# Patch & I/O vs StageFlow

The clearest difference is price: Patch & I/O at Free against StageFlow's $2.99. StageFlow's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Patch & I/O is free to download; StageFlow costs $2.99 up front. Patch & I/O sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. StageFlow asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Patch & I/O | StageFlow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Size | 6 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HYO SEOP LEE](https://appshunter.io/developer/6790621758) | [naoki takahashi](https://appshunter.io/developer/6816595430) |

## What reviewers say

### Patch & I/O

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patch-and-io-stage-io-list/id6809173652)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Unlock | $11.99 | one-time |


### StageFlow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stageflow-stage-plot-and-wiring/id6819358378)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Patch & I/O free?

Patch & I/O is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is StageFlow free?

StageFlow costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Patch & I/O or StageFlow have ads?

Neither Patch & I/O nor StageFlow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Patch & I/O or StageFlow?

Patch & I/O ships an update weekly, and StageFlow weekly. Most recently, Patch & I/O was updated on October 25, 2026 and StageFlow on October 24, 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.*