# PlayFadePause vs Lab Monkey

The clearest difference is rating: Lab Monkey at 5.0 against PlayFadePause's 4.5. Lab Monkey also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (90% vs 70%). PlayFadePause's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PlayFadePause sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Lab Monkey asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lab Monkey holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lab Monkey has 13 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of PlayFadePause's written reviews are positive against 90% of Lab Monkey's.

PlayFadePause ships an update every 5 weeks, Lab Monkey every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and August 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlayFadePause | Lab Monkey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playfadepause/id493685404/reviews) | **[5.0 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lab-monkey/id1190143824/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **13** |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 32 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Richard Williamson](https://appshunter.io/developer/320933775) | [Charles Peachock](https://appshunter.io/developer/1190143823) |

## What reviewers say

### PlayFadePause

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playfadepause/id493685404)

Control theatrical audio with complex sound cues from your mobile device. Play multiple sounds simultaneously, crossfade between tracks, and manage show files easily. Ideal for small-scale productions, rehearsals, and conferences.

**Highlights:** Simultaneous multi-sound playback, Seamless crossfading between cues, Networked cue firing via OSC, Adjustable sound effect fades, Infinite or timed looping, Import audio from various sources, Exportable show files

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Save Shows | $2.99 | one-time |


### Lab Monkey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lab-monkey/id1190143824)

This application provides a large, "long view" display of QLab cues for users. It requires QLab to be open and on the same WiFi network. It is developed by Audio Ape Inc., known for professional remote control systems.

**Highlights:** Large "long view" cue display, QLab integration, Same WiFi network required, Remote control system compatibility

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlayFadePause free?

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

### Is Lab Monkey free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PlayFadePause or Lab Monkey?

Lab Monkey is rated higher. PlayFadePause averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Lab Monkey averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.

### Do PlayFadePause or Lab Monkey have ads?

Neither PlayFadePause nor Lab Monkey shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PlayFadePause or Lab Monkey?

PlayFadePause ships an update every 5 weeks, and Lab Monkey every 2 months. Most recently, PlayFadePause was updated on September 9, 2026 and Lab Monkey on August 27, 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.*