Playback vs Apple Music
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Playback
This app transforms your device into a powerful multi-track player for worship teams. It integrates with other worship production tools, offers advanced features like automation and MIDI control, and provides an intuitive interface for volunteers.
- Multi-track audio playback
- Integration with worship production tools
- Automation and MIDI control
- Custom song arrangements
- Setlist management
- Ambient pad player
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Playback turns your Apple device into a simple, yet powerful MultiTrack player that works seamlessly with the rest of the MultiTracks.com ecosystem of products like ChartBuilder®, RehearsalMix®, and the Church Streaming License®. Link your Planning Center account and have setlists you create automatically appear in Playback. Pairing Playback with our ProPresenter Templates gives it access to pre-made MIDI Cues that perfectly sync lyrics to your tracks. Playback has been optimized to be the best tracks solution for a worship team. While it has powerful features like automation, custom song arrangements, MIDI in/out, and even support for SMPTE timecode, it’s easy and intuitive for new volunteers. A Playback Rentals subscription is an easy and affordable way to quickly access the MultiTracks from our ever expanding library of over 24,000 original master recordings. Any previous tracks purchases from MultiTracks.com are instantly available in your Playback library. Already have your own tracks? Upload them to your library with a Cloud Pro subscription so that they can be accessed in Playback. Playback Sync® automatically scrolls charts in the ChartBuilder app to always match where you are in a song. No extra cables needed since it’s all done over Wi-Fi. This ensures your team is literally all on the same page! Pad Player® lets you to stay in the moment with ambient pads underneath every song and transition in your setlist. INTRO (Free) - Build & save setlists - Solo, mute & adjust track volumes - Set custom start & end times - Tempo/key change to all 12 keys - Play ambient pads underneath songs - Access any song in the catalog with a Playback Rentals Subscription - Song transitions - AutoPan - Add click-and-pad-only songs to setlists - Adjust click track subdivisions - Live Crossfade between songs - Reference the original song mix PREMIUM (Starting at $9.99/mo | Visit MultiTracks.com/Pricing) - All “Intro” features - Add, remove, rearrange, rename, & TRIM song sections - MIDI Map controls to a MIDI Controller - Loop/Infinite Loop Song Sections - Save Custom Song Arrangements w/Cloud Pro Intro or higher - Add an Infinite Click Track - Automation: Place cues anywhere in a song to trigger automations for track volumes, mute/unmute, Pad Player, & more! - Playback Remote - Send MIDI Cues to lyrics, lights & more with (Requires Live Bundle or MULTITRACKS ONE) - Live Re-Order: While audio is playing, jump to a particular Song Section - MIDI Map to a specific Song Section - Freely jump between Song Sections & Songs live using a MIDI Controller - Buses: Route your tracks out of 10 buses for better mix control - SmartRouting®: We’ve pre-assigned every track type to a bus. *Supported USB Audio Interfaces & Playback will automatically route your tracks to the available outputs - MultiOuts®: Route tracks & buses to multiple outputs with one of our *Supported USB Audio Interfaces. - Create & edit MIDI Cues directly in Playback. Save MIDI Cues to your Library with a Cloud Pro subscription - Advanced Pad Player Interface Playback Premium is also included in the Live Bundle & the MULTITRACKS ONE Bundle. *Please Note* Because access is given to Original Artist Master MultiTracks through our free ”Demo Setlist” & "Play of the Week," account registration is required for you to verify your identity and ensure compliance with Terms of Use. Price may vary by location. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iCloud account. Subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You won't be able to cancel the subscription once activated. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited if you upgrade from a free subscription to a paid version. Manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. For more details on our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use for MultiTracks.com please visit: http://www.multitracks.com/privacy/ and http://www.multitracks.com/terms/
Apple Music
Access over 100 million songs with high-quality audio and exclusive content. Enjoy personalized playlists, lyrics with translations, and features like AutoMix and Spatial Audio. Sing along with Apple Music Sing and share music with friends.
