Comparison

MAKID vs Knobbler

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

Head to head
About

MAKID

Access your music productions on the go without manual uploads. This app is designed for Ableton Live users to easily manage and listen to their discography anywhere. Keep your creative projects with you effortlessly.

Highlights
  • Seamless mobile access to music productions
  • No SoundCloud uploads needed
  • Integrates with Dropbox/Google Drive
  • Designed for Ableton Live producers
  • Carry your discography anywhere
Read full description

MAKID is the project manager for Ableton Live producers. It keeps your entire music library organized and your projects accessible on mobile, so you can keep your creative momentum and finish more projects. MAKID Mobile enables you to access and review your bounces seamlessly anywhere you go. No more messing with SoundCloud uploads or trying to listen to your bounces in dropbox/google drive. The MAKID Mobile app is built for Ableton Live producers to have the best experience possible for keeping your discography with you on the go.

About

Knobbler

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful, auto-labeling control surface for Ableton Live. Seamlessly navigate tracks, control parameters, and build custom interfaces that save with your Live sets. Keep your focus on creativity without leaving the music-making flow.

Highlights
  • Auto-labeling and auto-coloring control surface
  • Multitouch parameter control
  • Customizable interface saved with Live sets
  • Real-time parameter updates with units
  • Fast track, group, and device navigation
  • Channel strip mixer controls
Features
Read full description

Knobbler turns your iPhone or iPad into an auto-labeling, auto-coloring, multitouch parameter control and navigation surface for Ableton Live. 30 day fully-functioning trial of all features. The Mixer, Clips, Session, and Nav pages are available during the trial and after a one-time purchase of Knobbler or a subscription. Ableton Live 12 Suite or Ableton Live 12 Standard with the Max for Live add-on is required. Simply add the free Knobbler4 device to your Live Set and use the Knobbler app to use your iPhone or iPad to control devices and parameters. ** Control every parameter and build a customized interface, including sliders and X-Y pads that is saved with your Live sets. ** Navigate your tracks, groups, racks and devices faster and easier than ever. ** Full screen Cilps and Mixer views keep you connected to your music. ** Session View gives you a combined clips and mixer view for full control. ** Full access to capture and recall rack variations. ** Navigate cue points and locators in your set. ** Engage Spring mode for momentary effects. Visit https://plugins.steinkamp.us/m4l-Knobbler4 to download the Ableton Live device to use with this app. Map parameters in your Ableton Live set to unmapped sliders on the tablet with a single touch. No need to enter and exit a mapping mode. Access every parameter in the currently selected device, directly on the phone or tablet. Parameter mapping configuration is saved with your Live Set, so you can switch between songs with minimal friction. Track, device, and parameter names are kept synchronized with your Live Set as you change them, even track colors! Parameter sliders and values are updated in real time, with the same units (e.g. dB, ms, %) displayed as what you see in Live. Double tap a slider on the tablet to reset the parameter to its default value. Swipe in the Navigation controls on the right side to dive into your tracks, groups, racks, and devices faster than ever before. Swipe in from the left to show a channel strip with familiar mixer controls, including color-coded sends. Works on phones and tablets, even in multi-window view on the latest IOS 26. Knobbler is there to keep you out of the computer and in the creative moment, unlocking more of your music making potential. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MAKID4 screens
Knobbler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MAKID at none against Knobbler's 3. MAKID also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). Knobbler's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (16 vs 5). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Knobbler sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. MAKID asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MAKID holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of MAKID's written reviews are positive against 88% of Knobbler's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MAKID ships an update every 3 weeks, Knobbler weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MAKID versus Knobbler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMAKIDKnobbler
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better4.8 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better87.5% of reviews
Number of ratings516 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEric VentorZACHARY STEINKAMP

Customer experience

MAKID

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Knobbler

All ratings16 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral8.3%
Negative4.2%

In-app purchases

None

MAKID

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Knobbler

Subscriptions2
  • Knobbler Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Knobbler Annual$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Knobbler Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is MAKID free?
MAKID is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Knobbler free?
Knobbler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MAKID or Knobbler?
MAKID is rated higher. MAKID averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Knobbler averages 4.8 from 16 ratings.
Do MAKID or Knobbler have ads?
Neither MAKID nor Knobbler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MAKID or Knobbler?
MAKID ships an update every 3 weeks, and Knobbler weekly. Most recently, MAKID was updated on September 16, 2026 and Knobbler on September 19, 2026.

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