument sounds based on HALion Sonic, HALiotron and Allen Morgan drum kits • MiniSampler to create your own instruments (includes 20 factory instruments) • Mixer with studio-grade channel strip per track and 17 effect processors • Super-versatile RoomWorks SE* reverb effect providing uniquely professional sound and an intuitive graphical display for instant visual feedback at slightest parameter changes • Fully automatable DJ-like Spin FX effect plug-in • Over 550 MIDI and time-stretch-capable audio loops • Virtual keyboard, chord and drum pads with intuitive note repeat control • Sample Editor and Key Editor with MIDI CC support • Refreshed MIDI Editor with ultra-intuitive, lightning fast and accurate handling to edit MIDI tracks and compose music easier than ever before • MIDI Auto Quantize • Track Duplicate • Automation, MIDI CC, program change and aftertouch support • Export to Cubase, iCloud Drive, external hard drives, wireless flash drives, Dropbox, SoundCloud, AudioCopy and email • Core Audio and Core MIDI compatible hardware supported • MIDI over Bluetooth LE support • Full Audio Unit, Inter-App Audio and Audiobus 3 support to use compatible apps as insert/send effects and virtual instruments or simply record their audio output • Import audio from your iTunes music library or iCloud Drive or iTunes file sharing, use AudioPaste or set up a Wi-Fi server in Cubasis • Audio mixdown and MIDI export • MIDI clock and MIDI thru support "Probably the best iPad-based DAW in terms of usability and flexibility, and it links up with Cubase on your desktop, too." — MusicTech.net "So all in all Cubasis is a hands down victory. Everything supplied here works and works perfectly. If you are a Cubase user and own an iPad, this is simply a no brainer, you have to have it." — askaudiomag.com Technical support http://www.steinberg.net/cubasisforum Polyphony: 48 voices: iPad 2, iPad mini 128 voices: iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro *User registration required to unlock RoomWorks SE reverb effect. Audio Unit extension requires iPad Mini 2, iPad 4 or newer model. Audio Unit and Waves plug-in (in-app purchase) automation requires iOS 10 or higher. Audio Unit MIDI and Files app require iOS 11 or higher. Project export to Cubase requires Cubase Pro 9/Pro 9.5, Cubase Artist 9/9.5, Cubase LE/AI/Elements 9 or higher. Cubasis project importer extension must be installed and is available at http://www.steinberg.net/cubasisimporter

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tabletop at Free against Cubasis 2's $23.99. Cubasis 2's advantage is rating (3.9 vs 3.3). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence 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

Tabletop is free to download; Cubasis 2 costs $23.99 up front. Tabletop sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Cubasis 2 sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cubasis 2 holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85 and 239 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Tabletop's written reviews are positive against 58% of Cubasis 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 11, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Tabletop versus Cubasis 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTabletopCubasis 2
PriceFree — better$23.99
Rating3.3 (85 ratings)3.9 (239 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.9% of reviews58.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings85239 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.4 GB1.1 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRetronyms IncSteinberg Media Technologies GmbH

Customer experience

Tabletop

All ratings85 ratings
Positive54.1%
Neutral9.4%
Negative36.5%
Written reviews230 reviews
Positive53.9%
Neutral13.5%
Negative32.6%

Cubasis 2

All ratings239 ratings
Positive68.2%
Neutral10.9%
Negative20.9%
Written reviews607 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative27.3%

User reviews

Tabletop

From 85 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful features
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 💡 Innovative modular design
  • 🎨 Versatile music creation

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🔋 High CPU usage
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
  • 🔇 Poor sound quality

Cubasis 2

From 239 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💯 Excellent DAW for iOS
  • 🎨 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🔌 Seamless integration with other apps
  • 🔊 High-quality built-in sounds and effects
  • 🔍 Powerful MIDI editing capabilities

Room to improve

  • 🔒 No upgrade path from previous versions
  • 💰 Expensive for an iOS app
  • 🕰️ Lack of tempo and time signature changes
  • 🔇 Limited audio routing and sidechain options
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs

Bugs and requests

Tabletop

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Synth parameters not saving properly
  • Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions
  • Unreliable audio export

Requested features

4 requests
  • MIDI support
  • Improved sequencing capabilities
  • More free sound modules
  • Waveform editing and sample management

Cubasis 2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when loading certain third-party plugins
  • MIDI sync issues with external hardware
  • Waveform display glitches when zooming
  • Incompatibility with older iPad models

Requested features

5 requests
  • MIDI control mapping for external controllers
  • Tempo and time signature automation
  • Improved audio editing tools
  • More built-in instruments and sound libraries
  • Seamless Cubase project integration

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Tabletop

One-time11
  • EKKO$1.99
  • WHIRL$2.99
  • Verve$2.99
Show 8 more
  • XFADE$2.99
  • TT-303$2.99
  • Cueboard$2.99
  • GLITCHBOARD$3.99
  • Deadbeat$3.99
  • X0X Drum Deranger$7.99
  • RS4000$9.99
  • Bundle E$24.99
9 purchases

Cubasis 2

One-time9
  • Micrologue ARP$4.99
  • Waves Tune Real-Time$4.99
  • FX Pack 1: Reverbs & Delays$6.99
Show 6 more
  • FX Pack 2: Vintage FX$6.99
  • Classic Machines$6.99
  • Waves AudioTrack$7.99
  • Waves L1 Ultramaximizer$7.99
  • Waves Q10 Equalizer$7.99
  • Waves Plug-in Bundle$19.99

Questions

Is Tabletop free?
Tabletop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cubasis 2 free?
Cubasis 2 costs $23.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tabletop or Cubasis 2?
Cubasis 2 is rated higher. Tabletop averages 3.3 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while Cubasis 2 averages 3.9 from 239 ratings.
Do Tabletop or Cubasis 2 have ads?
Neither Tabletop nor Cubasis 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tabletop or Cubasis 2?
Tabletop ships an update every 3 months, and Cubasis 2 every 3 months. Most recently, Tabletop was updated on October 11, 2026 and Cubasis 2 on October 11, 2026.

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