# Phase Chimes vs HeadStack

The clearest difference is rating: Phase Chimes at 5.0 against HeadStack's 4.8. Phase Chimes also leads on price ($9.99 vs $12.99). HeadStack's advantage is chart position (#184 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (14 vs 16.6). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Phase Chimes costs $9.99 and HeadStack $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Phase Chimes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 5 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Phase Chimes ships an update every 2 weeks, HeadStack every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phase Chimes | HeadStack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$9.99** | $12.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phase-chimes/id6751312171/reviews)** | [4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/headstack/id6781611375/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#184** |
| Size | 33 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **14** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kenneth Murphy](https://appshunter.io/developer/672833118) | [4Pockets.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/370131860) |

## What reviewers say

### Phase Chimes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phase-chimes/id6751312171)

Create intricate musical compositions by linking gears to generate complex rhythms and melodies. Explore generative music ideas standalone or as a MIDI plugin within other music production apps.

**Highlights:** Generative rhythm and melody composition, AUv3 MIDI plugin support, Standalone app functionality, Adjustable gear parameters (size, angle, velocity), Composition snapshots and transitions, On-the-fly performance capabilities, Internal sound library

**In-app purchases:** none


### HeadStack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/headstack/id6781611375)

**Currently charting:** #184 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This app offers a virtual tape loop with 8 independently configurable playback heads for creating diverse echo effects. It captures the warmth of classic tape machines while offering modern flexibility for sound design, from vintage echoes to evolving ambient textures.

**Highlights:** Multi-head tape engine with 8 playback heads, Vintage tape character and imperfections, Independent control for each playback head, Rotating head wheel for dynamic effects, Granular harmony engine for pitch-shifted textures, Per-head modulation and creative feedback routing, Diffusion and smearing for atmospheric washes

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phase Chimes free?

Phase Chimes costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HeadStack free?

HeadStack costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Phase Chimes or HeadStack?

Phase Chimes is rated higher. Phase Chimes averages 5.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while HeadStack averages 4.8 from 5 ratings.

### Do Phase Chimes or HeadStack have ads?

Neither Phase Chimes nor HeadStack shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phase Chimes or HeadStack?

Phase Chimes ships an update every 2 weeks, and HeadStack every 9 days. Most recently, Phase Chimes was updated on October 8, 2026 and HeadStack on October 3, 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.*