# ArcX vs NextBand

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NextBand at none against ArcX's 2. NextBand also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ArcX sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. NextBand asks for nothing beyond the download.

ArcX ships an update every 3 weeks, NextBand every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ArcX | NextBand |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcx/id6444228322/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 80 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ArcX Technology Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525351498) | [Xiamen Linktop Technology Co.,LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1613093485) |

## What reviewers say

### ArcX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcx/id6444228322)

Control your smart ring, receive personalized music recommendations, and manage your profile. Features include SOS for emergencies and integration with smartwatches for heart rate-based music.

**Highlights:** Personalized music recommendations, Smart ring configuration, SOS emergency feature, Heart rate-based music adaptation, Profile management, Dashboard control hub

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arcx Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Arcx Premium | $49.99 | per year |


### NextBand

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextband/id6740802995)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ArcX free?

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

### Is NextBand free?

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

### Do ArcX or NextBand have ads?

Neither ArcX nor NextBand shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ArcX or NextBand?

ArcX ships an update every 3 weeks, and NextBand every 2 months. Most recently, ArcX was updated on October 4, 2026 and NextBand on September 29, 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.*