Comparison

SquashIt multiband distortion vs spectwhirl

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

Head to head
About

SquashIt multiband distortion

This audio effect filter offers a unique distortion algorithm for music production. It integrates with various audio hosts and sequencers, allowing for creative sound shaping on vocals, bass, and more. Developed by musicians for musicians, it provides a powerful yet simple interface.

Highlights
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
  • Inter-App Audio (IAA) compatibility
  • AudioBus 2 compatibility
  • Load/Save presets
  • Low CPU usage
  • Simple and powerful UI
Features
Read full description

This audio effect filter provides an unique distortion algorithm and should be essential in every music producers toolset. SquashIt doesn’t sound vintage, it just sounds good. SquashIt is developed by musicians for musicians. Features: • (new) Works as a Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) with compliant hosts. • Inter app audio (IAA) compatible. This means you can use it with Garageband or other IAA compatible sequencers.     • AudioBus 2 compatible (including state saving) • Load / Save presets. • Remembers IAA hosts (will automatically load last used settings when a host connects) • Low cpu usage • Simple but yet powerful user interface Several professional music producers already work with the plugin: "SquashIt adds something unique that similar plug-ins doesn’t." - John De Sohn ”I think it’s fantastic and really easy to use. Also looks good and has a clean interface.” - Mattias Andreasson (producer) "Works great on vocals and bass." - Nisse Westfelt / Mixing engineer (Dirty Loops among others) "A great sounding plugin with an interface that makes you creative. I love distortion. I love Squashit even more" - Mathias Näslund / The Sweet Serenades "SquashIt makes what it says. It squashes intensity, drive and closeness out of anything. I use it for everything from kick to flute and can't wait for more plugs from Klevgränd." - Stefan Pettersson / Rougin Music Production "This plug is awesome on Mathildas vocals. It adds dirt but still sounds clean in a mysterious way which is perfect for electronica." - Peter Sydén / Artymove

About

spectwhirl

This audio effect app transforms input sound into new textures and bell-like tones by extracting and manipulating sinewave components. It offers advanced control over delay lines, frequency shifting, and filtering, with gesture recording for parameter automation.

Highlights
  • Sinewave component extraction and grouping
  • Delay lines with feedback
  • Frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects
  • Configurable filtering
  • Gesture recording for automation
  • Scene saving and management
Features
Read full description

"bells and whistles, literally" spectwhirl is a hybrid spectral audio effect. It can extract and rearrange sinewave components from input signal to make new sound textures and bell-like sounds. * input sound is converted to sinewave components that are divided into 4 groups: harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and other * each component is fed into a delay line with feedback * there is a group of frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects before and after delay lines * each set of sinewave components can be filtered * all the parameters can be instantly automated with gesture recording !!! Please note that this effect consumes much CPU and requires a modern device. ====================== Quick Start: Top row of controls enables different parts of user interface: scenes editor ("scene"), controls switch ("edit") and "zoom" controls When "edit" is switch on, you can show or hide various controls (marked as "ctrl") and switch gesture recording automation for some of them (marked with ">") Main control surface displays sonogram with tracked elements. Colors are set accordingly to the group they are assigned (red-orange-green-blue are for harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and others). Each "lane" contains delay time controls. * Triangle facing left is for the start locator, it determines initial delay time * Square moves both start and end locators together * When left locator is first moved you can see the right locator with the same triangle. It shows the end of the selected region, the secondary delay time is determined by the difference between left and right locators * if you drag over the area of the region in a lane, the four-dotted/one circle indicator will change its appearance; this changes the arpeggio mode of the region. If set to leftmost position (one circle) the components go in-sync; if set to maximum value (shown as diagonal line with circles) - components are played sequentially * all settings can be stored as "scene" and multiple scenes can be switched sequentially; there is a set of button to move, add and delete scenes. All scenes will be stored as machine state; it can be exported / imported as a single file or as separate file with current scene in the "setup" view The standalone version always starts with output level set to -70 dB to avoid feedback

Screenshots

SquashIt multiband distortion3 screens
spectwhirl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SquashIt multiband distortion at 80% against spectwhirl's 33%. SquashIt multiband distortion also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 12.0). spectwhirl's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $9.99). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

SquashIt multiband distortion costs $9.99 and spectwhirl $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SquashIt multiband distortion holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of SquashIt multiband distortion's written reviews are positive against 33% of spectwhirl's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SquashIt multiband distortion ships an update every 2 months, spectwhirl every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SquashIt multiband distortion versus spectwhirl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSquashIt multiband distortionspectwhirl
Price$9.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.3 (6 ratings) — better4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.1 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKlevgrand Produkter ABAlexey Nadzharov

Customer experience

SquashIt multiband distortion

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

spectwhirl

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

SquashIt multiband distortion

No in-app purchases

None

spectwhirl

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SquashIt multiband distortion free?
SquashIt multiband distortion costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is spectwhirl free?
spectwhirl costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SquashIt multiband distortion or spectwhirl?
SquashIt multiband distortion is rated higher. SquashIt multiband distortion averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while spectwhirl averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do SquashIt multiband distortion or spectwhirl have ads?
Neither SquashIt multiband distortion nor spectwhirl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SquashIt multiband distortion or spectwhirl?
SquashIt multiband distortion ships an update every 2 months, and spectwhirl every 5 weeks. Most recently, SquashIt multiband distortion was updated on September 26, 2026 and spectwhirl on September 28, 2026.

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