# Stylus Tracker vs Play Dead

The clearest difference is price: Play Dead at Free against Stylus Tracker's $3.99. Play Dead also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 33%) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 8 months). Stylus Tracker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Play Dead is free to download; Stylus Tracker costs $3.99 up front. Play Dead sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Stylus Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Play Dead holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Play Dead has 93 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Stylus Tracker's written reviews are positive against 64% of Play Dead's.

Stylus Tracker ships an update every 8 months, Play Dead every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stylus Tracker | Play Dead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stylus-tracker/id6743324771/reviews) | **[4.3 (93 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-dead-grateful-dead-app/id6747825801/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **93** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **64.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#100** |
| Size | 4 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Rick DeCost](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281255488) | [nugs.net enterprises, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/327248667) |

## What reviewers say

### Stylus Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stylus-tracker/id6743324771)

This app helps vinyl enthusiasts track their turntable stylus lifespan to maintain optimal sound quality and protect their record collection. Log listening sessions, view history, and know exactly when to replace your stylus to prevent damage and ensure perfect playback.

**Highlights:** Log listening sessions, Track accumulated stylus hours, View and edit listening history, Prevent accidental date changes, Vinyl-inspired design

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Play Dead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-dead-grateful-dead-app/id6747825801)

**Currently charting:** #100 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

Access a vast library of officially remastered live Grateful Dead concert recordings. Discover previously unreleased shows every week, including rare CD-only releases now available in high-resolution audio. Listen across your devices with seamless playback.

**Highlights:** Official Grateful Dead live recordings, Hi-res remastered audio, Exclusive 'Dead Drops' weekly, CD-only releases now streaming, Vault organized by year, Cross-device listening, Apple CarPlay support

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stylus Tracker free?

Stylus Tracker costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Play Dead free?

Play Dead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Stylus Tracker or Play Dead?

Play Dead is rated higher. Stylus Tracker averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Play Dead averages 4.3 from 93 ratings.

### Do Stylus Tracker or Play Dead have ads?

Neither Stylus Tracker nor Play Dead shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stylus Tracker or Play Dead?

Stylus Tracker ships an update every 8 months, and Play Dead every 4 weeks. Most recently, Stylus Tracker was updated on October 24, 2026 and Play Dead on October 25, 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.*