Comparison

Sparkle vs Bark Filter

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

Head to head
About

Sparkle

Transform audio by transferring the temporal structure of one sound to another while preserving spectral properties. Create unique sound transformations with advanced spectral hybridization algorithms. Ideal for musicians and sound designers seeking innovative audio manipulation.

Highlights
  • Spectral hybridization
  • Envelope preservation
  • Phase-sync processing
  • High-quality sound transformations
  • Temporal structure transfer
  • Spectral property preservation
Features
Read full description

Sparkle is a tool for advanced spectral hybridizations made of several algorithms that operate on frequency domain. By means of envelope preservation and phase-sync processing it can creates high-quality sound transformations. The basic idea is to transfer the temporal structure of a sound (source) onto another sound (target) of which the spectral properties are preserved. Simply put, you can take a voice and make it sing a Beethoven’s symphony!

About

Bark Filter

This audio effect processor mimics the human ear's critical band filtering and compression. It offers a multi-band compressor with up to 27 bands for precise audio manipulation and analysis.

Highlights
  • Multi-band dynamic range compressor (up to 27 bands)
  • Variable number of compressor bands
  • Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Makeup Gain controls
  • Linear phase precision filters
  • Real-time spectrum analyzer
  • AudioUnit (AUv3), Inter-app audio, and Audiobus 3 compatible
  • Low latency live usage
Features
Read full description

Bark Filter - Critical Band Analyser/Filter/Compressor The multi band filter in Bark takes the approach to match the reception characteristic of the gate where all sounds must pass through: the human ear. The ear behaves as if it contains a bank of filters, each filter passing frequencies within their respective critical band. Two tones apart more than the frequency dependant critical bandwidth are perceived as separate tones. For this reason Bark contains a filter bank with 27 very steep bandpass filters matching the critical bandwidth characteristic of the human ear. In fact, the human ear have also its own built in multi band compression system which are based on the critical bands. Why the name Bark ? The Bark scale is a frequency scale on which equal distances correspond with perceptually equal distances. Above about 500 Hz this scale is more or less equal to a logarithmic frequency axis. Below 500 Hz the Bark scale becomes more and more linear. Multiband compressors can act differently on different frequency bands. The advantage of multiband compression over full-bandwidth compression is that unneeded audible gain changes or "pumping" in other frequency bands is not caused by changing signal levels in a single frequency band. Bark can act both as single band compressor and with up to 27 bands in multiband mode by linking critical bands. The linear phase filter bank with its steep filter slopes can be used for unusually pronounced filter effects too... Features: • Multi band dynamic range compressor with up to 27 bands • Variable number of compressor bands (1..27) • Threshold/Ratio Attack/Release and Makeup Gain • Linear phase precision filters for maximal transparency • Real time pre/post processing calibrated spectrum analyser • AudioUnit for AUv3 compatible hosts. • Inter-app audio compatible effect. • Audiobus 3 compatible with state saving. • Low latency live usage with mic and headphones. • Audio recorder

Screenshots

Sparkle4 screens
Bark Filter3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Bark Filter at $3.99 against Sparkle's $9.99. Bark Filter also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Sparkle's advantage is review sentiment (96% vs 72%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On rating, ratings volume, 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

Sparkle costs $9.99 and Bark Filter $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sparkle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 48 and 29 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of Sparkle's written reviews are positive against 72% of Bark Filter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sparkle ships an update every 6 weeks, Bark Filter every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sparkle versus Bark Filter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSparkleBark Filter
Price$9.99$3.99 — better
Rating5.0 (48 ratings) — better4.8 (29 ratings)
Positive reviews95.8% of reviews — better72.2% of reviews
Number of ratings48 — better29
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperapeSoftHarry Gohs

Customer experience

Sparkle

All ratings48 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive95.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.2%

Bark Filter

All ratings29 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive72.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative16.7%

In-app purchases

None

Sparkle

No in-app purchases

None

Bark Filter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sparkle free?
Sparkle costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bark Filter free?
Bark Filter costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sparkle or Bark Filter?
Sparkle is rated higher. Sparkle averages 5.0 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while Bark Filter averages 4.8 from 29 ratings.
Do Sparkle or Bark Filter have ads?
Neither Sparkle nor Bark Filter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sparkle or Bark Filter?
Sparkle ships an update every 6 weeks, and Bark Filter every 3 months. Most recently, Sparkle was updated on October 29, 2026 and Bark Filter on October 24, 2026.

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