Comparison

Blackstar BEAM vs Tone

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

Head to head
About

Blackstar BEAM

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
Read full description

BEAM — the most immersive, intuitive guitar experience for modern players. Whether you’re jamming at home, on the move, recording ideas, or just grabbing ten minutes of play time between everything else, BEAM gives you pro-level sound with complete creative freedom — wherever you are. Head over to the companion BEAM app to find Official Artist Patches from the likes of Doug Aldrich (The Dead Daisies), Phil Collen (Def Leppard) and so many more. You can join in the fun and share your own tones on the BEAM app Online Community, as well as download other creators’ patches from a vibrant global community of players just like you. You can even share your favourite patches with friends over message with just a simple tap. Within the Music section of the BEAM app, you’ll find a host of backing tracks and video lessons to help you stay inspired and continue your learning journey. BEAM is a complete one-stop solution for guitar players today, whether you’re using BEAM SOLO or BEAM MINI.

About

Tone

Features
Read full description

Quickly and easily access full control of your Laney PRISM-MINI device. Select and edit presets, parameters and access the app controlled drum-machine. Key Features: • Connect to your Laney PRISM-MINI via Bluetooth. • Tweak, adjust and control your sound. • Edit, Save, Import and Export your own tone presets. • Import your own IRs. • Play along with the built in drum machine.

Screenshots

Blackstar BEAM4 screens
Tone4 screens

Verdict

The call

Blackstar BEAM and Tone are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Blackstar BEAM versus Tone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlackstar BEAMTone
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (25 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews29.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings25 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB43 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBlackstar Amplification Ltd.Headstock Distribution LTD

In-app purchases

None

Blackstar BEAM

No in-app purchases

None

Tone

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Blackstar BEAM free?
Blackstar BEAM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tone free?
Tone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Blackstar BEAM or Tone have ads?
Neither Blackstar BEAM nor Tone shows ads.

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