Comparison

Knobbler vs Beecaster

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

Head to head
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/

About

Beecaster

Features
Read full description

Beecaster is a 24/7 live internet radio station powered entirely by its listeners. No algorithms, no playlists of the same forty songs, just a continuous broadcast of music, talk, and everything in between, made by independent creators and shaped by the people tuning in. LISTEN LIVE Hit play and you're on the air with the hive. See what's playing in real time, and vote tracks up or down. Your thumbs decide how often every track returns to the rotation. In the car, CarPlay shows you exactly who's beecasting. GET ON THE AIR Record a broadcast straight from your phone or upload an MP3. Anything under five minutes airs free. Once it clears review, your voice is in the rotation, heard around the world, 24/7. Longer broadcasts (up to 30 minutes) are available as in-app purchases. FOLLOW THE HIVE Follow your favorite beecasters and get a buzz the moment they hit the air. Share any track as a beautiful card that looks great everywhere, from Messages to Stories. Creators can add a link to each Beecast, so fans can find your podcast, your music, your world. Every link is safety-checked before it appears. CLIMB THE HIVE Every minute you listen, every upload, every daily streak earns hive points. Rise through the ranks from Egg to Architect, collect badges, protect your streak, and fight for the top of the leaderboard: today, this week, or all time. Watch your reach grow with creator analytics, from plays to followers to how far your shares travel. JOIN THE COMMUNITY The Hive feed shows uploads, badge unlocks, rank-ups, and new followers as they happen. Enter the weekly challenge, nominate standout tracks for the spotlight, and watch the station evolve around what the community creates. Listening is free and requires no account. Sign up to vote, upload, follow, build your streak, and make the station yours. Beecaster - 100% user-generated radio. Terms: https://www.beecaster.com/terms EULA: https://www.beecaster.com/eula

Screenshots

Knobbler4 screens
Beecaster4 screens

Verdict

The call

Knobbler and Beecaster are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Knobbler sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Beecaster sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Knobbler ships an update weekly, Beecaster every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Knobbler versus Beecaster: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnobblerBeecaster
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (16 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings16 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB6 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperZACHARY STEINKAMPABM Software

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Knobbler

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

Beecaster

One-time3
  • Extended Upload$1.99
  • Long-Form Upload$2.99
  • Broadcast Upload$4.99

Questions

Is Knobbler free?
Knobbler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Beecaster free?
Beecaster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Knobbler or Beecaster have ads?
Neither Knobbler nor Beecaster shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Knobbler or Beecaster?
Knobbler ships an update weekly, and Beecaster every 8 days. Most recently, Knobbler was updated on September 28, 2026 and Beecaster on September 25, 2026.

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