Busker Live FX vs Tonkro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Busker Live FX
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Busker Live FX is a live guitar and vocal multi-effects app for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Connect instruments and microphones through an external audio interface, then control effects, your mix, backing tracks, loops and performance recording in one app. A console for each device โข Mac and landscape iPad: channel details, channel strips and MR/Looper/Record in three columns โข Portrait iPad: transport panels arranged side by side below the console โข iPhone: bottom tabs for channel details, channel strips and playback/recording โข Mac: select an external interface independently of the system default Independent channels and effects โข Up to four inputs, depending on your interface, with Guitar or Vocal on each channel โข Guitar: Tuner, Gate, Compressor, EQ, Boost, NAM AMP, IR, Doubler, Chorus, Delay and Reverb โข Vocal: Gate, Preamp, Compressor, EQ, De-esser, Pitch Correction, two-voice Harmony and Reverb โข Input gain, Pan, output faders, Mute/Solo and stereo Main output Perform and record โข One stereo loop up to 60 seconds, with overdubbing, Undo and Clear โข Import backing audio, see position and total time, and shift KEY by โ3โฆ+3 semitones โข Record enabled inputs, loaded MR, active loop and final MIX as stereo 24-bit WAV files โข Pause/resume within a Take; browse, preview and share individual files or a whole Take โข MIDI mapping by input channel and Guitar/Vocal type, All MIDI channels and MIDI Learn โข Save presets, edit names together and delete from the library All app features are free. No login or subscription is required. Presets and recordings are stored per device and do not automatically sync between devices. Requirements Requires iOS/iPadOS 17 or later, or macOS 14 or later, a compatible external audio interface and microphone permission. Built-in audio and AirPods are not treated as external interfaces for live input. Adapters, power and drivers depend on your interface. Latency and available processing capacity depend on your device, interface and buffer settings. User manual: https://buskerlivefx.pickandtune.com/manual Support: support@pickandtune.com
Tonkro
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MAKE MUSIC BY TOUCHING THE MACHINE Tonkro is a playful music workstation for iPad: part synthesizer, sampler, drum machine, sequencer, recorder, editor, mixer, and DJ performance space. SHAPE ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTS Explore distinctive synth and drum engines through four expressive controls. Each workshop is built to feel immediate: touch the illustrated machinery, hear the result, and let the characters react to your performance. SAMPLE THE WORLD Record through the microphone or import audio. Play one sound chromatically, divide it into untransposed slices, or map multiple samples across keys and pads. Trim, crop, loop, reverse, fade, change speed, transpose, and preserve the original recording with non-destructive editing. FIND RHYTHMS YOUR WAY Seven sequencer personalities turn taps, held notes, patterns, gestures, and playful systems into musical motion. Tempo, transport, MIDI, and recording stay connected, so a sketch can become an arrangement without breaking the flow. RECORD AND ARRANGE Build with eight stereo tracks. Record audio or notes, edit clips and piano-roll performances, overdub, punch, loop, lift, drop, mix, export stems, and save portable project bundles. PERFORM WITH MONSTER DECKS Load two tracks, set beat grids, sync, use key lock, cue points, hot cues, quantized loops, EQ, filters, pitch bend, and the crossfader. Record the performance or print it directly into the tape arrangement. MADE FOR PLAY Tonkro keeps its creative tools visible, touchable, and full of character. It works without an account, advertising, or third-party analytics. Your projects, recordings, and imported samples remain on your iPad unless you choose to export or share them.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tonkro at none against Busker Live FX's 3. Busker Live FX's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Busker Live FX sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Tonkro asks for nothing beyond the download.
Busker Live FX ships an update every 6 days, Tonkro every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Busker Live FX | Tonkro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days โ better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No โ better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad โ better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 โ better | 18.0 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MINJUNG CHO | Bipasha Nayak |
In-app purchases
Busker Live FX
- Busker Live FX Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Busker Live FX Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Busker Live FX Pro (Lifetime)$79.99
Tonkro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Busker Live FX free?
Is Tonkro free?
Do Busker Live FX or Tonkro have ads?
Which is updated more often, Busker Live FX or Tonkro?
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