# FirstChair vs Ensemble Stage

The clearest difference is price: Ensemble Stage at Free against FirstChair's $1.99. Ensemble Stage also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Ensemble Stage is free to download; FirstChair costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Ensemble Stage holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

FirstChair ships an update monthly, Ensemble Stage weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FirstChair | Ensemble Stage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firstchair/id6670373201/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ensemble-stage-seating-chart/id6793795823/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 34 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steven Quinn](https://appshunter.io/developer/320165704) | [Kohei Ishikawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789856622) |

## What reviewers say

### FirstChair

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firstchair/id6670373201)

This app simplifies the process of planning and organizing seating arrangements for musical ensembles. It allows directors to create, customize, and manage seating charts for bands, orchestras, and choirs, offering virtual stages and flexible layout options.

**Highlights:** Customizable seating charts, Virtual stages for saved layouts, Grid-based and arc-based designs, Chair and stand numbering, Add names to charts, Export seating charts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ensemble Stage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ensemble-stage-seating-chart/id6793795823)

Effortlessly create stage layouts for bands and orchestras. Automatically place members, then fine-tune with intuitive touch controls. Export professional-looking charts for rehearsals, concerts, and competitions.

**Highlights:** Automatic member placement, Manual touch adjustments, Customizable stage types, Member data import (CSV), PDF and image export, Cross-device sync (iPad/iPhone), Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FirstChair free?

FirstChair costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ensemble Stage free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FirstChair or Ensemble Stage?

Ensemble Stage is rated higher. FirstChair averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Ensemble Stage averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do FirstChair or Ensemble Stage have ads?

Neither FirstChair nor Ensemble Stage shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FirstChair or Ensemble Stage?

FirstChair ships an update monthly, and Ensemble Stage weekly. Most recently, FirstChair was updated on November 4, 2026 and Ensemble Stage on October 31, 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.*