# Soundwaves vs TraceSonic

The clearest difference is rating: TraceSonic at 5.0 against Soundwaves's 4.1. TraceSonic also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). Soundwaves's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $7.99) and ratings volume (12 vs 1). On ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Soundwaves costs $3.99 and TraceSonic $7.99 up front. Soundwaves sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TraceSonic asks for nothing beyond the download.

TraceSonic holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Soundwaves has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Soundwaves ships an update every 2 months, TraceSonic every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Soundwaves | TraceSonic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $7.99 |
| Rating | [4.1 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundwaves/id736139596/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracesonic/id6798317938/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 60.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 4 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Simone Tellini](https://appshunter.io/developer/372931565) | [r6 appz](https://appshunter.io/developer/491984529) |

## What reviewers say

### Soundwaves

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundwaves/id736139596)

This app connects your iOS device to your Subsonic music server, allowing you to stream audio and video content. It supports various audio formats and can also play movies, making it ideal for home theater setups or car audio systems.

**Highlights:** Connects to Subsonic music servers, Streams audio and video content, Supports FLAC, Opus, Ogg Vorbis, Plays movies from server, Works with other Subsonic API servers, Adjustable max bit rate for limited connections

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ads-free Edition | $3.99 | one-time |


### TraceSonic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracesonic/id6798317938)

Transform images into unique sounds by drawing on a spectral canvas. This app uses brush strokes and imported images to generate additive synthesis, offering a creative way to craft musical instruments and soundscapes.

**Highlights:** Draw on spectral canvas, Import images to create sound, 128 additive oscillators, Multiple brush types, Pitch snapping to scales, MIDI note input, Save custom patches

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Soundwaves free?

Soundwaves costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is TraceSonic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Soundwaves or TraceSonic?

TraceSonic is rated higher. Soundwaves averages 4.1 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while TraceSonic averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Soundwaves or TraceSonic have ads?

Neither Soundwaves nor TraceSonic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Soundwaves or TraceSonic?

Soundwaves ships an update every 2 months, and TraceSonic every 9 days. Most recently, Soundwaves was updated on November 9, 2026 and TraceSonic on October 31, 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.*