# Playback vs MXBus

The clearest difference is rating: Playback at 4.8 against MXBus's 4.2. Playback also leads on ratings volume (4.3K vs 117). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Playback sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and MXBus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Playback holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Playback has 4.3K ratings behind it against 117, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of Playback's written reviews are positive against 70% of MXBus's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Playback | MXBus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playback/id751755884/reviews)** | [4.2 (117 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mxbus/id1530411157/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 117 |
| Positive reviews | 66.0% of reviews | **70.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 132 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MultiTracks.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/751755887) | [Andreas Keldenich](https://appshunter.io/developer/1515007852) |

## What reviewers say

### Playback

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playback/id751755884)

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.

**Highlights:** Multi-track audio playback, Integration with worship production tools, Automation and MIDI control, Custom song arrangements, Setlist management, Ambient pad player

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro | $8.99 | per month |
| Premium | $14.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Powerful features
- 🚀 Seamless playback
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 👍 Great for small churches

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Difficult to use on multiple devices
- 🔒 Lack of free trial or demo
- 🐛 Inconsistent behavior after updates

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### MXBus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mxbus/id1530411157)

This app empowers musicians to control their own monitor mixes directly from their iOS device when using Behringer X32/X-Air or Midas consoles. It offers features like stereo channels, namable groups, and automatic console discovery for a streamlined sound check and live performance adjustment.

**Highlights:** Monitor mix control for musicians, Supports Behringer X32/X-Air and Midas consoles, Stereo channels for screen real-estate, Namable groups and automatic console discovery, Control send levels for channels, aux tracks, and effects, Reorder channels within groups, Springboard and Lock Screen widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MXBus PRO Package | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Quick and easy connection to mixers
- ✅ Stable and reliable performance for IEM mixing
- 💾 Ability to save scenes and group settings
- 🎚️ Clean, uncluttered design maximizes screen real estate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Faders moving on their own (recent bug)
- 🔌 Connection issues on certain network subnets (10.0.0.x)
- ❌ Inconsistent connectivity across different devices
- 🔋 High battery drain on some devices
- 📱 Limited iPad compatibility issues

**Reported bugs**

- Faders moving/sliding on their own without user input
- App crashes when changing aux channels
- Mute button switches to channel info screen
- Scene saving not working properly (iOS 26)
- Mix recall/fader recall feature broken after updates

**Requested features**

- Panning control for individual channels
- Support for Behringer Wing consoles
- Individual group controls for sends
- Main L/R mix access
- FX send control from channels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Playback free?

Playback is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MXBus free?

MXBus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Playback or MXBus?

Playback is rated higher. Playback averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while MXBus averages 4.2 from 117 ratings.

### Do Playback or MXBus have ads?

Neither Playback nor MXBus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Playback or MXBus?

Playback ships an update monthly, and MXBus monthly. Most recently, Playback was updated on September 24, 2026 and MXBus on September 4, 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.*