# Minirig vs Blackstar BEAM

The clearest difference is rating: Minirig at 3.4 against Blackstar BEAM's 2.4. Minirig also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Blackstar BEAM's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (29 vs 7). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Minirig holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 29 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Minirig's written reviews are positive against 28% of Blackstar BEAM's.

Minirig ships an update every 3 months, Blackstar BEAM every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Minirig | Blackstar BEAM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minirig/id6474446446/reviews)** | [2.4 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackstar-beam/id6475585132/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **29** |
| Positive reviews | **31.3% of reviews** | 27.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 5 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Pasce Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1101969666) | [Blackstar Amplification Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1542981230) |

## What reviewers say

### Minirig

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minirig/id6474446446)

Take full command of your audio system with precise sound adjustments, playback controls, and customizable settings. Explore curated mixes and playlists, and enjoy automatic updates for the latest features.

**Highlights:** Bass & Treble Gain, Volume Control, Play/Pause/Skip, Auto Turn Off Timer, Adjustable LED Brightness, Save & Tilt EQ, Access Mixtapes & Playlists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Blackstar BEAM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackstar-beam/id6475585132)

This app provides guitarists with an immersive headphone amp experience, offering pro-level sound and creative freedom. Explore artist-created sound patches, share your own tones within a global community, and access backing tracks and video lessons for continuous learning.

**Highlights:** Immersive headphone amp experience, Official artist sound patches, Online community for tone sharing, Backing tracks, Video lessons, Creative freedom for guitarists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Minirig free?

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

### Is Blackstar BEAM free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Minirig or Blackstar BEAM?

Minirig is rated higher. Minirig averages 3.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Blackstar BEAM averages 2.4 from 29 ratings.

### Do Minirig or Blackstar BEAM have ads?

Neither Minirig nor Blackstar BEAM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Minirig or Blackstar BEAM?

Minirig ships an update every 3 months, and Blackstar BEAM every 3 weeks. Most recently, Minirig was updated on October 30, 2026 and Blackstar BEAM on November 4, 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.*