# GuardBox vs Beam

The clearest difference is rating: GuardBox at 5.0 against Beam's 1.5. GuardBox also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Beam's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ratings volume (40 vs 3). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GuardBox sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Beam asks for nothing beyond the download.

GuardBox holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beam has 40 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

GuardBox ships an update every 2 days, Beam every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GuardBox | Beam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardbox/id6756085533/reviews)** | [1.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-powered-by-arc/id6762746253/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **40** |
| Positive reviews | — | 13.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 346 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ROBERT JOSEPH JORDAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858420879) | [Ultimate Drill Book](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455826723) |

## What reviewers say

### GuardBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardbox/id6756085533)

This comprehensive platform supports color guard instructors, designers, judges, performers, and parents with tools for scoring, video annotation, practice planning, and financial management. It offers features for skill tracking, music organization, and event scheduling, all accessible across multiple devices.

**Highlights:** Caption Analyzer for scoring and trend tracking, Video annotation and frame-by-frame analysis, Practice Journal with skill tracking and badges, Rehearsal Planner with community sharing, Music Library and Metronome tools, Competition schedule and event tracking, Financial management and budget tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GuardBox Lite | $0.99 | per month |
| GuardBox Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| GuardBox Professional | $6.99 | per month |
| GuardBox Lite | $9.99 | per year |
| GuardBox Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| GuardBox Professional | $69.99 | per year |


### Beam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-powered-by-arc/id6762746253)

This app provides ensembles with tools to organize, annotate, and perform music collaboratively. It streamlines rehearsal processes, allowing for easy score management and shared annotation layers for different roles. Access a library of free sheet music and integrate with other tools for attendance and drill management.

**Highlights:** Interactive music organization, Score annotation tools, Customizable annotation layers, Sheet music library access, Attendance tracking integration, Seamless page management

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GuardBox free?

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

### Is Beam free?

Beam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, GuardBox or Beam?

GuardBox is rated higher. GuardBox averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Beam averages 1.5 from 40 ratings.

### Do GuardBox or Beam have ads?

Neither GuardBox nor Beam shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GuardBox or Beam?

GuardBox ships an update every 2 days, and Beam every 5 days. Most recently, GuardBox was updated on September 18, 2026 and Beam on September 24, 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.*