# SideBand vs Playback Genius

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideBand | Playback Genius |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sideband/id721401314/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 38.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 15 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wil Macaulay](https://appshunter.io/developer/301735019) | [Marcella Jones](https://appshunter.io/developer/1244799381) |

## What reviewers say

### SideBand

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sideband/id721401314)

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.

**Highlights:** Adjust tempo, Transpose key, Change tuning, Loop sections, Import unprotected music, Supports iPhone and iPad

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Playback Genius

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playback-genius/id1244799382)

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.

**Highlights:** Stream learning tracks without downloading, View sheet music alongside audio, Endless repeat for memorization, Remember login credentials, Browse song categories, iPhone and iPad compatible

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideBand free?

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

### Is Playback Genius free?

Playback Genius costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do SideBand or Playback Genius have ads?

Neither SideBand nor Playback Genius shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SideBand or Playback Genius?

SideBand ships an update every 22 months, and Playback Genius every 2 months. Most recently, SideBand was updated on September 25, 2026 and Playback Genius on September 23, 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.*