# Playback vs HCJB

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 chart position (#194 vs unranked). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

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

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Playback | HCJB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playback/id751755884/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | — |
| Size | 132 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MultiTracks.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/751755887) | [Hugo Landines](https://appshunter.io/developer/1597838576) |

## What reviewers say

### Playback

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

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

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


### HCJB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hcjb/id1630812952)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*