# ARC vs Locus

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

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

Locus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

ARC ships an update weekly, Locus every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARC | Locus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-24-multitrack-groovebox/id6773901604/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/locus/id6785296998/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| 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 |


### Locus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/locus/id6785296998)

This app generates evolving melodic MIDI sequences for electronic music production. It offers thirteen generative archetypes and extensive editing capabilities, allowing users to create unique musical ideas and arrange them into full compositions. It functions as a standalone application or an AUv3 MIDI effect within compatible hosts.

**Highlights:** Generative MIDI sequencing, 13 unique generative archetypes, Seed-derived, reproducible patterns, Evolve, Feel, and Edit controls, Per-note slides with 303-style legato, 25 scales and snap-to-scale pitch, Standalone and AUv3 MIDI effect

**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 Locus free?

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

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

Locus is rated higher. ARC averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Locus averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do ARC or Locus have ads?

Neither ARC nor Locus shows ads.

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

ARC ships an update weekly, and Locus every 2 weeks. Most recently, ARC was updated on October 5, 2026 and Locus 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.*