# Step In Time vs Beam Music

Step In Time and Beam Music both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of Step In Time's written reviews are positive against 36% of Beam Music's. Beam Music's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Step In Time sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Beam Music asks for nothing beyond the download.

Beam Music holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beam Music has 306 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Step In Time's written reviews are positive against 36% of Beam Music's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Step In Time ships an update every 2 months, Beam Music every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Step In Time | Beam Music |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-in-time/id775682586/reviews) | **[4.4 (306 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **306** |
| Positive reviews | **72.2% of reviews** | 36.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 13 MB | 159 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Danny Sung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1555969244) | [Ultimate Drill Book](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455826723) |

## What reviewers say

### Step In Time

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/step-in-time/id775682586)

This music player allows users to adjust song tempo and jump to specific sections for practice. It supports importing music, wireless controls, and background playback. Advanced features and unlimited library access are available via in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Adjust tempo on-the-fly, Set 6 configurable speed presets, Drop and manage pins for song sections, Import songs from iPod library and other apps, Wireless control via media remotes and Bluetooth keyboards, Background playback and lock screen disable

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 Song Slots | $0.99 | one-time |
| Dancer's Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| Choreographer's Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |


### Beam Music

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909)

Easily import, organize, and annotate music files for ensembles. Share access and collaborate with section leaders. Live Mode synchronizes music across all devices instantly without internet.

**Highlights:** Import PDFs from cloud storage and local files, Edit and crop music pages, Annotate with pencil, highlighter, and text tools, Collaborative notes for section leaders, Real-time music synchronization via Live Mode, Organize music into collections and set lists, Backup music library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Centralized music library in one app
- 🎵 Convenient for marching band use
- ✍️ Annotation and note-taking features
- 📋 Setlist functionality for quick song switching
- 🔄 Live mode for synchronized performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- ⏱️ Severe lag and unresponsiveness
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain (40-90% per hour)
- 🌡️ Phone overheating during use
- 📝 Annotations randomly disappear or delete

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes constantly, especially when needed
- Lag makes page turning and note-taking difficult
- Annotations disappear after using live mode
- Zoom level resets when orientation changes
- Portrait mode activates unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Horizontal page lock (like FlipFolder)
- Ability to save zoom level with vertical scrolling
- Live session annotation capability
- Auto-select correct part for user
- Mass select parts instead of individual selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Step In Time free?

Step In Time is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Beam Music free?

Beam Music is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Step In Time or Beam Music?

Beam Music is rated higher. Step In Time averages 4.3 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Beam Music averages 4.4 from 306 ratings.

### Do Step In Time or Beam Music have ads?

Neither Step In Time nor Beam Music shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Step In Time or Beam Music?

Step In Time ships an update every 2 months, and Beam Music every 3 weeks. Most recently, Step In Time was updated on October 29, 2026 and Beam Music on October 29, 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.*