PlayFadePause vs Cue Killer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. PlayFadePause sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Cue Killer asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PlayFadePause | Cue Killer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Richard Williamson | Kalani Helekunihi |
Customer experience
PlayFadePause
Cue Killer
In-app purchases
PlayFadePause
- Save Shows$2.99
Cue Killer
No in-app purchases









