SideBand vs Playback Genius
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SideBand
This app helps musicians learn songs by ear. It allows users to slow down music, loop sections, and change the key to match their voice or instrument. Import music from various sources like the Music app or iCloud.
- Adjust tempo
- Transpose key
- Change tuning
- Loop sections
- Import unprotected music
- Supports iPhone and iPad
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Learn tunes by ear - slow down and loop sections of a tune. Change the key to fit your voice or instrument. Import any unprotected music from the Music app, from the iCloud Files application or drag tunes from your desktop. Support for all iPhone screen sizes as well as iPad. Use slide-over while listening to your Music files to quickly import on iPad Use split screen to listen while viewing music • Adjust tempo - change the speed from half-speed to double speed • Transpose - change the key by semi-tones up to an octave higher or lower • Change the tuning - Adjust the pitch of an out-of-tune recording • Import from any other app that can export an audio file - wav, mp3 and AAC files are supported.
Playback Genius
Access sheet music and learning tracks for your choir or a cappella group directly on your mobile device. Stream audio without downloading and view scores simultaneously. Ideal for users of Groupanizer/Choir Genius.
- Stream learning tracks without downloading
- View sheet music alongside audio
- Endless repeat for memorization
- Remember login credentials
- Browse song categories
- iPhone and iPad compatible
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Are you part of a barbershop chorus, school choir, or a cappella group that uses Groupanizer / Choir Genius choir management tool? Access sheet music and learning tracks directly on your phone without having to download from your Groupanizer / Choir Genius website. * Play learning tracks directly on your phone without downloading * Remembers your login credentials between sessions * Listen to one track on endless repeat until you have it memorized * View sheet music while playing learning tracks * View song categories * Works on both iPhones and iPads
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: SideBand at 80% against Playback Genius's 38%. Playback Genius's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 22 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
SideBand costs $2.99 and Playback Genius $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SideBand ships an update every 22 months, Playback Genius every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SideBand | Playback Genius |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better | 38.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Wil Macaulay | Marcella Jones |
Customer experience
SideBand
Playback Genius
In-app purchases
SideBand
No in-app purchases
Playback Genius
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SideBand free?
Is Playback Genius free?
Do SideBand or Playback Genius have ads?
Which is updated more often, SideBand or Playback Genius?
Other comparisons
