Comparison

ShortListMusic vs CDBox

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

Head to head
About

ShortListMusic

Create and share "Best of" album lists from your favorite music releases. Save lists from previous years and publish them via email or social media. Utilizes the iTunes Search API for album information.

Highlights
  • Create "Best of" album lists
  • Save lists from previous years
  • Publish lists via email
  • Share lists on social media
  • Utilizes iTunes Search API
Features
Read full description

ShortList Music is a music application for creating "Best of" Album Lists. Like many music websites and blogs, at the end of each year, I compile a list of my favorite albums of the year and share them with my friends. Before I created this app, I had to use a text editor to keep track of my yearly lists. Now, ShortListMusic allows the user to compile their favorite albums of the past year and allows the list to be published or shared through email and social media. The app will also keep track and save "Best of" lists from previous years. The app is currently using the iTunes Search API to retrieve album releases. Thanks and enjoy.

About

CDBox

Features
Read full description

Turn your CD shelf into a living, searchable collection. CDBox connects to your Discogs account and turns your physical CD collection into a beautiful, organized digital catalog, right on your phone. No more spreadsheets, no more guessing whether you already own an album before buying a duplicate by mistake. WHY CDBOX • Automatic sync — Your existing Discogs collection imports in seconds, complete with cover art, tracklists, and release details. • Smart wishlist — Keep track of every CD you want to add next, sorted by year, so you never lose sight of what you're hunting for. • Powerful search — Look up releases and master releases by title, artist, or label. Scan a barcode to check instantly whether a CD is already in your collection before you buy it again. • Custom folders — Organize your collection your way: by genre, mood, favorites, or any system that makes sense to you. • Artist library — Browse every artist in your collection, see how many records you own from each, and rediscover music you forgot you had. • Rediscover — Get a random pick from your own collection to give an old favorite another spin. • Dashboard at a glance — Recently added releases, collection stats, and pending wishlist items, all on one screen, with your estimated collection value just a scroll away. BUILT FOR COLLECTORS Whether you own 20 CDs or 2,000, CDBox gives you a fast, clean way to browse, organize, and grow your collection without ever leaving your phone. Dark and light themes, full English and Spanish support, and a read-only connection to Discogs mean your data stays safe and always under your control. PRIVACY FIRST CDBox only reads your Discogs collection, it never modifies it. Your account stays exactly as you left it on Discogs. This app uses the Discogs API but is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Discogs. "Discogs" is a registered trademark of Zink Media, LLC. Download CDBox today and finally get your CD collection organized.

Screenshots

ShortListMusic3 screens
CDBox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: ShortListMusic at none against CDBox's shown. CDBox's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ShortListMusic ships an update every 4 months, CDBox every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ShortListMusic versus CDBox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShortListMusicCDBox
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDustin BergmanJose Manuel Cristobal Flores

In-app purchases

None

ShortListMusic

No in-app purchases

None

CDBox

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ShortListMusic free?
ShortListMusic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CDBox free?
CDBox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ShortListMusic or CDBox have ads?
CDBox shows ads; ShortListMusic does not.
Which is updated more often, ShortListMusic or CDBox?
ShortListMusic ships an update every 4 months, and CDBox every 2 months. Most recently, ShortListMusic was updated on October 10, 2026 and CDBox on October 28, 2026.

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