- Unlimited access to 100 million+ songs
- Personalized playlists and stations
- Lyrics with translations and pronunciations
- Spatial Audio and lossless audio quality
- Exclusive artist content and radio shows
- Sing along with Apple Music Sing
- Offline listening
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Apple Music is all about the music, with the highest audio quality; exclusive, in-depth content and unparalleled access to the artists you love–all ad-free. • Get unlimited access to over 100 million songs. • Playlists & stations made just for you. Find your Discovery Station, personalized picks, mixes, and more on Home. • Precise, beat-by-beat lyrics now include translations and pronunciations on many of your favorite songs to help you sing along with confidence.(1) • Take your listening to the next level with AutoMix. Like a DJ, AutoMix seamlessly transitions one song into the next. • Hear next-level sound quality with Spatial Audio(2) and lossless audio.(3) • Go deeper with the artists you love through in-depth interviews, live performances, and exclusive radio shows created by the most iconic names in music, and only found on Apple Music. • Find concerts in your area and tour dates for your favorite artists. • Keep the music going with AutoPlay for a continuous listening experience. • With Apple Music Sing, turn down the vocal volume and sing along with your favorite songs. And now you can pair your iPhone to an Apple TV to use as a microphone. It’s not karaoke... it’s better. • Listen with friends in real time using SharePlay, and control the music together in the car. • Share the music you love. Invite friends to collaborate on playlists,(4) join listening sessions with SharePlay, even share the lyrics that move you in Messages. • Download your favorite music, and listen offline. • Search for songs by lyrics, or ask Siri. • Take it all with you using CarPlay, and use your car controls to search for music. Apple Watch Features: • Download and stream music straight to your Apple Watch. • Search for music using scribble and dictation. • Use Home to quickly get back to your recently played, suggested stations, top picks and more. • Sort your favorite playlist, albums, and songs by your preference, right from your wrist. 1. Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation is available for select songs in select languages and scripts. 2. Compatible hardware and software required. Not all content available in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. 3. Lossless audio available up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Hi-Res Lossless requires external equipment such as a USB digital to analog converter. 4. Users under the age of 13 cannot collaborate on playlists because they are not allowed to have identities within Music. Users in Cameroon, China mainland, Malawi, Mali, Russia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay cannot collaborate. Availability and features vary by country and region, plan, or device. To get the newest features, make sure your devices are running the latest software version. Subscriptions automatically renew unless they are canceled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscriptions in Settings after purchase. Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions can be found at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Apple Music at none against Playback's 3. Apple Music also leads on ratings volume (3.3M vs 4.3K) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). Playback's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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
Both are free to download. Playback sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Apple Music asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Playback against 4.9 for Apple Music. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Apple Music has 3.3M ratings behind it against 4.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Playback's written reviews are positive against 69% of Apple Music's.
Playback ships an update monthly, Apple Music every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.
| Parameter | Playback | Apple Music |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (4.3K ratings) | 4.9 (3.3M ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.0% of reviews | 68.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K | 3.3M — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 132 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | MultiTracks.com | Apple |
Customer experience
Playback
Apple Music
User reviews
Playback
From 4.3K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Powerful features
- 🚀 Seamless playback
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 👍 Great for small churches
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Difficult to use on multiple devices
- 🔒 Lack of free trial or demo
- 🐛 Inconsistent behavior after updates
Apple Music
From 3.3M App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎧 Excellent sound quality
- 🎨 Visually appealing interface
- 📚 Vast music library
- 🔍 Effective music discovery
- 🎁 Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable performance
- 🔀 Inconsistent shuffle and queue functionality
- 📥 Issues with downloading and accessing offline music
- 🔍 Subpar music recommendations
- 🔒 Limitations with managing personal music library
Bugs and requests
Playback
Reported bugs
4 issues- Click track and guide audio issues
- Playback freezing or crashing on certain devices
- Syncing problems between multiple devices
- Rental tracks not loading properly
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to create and save custom setlists
- More advanced editing capabilities for individual tracks
- Tempo and key change options during live performance
- Improved MIDI integration for lyrics and lighting control
- Standalone version without subscription requirement
Apple Music
Reported bugs
4 issues- Songs randomly pausing or not playing
- Inconsistent behavior when adding songs to playlists
- Disappearance of downloaded music from library
- Inability to play certain purchased songs
Requested features
5 requests- Allow reordering of playlists
- Add search within playlists
- Implement crossfade between songs
- Provide option to block artists
- Display song release year metadata
In-app purchases
Playback
- Pro1 Month trial$4.991 Month
- Pro1 Month trial$8.991 Month
- Premium$14.991 Month
Apple Music
No in-app purchases









