Comparison

8DAudioPlayer vs Whorl

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

Head to head
About

8DAudioPlayer

Transform your music into immersive 8D spatial audio with customizable effects. Enhance focus with built-in noise generators for studying or ADHD. Play DRM-free local files and Apple Music library tracks.

Highlights
  • 8D spatial audio transformation
  • Customizable swirl speed and reverb
  • Brown, Pink Noise, and 852 Hz tones
  • Offline focus tools
  • Import local music files (MP3, FLAC, etc.)
  • Playlist management
  • Hi-Res audio quality detection
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Transform any music into immersive 8D spatial audio — and focus deeper with built-in Brown Noise, Pink Noise and 852 Hz tone. No account. No subscription. No DRM required. 8D SPATIAL AUDIO Experience your music moving around you in full 360°. Customize swirl speed, reverb depth and motion paths in real time — pure immersive sound, your way. DJ MIX MODE (NEW) Press play once — and let go. DJ Mix Mode turns your library into one endless, seamless set: - Smart transitions: the app senses each track's energy and blends at the musically right moment - Two sound sources orbiting you at once — the outgoing and incoming track share the rotating 8D room - Auto-tuned per genre: reverb and rotation adapt to every song - 100% on-device — no internet, no streaming, no data Includes 15 free minutes per day. Unlock unlimited mixing with a single one-time purchase. FOCUS TOOLS FOR ADHD & STUDYING Generate calming and concentration sounds directly on your device — no internet, no streaming, no downloads: - Brown Noise — deep, grounding background sound - Pink Noise — balanced for long study sessions - 852 Hz Tone — instant mental reset Set your duration and stay fully in the zone. YOUR MUSIC, YOUR WAY - Play DRM-free tracks from your Apple Music library - Import local files — MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, ALAC - Create and manage playlists directly on device - Sync music via Finder on Mac — no extra app needed HI-RES AWARENESS The app detects your playback path and shows whether you are listening in true lossless or Hi-Res quality. DESIGNED FOR SIMPLICITY No account. No hidden fees. Clean UI. One-time purchase with lifetime updates included. Please note: DRM-protected Apple Music streaming tracks cannot be processed by the 8D engine. Use your own purchased or imported DRM-free files for full functionality.

About

Whorl

Features
Read full description

Sounds that move. A mind that follows. Most "8D audio" is one stereo file with a panning effect baked in. Whorl works differently: every layer is a separate source, spatialized live on your iPhone as it orbits your head. That is why you can change the speed mid-session, why head tracking works, and why each layer can circle at its own pace. PICK A GOAL, PRESS PLAY - De-stress: slow, wide orbits to unwind - Focus: steady motion for deep work - Sleep: a low, dark drift with a fade-out timer - Overthinking: bilateral motion and gentle alternating taps MOTION AND COMFORT, ALWAYS FREE Choose Orbit, Sway, gentle Drift, or Still, at Gentle, Standard, or Deep intensity. If the motion ever feels like too much, dial it down or stop it entirely. These controls are never behind the paywall. MADE FOR HEADPHONES - True spatial audio on real 3D paths, rendered in real time - AirPods head tracking: turn your head and the sound stays put - Bilateral tapper: soft haptic taps alternating left and right - Pomodoro focus mode and 2 to 60 minute session timers - Sleep timer with a slow fade-out - Works fully offline. Nothing streams, nothing buffers - No account, no ads, no tracking. Everything stays on your device FREE AND PRO Start free: every goal, ten minutes at a time, with all comfort controls. Whorl Pro unlocks the full soundscape library, AirPods head tracking, the bilateral tapper, and unlimited session length. Whorl Pro is $6.99/month or $39.99/year, each with a 3-day free trial, or $89.99 once for lifetime access. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://whorlaudio.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://whorlaudio.com/privacy Use headphones at a comfortable volume. Whorl is for relaxation and focus only. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.

Screenshots

8DAudioPlayer4 screens
Whorl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Whorl at Free against 8DAudioPlayer's $2.99. Whorl also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 8DAudioPlayer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). On ads and device support 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

Whorl is free to download; 8DAudioPlayer costs $2.99 up front. Whorl sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. 8DAudioPlayer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

8DAudioPlayer ships an update weekly, Whorl every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
8DAudioPlayer versus Whorl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter8DAudioPlayerWhorl
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#194 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWestCoast Computer ApSOB Data LLC

In-app purchases

None

8DAudioPlayer

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Whorl

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$89.99

Questions

Is 8DAudioPlayer free?
8DAudioPlayer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Whorl free?
Whorl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do 8DAudioPlayer or Whorl have ads?
Neither 8DAudioPlayer nor Whorl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 8DAudioPlayer or Whorl?
8DAudioPlayer ships an update weekly, and Whorl every 2 days. Most recently, 8DAudioPlayer was updated on September 9, 2026 and Whorl on September 12, 2026.

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