Comparison

AmpGate vs Simple NAM Chain

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

Head to head
About

AmpGate

This app provides a real-time amplifier simulator for mobile devices, featuring exact digital captures of real amplifiers and full rigs. It allows users to browse and audition a vast library of tones, load custom impulse responses, and import their own captures. It also functions as an AUv3 plugin for use in music production hosts.

Highlights
  • Real-time amp simulation
  • Vast tone library access
  • Cabinet section with IR loader
  • Noise gate and gain controls
  • Low-latency processing
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
Features
Read full description

Every amp ever, in your pocket. AmpGate is a Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) player for iPhone and iPad: a real-time amp sim that plays exact digital captures of real amplifiers and full rigs, including the new Architecture 2 (A2) models, the most accurate generation of neural captures yet. BROWSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TONES Connect your free TONE3000 account and the world's largest tone library opens right inside the app. Search by amp, gear or genre, audition any capture through your own guitar before saving it, and build your collection with one tap. - NAM engine with A2 model support - Cabinet section with impulse response loader, browse TONE3000 IRs or import your own WAV files - Tone stack (bass / mid / treble), noise gate, input and output gain - Low-latency processing tuned for live playing - Import your own .nam captures from the Files app AUv3 PLUGIN INCLUDED Load AmpGate inside GarageBand, Logic Pro, AUM, Loopy Pro, Cubasis and any other AUv3 host. The app and the plugin share one library: save a tone and it's already in your session. Neural Amp Modeler is an open-source project by Steven Atkinson. TONE3000 is a free third-party service; an account is optional.

About

Simple NAM Chain

Transform your mobile device into a powerful guitar rig. Load amp captures and cabinet impulse responses to create custom guitar chains. Offers a built-in tuner and advanced gain staging for optimal sound.

Highlights
  • Load .nam amp captures
  • Add cabinet impulse responses
  • Stack up to six effect blocks
  • Reorder and bypass blocks
  • Built-in tuner
  • Automatic gain staging
  • Live CPU readout
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a guitar rig. Simple NAM Chain plays amp captures in the Neural Amp Modeler format, including A1 and A2. Load a capture, add a cabinet impulse response, and play. It runs on its own, or as an Audio Unit inside GarageBand, AUM and other hosts. BUILD A CHAIN Stack up to six blocks in series — a drive pedal into an amp head into a cab, or whatever order you want. Drag to reorder, bypass any block, remove the ones you don't need. Tag each one Full Rig, Amp Head, Pedal, Outboard or IR so the chain reads at a glance. EVERY BLOCK IS A FULL RIG Each block has its own input level, noise gate, amp capture, cabinet IR, three-band EQ and output level. The gate, the EQ and the IR each switch off independently. LOAD WHOLE MODEL PACKS Captures usually arrive as a folder holding the same amp at a range of settings. Point the app at the folder and step through every capture with the arrows, without going back to a file browser between takes. Keep your packs anywhere on the device, or drop them into the Full Rig, Amp Head, Pedal, Outboard and IR folders the app creates for you in Files. GAIN STAGING HANDLED Captures that carry calibration data are gain-staged automatically as you reorder the chain, so stacking blocks doesn't wreck your levels. Set your interface's input level in dBu once, and pick Raw, Normalized or Calibrated output. ALSO INCLUDED • Built-in tuner • Slim control, to trade a little accuracy for lower CPU on captures that support it • Live CPU readout • Recovers cleanly from phone calls, route changes and unplugged interfaces WHAT YOU NEED An audio interface to plug your guitar into gives the best results — the built-in microphone works, but isn't meant for playing. You'll need captures in .nam format (A1 and A2 are both supported), and impulse responses as .wav files if you want cabinets; thousands are free at tone3000.com. Headphones or monitors, so the mic doesn't feed back. FREE FOR THREE DAYS Everything is unlocked for three days. After that the app stops processing audio until you unlock it, which is a single payment of $4.99. Not a subscription, no accounts, no ads, and nothing is collected about you.

Screenshots

AmpGate3 screens
Simple NAM Chain4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simple NAM Chain at 100% against AmpGate's 0%. Simple NAM Chain also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.0) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). AmpGate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Simple NAM Chain sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. AmpGate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Simple NAM Chain holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of AmpGate's written reviews are positive against 100% of Simple NAM Chain's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AmpGate ships an update every 3 weeks, Simple NAM Chain daily. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AmpGate versus Simple NAM Chain: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmpGateSimple NAM Chain
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMATTEO DEMETRIO ZANARDIaziz bou harb

Customer experience

AmpGate

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Simple NAM Chain

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

AmpGate

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Simple NAM Chain

One-time2
  • 3-day TrialFree
  • Full Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is AmpGate free?
AmpGate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simple NAM Chain free?
Simple NAM Chain is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AmpGate or Simple NAM Chain?
Simple NAM Chain is rated higher. AmpGate averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Simple NAM Chain averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do AmpGate or Simple NAM Chain have ads?
Neither AmpGate nor Simple NAM Chain shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AmpGate or Simple NAM Chain?
AmpGate ships an update every 3 weeks, and Simple NAM Chain daily. Most recently, AmpGate was updated on October 9, 2026 and Simple NAM Chain on October 2, 2026.

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