# HeadStack vs AD

HeadStack and AD both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of HeadStack's written reviews are positive against 83% of AD's. AD's advantage is price ($6.99 vs $7.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

HeadStack costs $7.99 and AD $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for HeadStack against 4.7 for AD. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 12 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of HeadStack's written reviews are positive against 83% of AD's.

HeadStack ships an update every 9 days, AD every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HeadStack | AD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $7.99 | **$6.99** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/headstack/id6781611375/reviews)** | [4.7 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ad-202/id6795327427/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 83.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 25 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [4Pockets.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/370131860) | [Audio Damage, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1248448317) |

## What reviewers say

### HeadStack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/headstack/id6781611375)

This app offers a virtual tape loop with 8 independently configurable playback heads for creating diverse echo effects. It captures the warmth of classic tape machines while offering modern flexibility for sound design, from vintage echoes to evolving ambient textures.

**Highlights:** Multi-head tape engine with 8 playback heads, Vintage tape character and imperfections, Independent control for each playback head, Rotating head wheel for dynamic effects, Granular harmony engine for pitch-shifted textures, Per-head modulation and creative feedback routing, Diffusion and smearing for atmospheric washes

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### AD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ad-202/id6795327427)

This app emulates a classic 1983 micro synthesizer with modern enhancements like MPE and eight-voice polyphony. It offers a rich sound engine with multiple oscillators, filters, and a comprehensive drive section for unique sonic textures. Enjoy extensive modulation options and a built-in keyboard for immediate creativity.

**Highlights:** Eight-voice polyphony, MPE support, Classic four-pole lowpass filter, Comprehensive drive section, AUv3 and standalone operation, Preset manager with favorites, Built-in chicklet keyboard

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HeadStack free?

HeadStack costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AD free?

AD costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HeadStack or AD?

HeadStack is rated higher. HeadStack averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while AD averages 4.7 from 12 ratings.

### Do HeadStack or AD have ads?

Neither HeadStack nor AD shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HeadStack or AD?

HeadStack ships an update every 9 days, and AD every 2 weeks. Most recently, HeadStack was updated on October 1, 2026 and AD on September 15, 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.*