Comparison

Playback vs HCJB

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Multi-track audio playback
  • Integration with worship production tools
  • Automation and MIDI control
  • Custom song arrangements
  • Setlist management
  • Ambient pad player
Features
Read full description

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/

About

HCJB

Features
Read full description

Nuestra nueva App, donde puedes encontrar con facilidad artículos, devocionales, podcast y escuchar la programación cada día directamente en tu tablet o celular.

Screenshots

Playback4 screens
HCJB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HCJB at none against Playback's 3. Playback's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 14 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Playback sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. HCJB asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Playback ships an update monthly, HCJB every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Playback versus HCJB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlaybackHCJB
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.3K — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMultiTracks.comHugo Landines

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

HCJB

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Playback

Subscriptions3
  • Pro1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro1 Month trial$8.991 Month
  • Premium$14.991 Month
None

HCJB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Playback free?
Playback is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HCJB free?
HCJB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Playback or HCJB have ads?
Neither Playback nor HCJB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Playback or HCJB?
Playback ships an update monthly, and HCJB every 14 months. Most recently, Playback was updated on October 15, 2026 and HCJB on September 26, 2026.

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