# SquareBeat vs Relic Waves

The clearest difference is price: SquareBeat at Free against Relic Waves's $1.99. SquareBeat also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 months). Relic Waves's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

SquareBeat is free to download; Relic Waves costs $1.99 up front. SquareBeat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Relic Waves asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for SquareBeat against 5.0 for Relic Waves. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Relic Waves has 42 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of SquareBeat's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.

SquareBeat ships an update every 3 days, Relic Waves every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SquareBeat | Relic Waves |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squarebeat/id6464103210/reviews) | **[5.0 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relic-waves/id6472637691/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **42** |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 114 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Navarro](https://appshunter.io/developer/514153445) | [Alexander Zolotov](https://appshunter.io/developer/324462547) |

## What reviewers say

### SquareBeat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squarebeat/id6464103210)

Create music by building patterns with samples and AUv3 plugins. Arrange these patterns into songs, import your own sounds, and mix tracks. Features a text-based tracker GUI for rapid development, with all core functionality free except for WAV file export.

**Highlights:** Sequence and manipulate audio samples, Mix tracks, Use AUv3 audio unit instruments, Use AUv3 effects on effect busses, Connect with other apps via Audiobus, Export and share songs

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SquareBeat Full Version | $12.99 | one-time |


### Relic Waves

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relic-waves/id6472637691)

Generate unique Lo-Fi sounds, pads, and effects using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sonic possibilities with intuitive controls and real-time recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking experimental audio.

**Highlights:** Billions of unique Lo-Fi sounds, Random sound generation with search, Multiple keyboard input options, Real-time audio recording to WAV, Export to WAV, SunVox, and clipboard, MIDI control and processing, iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SquareBeat free?

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

### Is Relic Waves free?

Relic Waves costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SquareBeat or Relic Waves?

Relic Waves is rated higher. SquareBeat averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Relic Waves averages 5.0 from 42 ratings.

### Do SquareBeat or Relic Waves have ads?

Neither SquareBeat nor Relic Waves shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SquareBeat or Relic Waves?

SquareBeat ships an update every 3 days, and Relic Waves every 11 months. Most recently, SquareBeat was updated on October 7, 2026 and Relic Waves on October 14, 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.*