Comparison

Bit Crusher vs SL DREAD

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

Head to head
About

Bit Crusher

This app digitally degrades audio by reducing bit depth and sample rate. It emulates the sound of vintage samplers and early digital hardware, adding unique lo-fi distortion.

Highlights
  • Bit depth reduction (quantization)
  • Sample rate reduction (decimation)
  • Emulates vintage digital hardware
  • Adds quantization noise
  • Creates aliasing artifacts
Features
Read full description

A digital degradation effect that combines two classic forms of lo-fi distortion: bit depth reduction (quantization) and sample rate reduction (decimation). Together they emulate the character of early digital samplers, 8-bit consoles, and vintage hardware with limited converter resolution. The signal is first quantized to a reduced number of bits, introducing the harsh harmonic distortion known as quantization noise. It is then resampled at a lower effective rate using a sample-and-hold stage, producing aliasing artifacts above the new Nyquist frequency.

About

SL DREAD

Transform any audio into unsettling soundscapes with 30 evolving horror scenes. This app processes melodies, vocals, and more to create disturbing atmospheres for music, film, and game sound design. Its unique interface allows for independent control of various sonic layers.

Highlights
  • 30 evolving horror scenes
  • Audio-reactive interface
  • Independent layer control
  • Standalone app and AUv3 effect
  • Transport Link for host sync
  • User presets
Read full description

SL DREAD blends incoming audio with 30 evolving horror scenes. Process melodies, drum loops, vocals, synths and field recordings to build disturbing atmospheres for music, film and game sound design. Fusion makes the atmosphere respond to the source. Shape its character with Age, Decay, Motion, Voice, Event, Space and Mix, and control drone, breath, whisper and metallic layers independently. Transport Link follows playback in a compatible host. The weathered medical-monitor interface includes an audio-reactive CRT display, scene selection, user presets and input/output controls. On iPhone, compact portrait pages separate Controls, Layers and I/O. Use the full interface in landscape or on iPad. Includes a standalone app and an AUv3 audio effect. To process a track from another music app, insert SL DREAD in a compatible AUv3 host. Standalone input monitoring starts muted to avoid speaker feedback; use headphones when enabling microphone monitoring. No account or in-app purchase is required. Audio processing stays on your device.

Screenshots

Bit Crusher4 screens
SL DREAD3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Bit Crusher at $1.99 against SL DREAD's $14.99. Bit Crusher also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). SL DREAD's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Bit Crusher costs $1.99 and SL DREAD $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Bit Crusher against 5.0 for SL DREAD. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bit Crusher ships an update every 3 days, SL DREAD every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Bit Crusher versus SL DREAD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBit CrusherSL DREAD
Price$1.99 — better$14.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB91 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperCallback Audio, LLCVIACHESLAV ZHILTSOV

Customer experience

Bit Crusher

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SL DREAD

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Bit Crusher

No in-app purchases

None

SL DREAD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bit Crusher free?
Bit Crusher costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SL DREAD free?
SL DREAD costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bit Crusher or SL DREAD?
Bit Crusher and SL DREAD are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Bit Crusher or SL DREAD have ads?
Neither Bit Crusher nor SL DREAD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bit Crusher or SL DREAD?
Bit Crusher ships an update every 3 days, and SL DREAD every 9 days. Most recently, Bit Crusher was updated on October 25, 2026 and SL DREAD on October 29, 2026.

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