Comparison

BlueLooper vs AmpGate

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BlueLooper

Transform your mobile device into a professional guitar effects pedalboard and multi-track looper. Explore realistic amp simulations, customize effect chains with AUv3 plugins, and utilize built-in backing tracks and practice logging for an all-in-one guitar practice and songwriting tool.

Highlights
  • Multi-track looper
  • NAM amp simulator
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Backing tracks (drums & chords)
  • Automatic practice logging
  • Built-in tuner, metronome, recorder
  • AUv3 plugin versions for other DAWs
Features
Read full description

BlueLooper turns your iPhone or iPad into a guitar effects pedalboard and multi-track looper. Amps, effects, looping, backing and your practice log all live in one app, from daily practice to songwriting and the stage. Connect an audio interface such as the iRig HD X and your device becomes a full loop station. BlueLooper includes a high-quality amp simulator with support for NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) A2 models. Load realistic models captured from real hardware, combine them with the looper, and you have a complete guitar rig in your pocket. TONE3000 models can be browsed and downloaded right inside the app, and kept as favorites for quick recall. You can also drop your own AUv3 plug-ins into the effect chain. Pick one from the list organized by manufacturer; even the knobs you move in the plug-in's own window are stored with your preset. GROOVE gives you a two-lane backing section: drums and chords. Generate drum patterns from 10 genres — Rock, Pop, Jazz, Latin, Funk, Hip-Hop, Country, Ballad, Electro and Ambient — and set the accent of every step. The chord lane carries the standard progressions for each genre (I–V–vi–IV, ii–V–I and more): pick a key, a progression and a sound (Piano, Rhodes, Wurly, Organ, Pad) and you have an accompaniment to practice over on your own. LOOPER, GROOVE and GRAIN share one tempo, and switching SONG recalls the whole set for that tune. Your practice time is logged automatically — there is no "start practice" button to press. It counts the time you actually played separately from the time it was simply open, and keeps the breakdown: what you played along to — LOOPER, GROOVE or the metronome — and which preset you used. Look back by day, week or month, with totals from all your devices combined over iCloud. The effect chain you were using is saved too, so you can call it back and play with the same tone. A tuner, a metronome and a recorder sit in one panel you can open straight from the playing screen. The recorder captures the app's own output rather than the microphone, and can save it as a video with the camera picture. BlueLooper also ships AUv3 plug-in versions of its NAM amp and IR loader, so you can use amp models and IRs directly inside compatible music production apps — verified with GarageBand and Cubasis. Loading NAM models and IRs is a Premium feature. New users can try loading NAM models or IRs up to 10 times each for free before upgrading. Premium Upgrade (one-time unlock) A single purchase gives you: • Unlimited NAM model loading • Unlimited IR loading • Unlimited effect chain preset saving • Unlimited Effect, Looper and Sampler bank saving • Unlimited loading of the effect chains saved in your practice log • Endless Sustain with no time limit From practice and songwriting to improvisation, recording and live performance, BlueLooper delivers an intuitive workflow and high-quality sound built for guitarists. Key features • NAM A2 compatible amp simulator • IR loader • Browse and download TONE3000 models in-app • Built-in distortion, chorus, delay, reverb and more • AUv3 host: add your own plug-ins to the effect chain • Multi-track looper / sustainer • GROOVE: drum patterns in 10 genres, plus chord backing on standard progressions • Automatic practice logging (what you played along to, day/week/month review, iCloud totals) • Tuner / metronome / audio and video recording • SONG: switch every module's settings together, per tune • NAM/IR AUv3 plug-ins (verified with GarageBand and Cubasis) • .nam model loading (Premium, 10 free trials) • IR loading (Premium, 10 free trials) • Multiple bank saving (Premium) • Endless Sustain (Premium) • Optimized for iPhone and iPad • Works with audio interfaces such as the iRig HD X BlueLooper combines portability, a simple interface, realistic amp modeling and expressive sound design into a new guitar experience. You don't need a big loop pedal or a pedalboard to carry a serious rig — and your daily practice adds up as you go.

About

AmpGate

This app provides a real-time amplifier simulator for mobile devices, featuring exact digital captures of real amplifiers and full rigs. It allows users to browse and audition a vast library of tones, load custom impulse responses, and import their own captures. It also functions as an AUv3 plugin for use in music production hosts.

Highlights
  • Real-time amp simulation
  • Vast tone library access
  • Cabinet section with IR loader
  • Noise gate and gain controls
  • Low-latency processing
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
Features
Read full description

Every amp ever, in your pocket. AmpGate is a Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) player for iPhone and iPad: a real-time amp sim that plays exact digital captures of real amplifiers and full rigs, including the new Architecture 2 (A2) models, the most accurate generation of neural captures yet. BROWSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TONES Connect your free TONE3000 account and the world's largest tone library opens right inside the app. Search by amp, gear or genre, audition any capture through your own guitar before saving it, and build your collection with one tap. - NAM engine with A2 model support - Cabinet section with impulse response loader, browse TONE3000 IRs or import your own WAV files - Tone stack (bass / mid / treble), noise gate, input and output gain - Low-latency processing tuned for live playing - Import your own .nam captures from the Files app AUv3 PLUGIN INCLUDED Load AmpGate inside GarageBand, Logic Pro, AUM, Loopy Pro, Cubasis and any other AUv3 host. The app and the plugin share one library: save a tone and it's already in your session. Neural Amp Modeler is an open-source project by Steven Atkinson. TONE3000 is a free third-party service; an account is optional.

Screenshots

BlueLooper4 screens
AmpGate3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BlueLooper at 100% against AmpGate's 0%. BlueLooper also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). AmpGate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BlueLooper sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AmpGate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BlueLooper holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BlueLooper has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of BlueLooper's written reviews are positive against 0% of AmpGate's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BlueLooper ships an update every 4 days, AmpGate every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
BlueLooper versus AmpGate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlueLooperAmpGate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (5 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.516.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerosamu sambuichiMATTEO DEMETRIO ZANARDI

Customer experience

BlueLooper

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

AmpGate

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

BlueLooper

One-time1
  • BlueLooper Premium$5.99
None

AmpGate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BlueLooper free?
BlueLooper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AmpGate free?
AmpGate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BlueLooper or AmpGate?
BlueLooper is rated higher. BlueLooper averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while AmpGate averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do BlueLooper or AmpGate have ads?
Neither BlueLooper nor AmpGate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BlueLooper or AmpGate?
BlueLooper ships an update every 4 days, and AmpGate every 3 weeks. Most recently, BlueLooper was updated on November 9, 2026 and AmpGate on October 31, 2026.

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