Comparison

Launchpad vs TypeBeat

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

Head to head
About

Launchpad

Create and remix electronic music with a user-friendly grid interface. Access a vast library of sounds, apply DJ-style effects, and record your performances. Hundreds of new soundpacks are released weekly to inspire your next track.

Highlights
  • Multi-color grid for sound triggering
  • DJ-style performance effects
  • Weekly updated soundpacks
  • Real-time tempo control
  • Audio import and export
  • MIDI sync output
  • Launchpad hardware integration
Features
Read full description

The original Launchpad — Make & Remix Music. Enter an inspiring world of music creation and remixing on your iPhone & iPad. 8 free soundpacks included. Hundreds more available, updated weekly. Launchpad is the original number-one app for making and remixing electronic music. Instantly combine beats, basslines, melodies, vocals and FX loops into new creations. Layer DJ-style effects to chop and change your sound. Record your performance and share it with others. There’s never been a better time to make music. // MAKE & REMIX MUSIC Instantly create and remix music. Use the world-famous Launchpad grid to trigger loops and sounds from a huge professional library. Launchpad is always locked to the beat, so you’ll never go out of time. // EASY TO USE DJ-STYLE FX Free, easy-to-use DJ-style FX turn every remix into a creative performance. Advanced options on iPad further enhance your remixes. The pro DJ-style effects include filter, gater, stutter, stopper, flanger and delay. // INSPIRING SOUNDPACKS, UPDATED WEEKLY Launchpad comes with 8 remix soundpacks to get you started. Hundreds more are available in the store, with new ones added every week. // PRO FEATURES COLLECTION For the advanced or adventurous, the Pro Features Collection for iPad add-on lets you import your own sounds, use the extended FX features and sync easily to other apps and external hardware. Connect the world famous Launchpad hardware to your iPad for the ultimate sonic experience. At any time, capture your performance and share it easily. Features • Make music instantly — Play a multi-colour grid of amazing sounds • Be a DJ — Mix soundpacks together endlessly • 8 free soundpacks — Nearly 400 sounds included. Discover hundreds more in the store. • Weekly releases — Professional remix soundpacks released every week • DJ-style performance FX — Make your mixes unique with powerful DJ effects • Share your music — Soundcloud, YouTube, Facebook, Dropbox, Audiocopy and more • Create your own remixes — Craft your own remix by combining sounds from your library • Reuse soundpacks — Launchpad soundpacks appear automatically in Blocs Wave • Play in key — Set the key of your session and browse all clips in that key Advanced Features • Real-time tempo — Change tempo at any time, with real-time audio stretching • Blocs Wave export — Easily send your Blocs Wave projects to Launchpad • Audio Import* — Supports Dropbox, AudioShare, AudioCopy and Airdrop • Advanced performance FX* — Enhanced Stutter, Autofilter, Gater, Delay, Stopper & Flanger • Launchpad hardware — Integrates with Novation’s Launch hardware (iPad only) • Ableton Link — Jam in sync with your other apps, devices or Ableton Live • MIDI sync output* — Connect Launchpad to external hardware synths and drum machines* (iPad only) • Audiobus Support — Use any Audiobus-compatible apps to extend your music-making setup • Bluetooth — Supports Bluetooth speakers and headphones *In-App Purchase Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

TypeBeat

Create unique music by mixing up to four premium beats with intuitive controls. Effortlessly synchronize tracks, adjust volumes, and manage your sound for professional-quality results in seconds.

Highlights
  • Mix up to four premium beats
  • Intuitive interface for quick track building
  • Synchronize tracks to any tempo
  • Fine-tune individual track volumes
  • Color-coded harmonic key system
  • Effortless track removal
Features
Read full description

Create Your Sound Craft unique musical experiences by mixing up to four premium beats across different tempos. TypeBeat's intuitive interface lets you build professional-quality tracks in seconds. Simple Controls The elegant top row provides essential tools: output selection, playback control, pitch lock, and wake lock—all designed with precision. Perfect Synchronization Select any tempo to instantly resync all tracks from their starting points, ensuring flawless timing with every beat. Intuitive Mixing Add beats with a simple tap, then fine-tune individual volumes for the perfect balance. The color-coded system helps you identify complementary keys for harmonic perfection. Effortless Management Remove tracks with a smooth swipe gesture, maintaining your creative flow without interruption. Let one or two beats lead while others provide subtle texture—discover your signature sound with TypeBeat.

Screenshots

Launchpad4 screens
TypeBeat3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Launchpad at 4.8 against TypeBeat's 4.2. Launchpad also leads on ratings volume (35K vs 5). TypeBeat's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (100% vs 85%). On price, update cadence, 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. Launchpad sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. TypeBeat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Launchpad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Launchpad has 35K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of Launchpad's written reviews are positive against 100% of TypeBeat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Launchpad ships an update fortnightly, TypeBeat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Launchpad versus TypeBeat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLaunchpadTypeBeat
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (35K ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews84.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings35K — better5
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size129 MB437 MB
Age rating+49+
DeveloperFocusrite Audio EngineeringKirk Elliott

Customer experience

Launchpad

All ratings35,105 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral2.5%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews868 reviews
Positive84.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative9.4%

TypeBeat

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Launchpad

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Audio import not working
  • Inability to delete unnecessary recordings
  • Inability to see name of soundpack a loop belongs to
  • Pad selections disappearing when hitting stop
  • Inability to import audio after updating
Show 4 more
  • Inability to access audio import after signing out of account
  • App crashing when trying to import audio
  • App constantly closing when importing stuff
  • Inability to restore audio import after getting a new device

Requested features

11 requests
  • Ability to edit after a track is recorded, adjusting levels/adding effects
  • Pause button
  • Ability to duplicate a current song
  • Sequencer to use drum hits
  • Ability to change key of project
Show 6 more
  • Display key when pressing tempo button
  • Ability to sync projects across devices
  • Ability to record and save instruments, drums, piano etc.
  • Ability to export separate stems
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard

TypeBeat

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Launchpad

Subscriptions1
  • Launchpad Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$7.991 Month
One-time9
  • Found Sound Journey: Hip HopFree
  • EDM HazeFree
  • Dub TrapFree
Show 6 more
  • Found Sound Journey: TechnoFree
  • FoundSoundJourney:ItalianChillFree
  • Glitchstep$1.99
  • Viral Hip Hop$1.99
  • Hypnotic Energy$1.99
  • Audio Import$6.99
None

TypeBeat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Launchpad free?
Launchpad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TypeBeat free?
TypeBeat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Launchpad or TypeBeat?
Launchpad is rated higher. Launchpad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while TypeBeat averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Launchpad or TypeBeat have ads?
Neither Launchpad nor TypeBeat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Launchpad or TypeBeat?
Launchpad ships an update fortnightly, and TypeBeat every 2 weeks. Most recently, Launchpad was updated on November 8, 2026 and TypeBeat on October 30, 2026.

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