Comparison

Ferric vs Stemzel

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

Head to head
About

Ferric

Features
Read full description

Ferric brings back the cassette tape as a real music player for your iPhone. Not a gimmick, not just a skin over your library. A full cassette experience where you build the tapes, curate the tracks, and watch the reels spin while your music plays. MAKE YOUR TAPES Start by picking a shell. Chrome, midnight black, amber, clear, oxide brown, electric blue, or retro. Each one has its own look and feel. Give your cassette a name, then fill both sides with songs from your music library or Apple Music. Side A and Side B are real. Flip the tape during playback just like you would with a physical cassette. The progress carries over correctly, the reels spin the right direction, and the tape fills up as you listen. DECORATE THEM Every cassette has a drawing surface you can paint on. Use the pen tool to write labels, draw art, or scribble whatever feels right. Swap between colors, adjust the brush size, drop in stickers, or grab the eraser. You can decorate the front, the back, and the top spine. It is your tape. PLAY YOUR MUSIC The player shows your cassette up close with both reels animating in real time. The supply reel shrinks and the takeup reel grows as the tape runs, using the same physics as a physical cassette. The reels spin faster near the end of the tape and slower near the start. Tap forward or back to skip tracks. Hold to seek. The speed ramps up the longer you hold, so scrubbing through a long tape stays quick. Lock screen controls and background playback work the same as any music app. BUILT-IN WEAR Every cassette accumulates wear as you listen. Scratches and surface marks appear gradually, placed deterministically based on each cassette's own wear pattern. No two tapes age the same way. Heavy-use tapes start to show it. YOUR LIBRARY All your cassettes live in a grid view. Tap any one to see its track listing in a style that mirrors the J-cards that used to come inside cassette cases. From there you can flip to the other side, launch the player, or open the drawing editor. WHAT FERRIC IS NOT It is not a streaming service. It does not generate playlists or make recommendations. It is a deliberate, analog-feeling way to organize and play music you already own or have access to through Apple Music. Building a cassette takes a minute. That is the point.

About

Stemzel

Features
Read full description

Stemzel splits any song into four stems — vocals, drums, bass, and other instruments — entirely on your iPhone. No cloud uploads. No subscription. No account required. IMPORT YOUR AUDIO • File — pick from Files, iCloud Drive, or anywhere on your device • URL — paste a direct link to an MP3, M4A, or WAV file • Record — capture audio with your microphone and split it instantly MIX AND EXPORT • Mute or solo any stem to hear exactly what you want • Play back your mix with a built-in waveform scrubber • Export individual stems or your full mix to the Files app PRIVATE BY DESIGN Every split runs on your device using on-device AI. Your music never leaves your iPhone. No servers, no tracking, no ads. ONE-TIME UNLOCK Pay once, use Stemzel forever. Unlimited splits and downloads — no monthly fees, ever. PERFECT FOR • Musicians learning parts by ear • DJs and producers isolating elements • Karaoke and acapella practice • Remixing and sampling workflows • Anyone who wants stems without uploading to the cloud Stemzel is built for speed and privacy. Import a track, wait a moment while it separates, then mute the vocals, solo the drums, or export everything — all from your pocket. Questions or feedback? Visit stemzel.com/support

Screenshots

Ferric4 screens
Stemzel3 screens

Verdict

The call

Ferric and Stemzel are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Ferric sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Stemzel sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Ferric versus Stemzel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFerricStemzel
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB290 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFaith Branch Software LLCMahija Kottapalli

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Ferric

One-time1
  • Ferric Premium$4.99
4 purchases

Stemzel

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Stemzel Unlock$7.99

Questions

Is Ferric free?
Ferric is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Stemzel free?
Stemzel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ferric or Stemzel have ads?
Neither Ferric nor Stemzel shows ads.

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