# ARC vs Pulseq

The clearest difference is price: ARC at Free against Pulseq's $3.99. ARC also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). Pulseq's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

ARC is free to download; Pulseq costs $3.99 up front. ARC sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Pulseq asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pulseq holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

ARC ships an update weekly, Pulseq monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARC | Pulseq |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-24-multitrack-groovebox/id6773901604/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulseq/id6782395526/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 52 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daelan Wood](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781308426) | [Joe Topjian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1860697112) |

## What reviewers say

### ARC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-24-multitrack-groovebox/id6773901604)

Create music with a versatile groovebox featuring eight tracks for synths, samplers, and drums. Its intuitive interface allows for real-time performance and easy arrangement into songs, all while staying in key and scale.

**Highlights:** Eight dynamic tracks (synth, sampler, drums), Key and scale locked note/chord pads, 16-pad sampler with import/record, Deep synth editing and 25 arpeggiator patterns, Full mixer with EQ and individual track effects, Song mode for arrangement and live performance, MIDI input and iCloud sync

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7-Day Trial | Free | one-time |
| ARC-24 Full Version | $9.99 | one-time |


### Pulseq

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulseq/id6782395526)

This multi-stage MIDI sequencer is designed for electronic music production, allowing users to create complex patterns for external synths and AUv3 plugins. It offers extensive control over notes, velocity, gate behavior, and rhythm, with features for arranging scenes into full tracks.

**Highlights:** Multi-stage sequencing (1-16 stages), Pitch and scale control with 17 scales, Flexible gate modes and rhythm shaping, Multiple play and split modes, Up to eight CC modulation lanes, Scene chaining for full track arrangements, Standalone and AUv3 plugin support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARC free?

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

### Is Pulseq free?

Pulseq costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ARC or Pulseq?

Pulseq is rated higher. ARC averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Pulseq averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do ARC or Pulseq have ads?

Neither ARC nor Pulseq shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARC or Pulseq?

ARC ships an update weekly, and Pulseq monthly. Most recently, ARC was updated on October 5, 2026 and Pulseq on October 19, 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.*