# Loop vs Octal

The clearest difference is rating: Octal at 5.0 against Loop's 3.0. Octal also leads on update cadence (daily vs fortnightly) and review sentiment (100% vs 71%). Loop's advantage is iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Loop sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Octal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Octal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Loop's written reviews are positive against 100% of Octal's.

Loop ships an update fortnightly, Octal daily. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Loop | Octal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loop-melody-maker/id6762234256/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octal-pocket-synth/id6822089963/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ANCREATIVE INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846323282) | [RYAN JAMES,GALANG ELLIS](https://appshunter.io/developer/6818578656) |

## What reviewers say

### Loop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loop-melody-maker/id6762234256)

Create melodies and drum patterns on a simple grid. Explore free samples or build your own sounds with various synthesis options. Save your creations and make music offline.

**Highlights:** Tap grid to create melodies, Build drum patterns, Multiple synthesis options, Shape sound with effects, Save and export loops, Offline music creation

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Loop Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Loop Premium Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


### Octal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octal-pocket-synth/id6822089963)

This app transforms your phone into a musical instrument with eight intuitive buttons that always create harmonious chords or notes. Easily record loops, layer beats, and arrange them into full songs. Explore a variety of sounds and share your creations.

**Highlights:** Eight-button chord/note interface, Loop recording and editing, Song arrangement, Diverse sound library, Undo/history functionality, Audio file sharing

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Octal, the full version | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Loop free?

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

### Is Octal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Loop or Octal?

Octal is rated higher. Loop averages 3.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Octal averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Loop or Octal have ads?

Neither Loop nor Octal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Loop or Octal?

Loop ships an update fortnightly, and Octal daily. Most recently, Loop was updated on November 5, 2026 and Octal on October 31, 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.*