# OnStem vs PlayStems

The clearest difference is ads: PlayStems at none against OnStem's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OnStem sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and PlayStems sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

OnStem ships an update every 3 weeks, PlayStems every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OnStem | PlayStems |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Size | 137 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [阳 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1616314142) | [Matthias Santer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1538440760) |

## What reviewers say

### OnStem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onstem-local-music-split/id6756013787)

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OnStem Pro – Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| OnStem Pro – Quarterly | $2.39 | per 3 months |
| OnStem Pro – Annual | $8.99 | per year |
| OnStem Pro – Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


### PlayStems

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playstems/id6773736611)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full version | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OnStem free?

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

### Is PlayStems free?

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

### Do OnStem or PlayStems have ads?

OnStem shows ads; PlayStems does not.

### Which is updated more often, OnStem or PlayStems?

OnStem ships an update every 3 weeks, and PlayStems every 11 days. Most recently, OnStem was updated on September 9, 2026 and PlayStems on September 14, 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.*