Comparison

PlayFadePause vs Cue Killer

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

Head to head
About

PlayFadePause

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
Read full description

At last theatrical audio control for situations where you can't afford (or can't fit) a laptop - now free for one show file, and also free to import shared show files. Now fully free! Making full use of all the features of your device, PlayFadePause allows you to run a complete show with complex sound cues, all from the press of a simple GO button. Features include - Play multiple sound cues at the same time, at different (preset) volumes - Easily crossfade between cues without creating multiple fade cues - Fire cues over a network using OSC - Fade running sound effects up or down, automatically stopping the cue when the fade is complete if required - Loop sound effects infinitely, or for a certain number of times. - Easily crossfade between two tracks - Adjust in and out times for play cues - Set and fade the pan and speed of tracks - Set cues to auto follow, with delays if required - Import audio from your iTunes library, from email attachments, from dropbox or from other PlayFadePause show files - Export show files as a bundle (including all audio files) through the standard iOS share interface - Manage show files in an easy to use interface - Set the app to force the device's volume to remain at full while the app is running - Stop the device from sleeping while the app is active - De-bounce guard to avoid double tapping Go Perfect for running small scale shows, for using in rehearsals or for conferences PlayFadePause is free for one show, with an In App Purchase available to unlock unlimited shows and sharing features

About

Cue Killer

This app provides comprehensive show control for performers managing their own audio-visual elements. It allows users to create ordered cue lists for slides, sound, video, and more, with hands-free operation options. Designed for live performance, it offers features for audience interaction and efficient show building.

Highlights
  • Create ordered cue lists
  • Control slides, audio, video, and camera
  • Hands-free operation with external devices
  • Live audience interaction via QR codes
  • Import show files from other apps
  • In-app AI assistant for show ideas
Features
Read full description

Cue Killer is show control for performers who run their own AV. Build one ordered cue list, press GO, and let the next slide, sound, video, camera cut, overlay, blackout, QR moment, or transition land exactly on your beat. Made for magicians, mentalists, speakers, musicians, comedians, event hosts, worship teams, buskers, and anyone who has to perform and run the booth at the same time. WHAT YOU CAN CUE - Slides, PDFs, Keynote/PowerPoint exports, images, video, audio, live camera, text, frames, lower thirds, QR codes, audience polls, waits, groups, mic/listen mode, blackout, and stop-audio cues. - Audio cues include fades, crossfades, looping, trim, level control, and a dedicated kill-audio action. - Visual cues can use cinematic crossfades or dip-to-black transitions, plus branded overlays and big live text. RUN IT HANDS-FREE - Map GO, BACK, LIVE, blackout, deck navigation, and audio actions to Flic buttons, Bluetooth clickers, game controllers, MIDI, OSC, or the built-in web remote. - Add spoken trigger phrases so a line in your script can fire any cue. - Use the camera to recognize a prop and fire the matching cue while your hands stay in the routine. BUILT FOR THE BIG SCREEN - Send clean audience output over HDMI or AirPlay while your iPhone or iPad stays on the operator console. - Use live camera cues with zoom, picture-in-picture/split layouts, peer cameras, browser cameras, and overlays. - Fire audience interaction cues: the crowd scans a QR code or enters a short code at cue-killer.com, then votes in live polls, number guesses, or word clouds. BUILD FASTER - Import media once and reuse it across shows. - Import Go Button, StageCue, and CSV show files. - Use Killian, the in-app assistant, for setup help and for generating show ideas, cue drafts, images, sound effects, music beds, and voiceovers when you connect your own AI keys. CONFIDENCE UNDER PRESSURE Cue Killer is designed around the live moment: what is on air, what is standing by, what GO will fire next, and how to panic-silence everything fast. It is approachable enough for a solo performer, but serious enough for a real stage.

Screenshots

PlayFadePause1 screens
Cue Killer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Cue Killer at 5.0 against PlayFadePause's 4.5. Cue Killer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). PlayFadePause's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cue Killer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PlayFadePause versus Cue Killer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayFadePauseCue Killer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRichard WilliamsonKalani Helekunihi

Customer experience

PlayFadePause

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative30.0%

Cue Killer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PlayFadePause

One-time1
  • Save Shows$2.99
None

Cue Killer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PlayFadePause free?
PlayFadePause is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cue Killer free?
Cue Killer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PlayFadePause or Cue Killer?
Cue Killer is rated higher. PlayFadePause averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Cue Killer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do PlayFadePause or Cue Killer have ads?
Neither PlayFadePause nor Cue Killer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlayFadePause or Cue Killer?
PlayFadePause ships an update every 5 weeks, and Cue Killer every 5 weeks. Most recently, PlayFadePause was updated on November 1, 2026 and Cue Killer on October 31, 2026.

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