Wax for iPhone vs Vinyl Record App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Wax for iPhone
This app allows users to meticulously catalog their music collection, including vinyl records and other formats. You can customize details, add notes, organize items into custom crates, and track purchase history and estimated values. It also features a grab list for desired items and iCloud syncing.
- Edit every detail of owned records
- Manually add records not in databases
- Organize records into custom 'Crates'
- Create 'Smart Crates' with rule-based organization
- Track purchase price and estimated value
- Add other music media formats via in-app purchase
- Sync collection via iCloud
Read full descriptionHide full description
Wax is the only record collecting app that lets you edit every detail of the records you own, from the artwork to the price you paid, and even enter a record manually that doesn't exist in any record collecting database online. Search for records, add them to your collection, and let them tell a story. Customize every detail about each album and organize them how you please. You got that 7" at a show in a college basement in '96? Make a note of that. How about that limited edition LP - what number is yours? And what about your friend's band's test press - not in any database online? Add it to your collection manually. And if it's not in your collection, but you want it to be? Just put that in your Grab List instead. Furthermore, your collection deserves to be organized better than "I have this record" or "I don't have this record". With Crates, you can organize your records into groups based on any criteria you please. Maybe you want to be able to see all your soundtracks at a glance, or everything you have released by your favorite label, or by bands from your city? Either set up a series of rules in a Smart Crate, which will always be up to date with whatever records match those rules, or curate the records manually with a regular Crate - either way, organize your collection how you want to. Lastly - Wax isn't just for vinyl. With a $2.99 in-app purchase, Wax will let you search for and add music media of any format. Don't just check off the records you have. It's your collection - own it. Features: - Take your record collection with you - no more buying duplicate albums - Remember records you want to buy via your Grab List - Add your records by barcode scan, manual entry, or artist, album, catalog number, or record label searches - Retrieve (and edit) every detail about all the records you own - Organize your records into Crates by whatever criteria you please - Create a series of rules to populate Smart Crates, always updated with exactly the records that match those rules - Get estimated values of records, based on condition, and add the price you paid to see how it matches up with what it's worth - Sync and back up your Collection, Grab Lists, and Crates via iCloud - Catalog your entire collection (not just vinyl) via an In-App Purchase - Can't decide what to listen to? Shake your device to select a random record - Import your collection from Discogs - Quickly search for a record from your home screen (3D-touch enabled devices only) - Export your Collection and Grab List to text and JSON via email If you have questions, please send us a message, check out our FAQ (https://ownyourrecords.com/faq), or tweet us at @OwnYourRecords.
Vinyl Record App
Manage your vinyl record collection and discover new music. Catalog owned records, track desired purchases, and see what friends are collecting. Organize your library with tags and get random suggestions for what to play next.
- Track owned records
- Manage wantlist
- Discover music via friend activity
- Organize records with tags
- Random record suggestions
- Barcode and AI scanning (Premium)
Read full descriptionHide full description
Vinyl is the ultimate app for record collectors. The Collection Keep track of the records you own. Use the search tab to find records by artist, album title, or catalog number. Tap on a record and hit the plus button in the top right to add it to your collection. Premium users can also scan barcodes or use our AI-powered record cover scanner to quickly identify and add records. The Wantlist Keep track of the records you want to buy. Open this tab next time you’re crate-digging so you don’t forget anything ... or accidentally pick up something you already own! When you finally snag a record from your wantlist, tap it and use the record icon in the top right to move it to your collection. The Feed Check out everything your friends are adding to their collections and wantlists. Discover new music through their latest finds, get inspired by their taste, and maybe even spot a record you’ve been meaning to add yourself. Pro Tip: Tags & Shuffle Not sure what record to spin? Use tags to organize your records, and the shuffle button to make the choice for you. Create tags like “Morning Approved” for coffee-friendly spins, “Chill” for relaxing vibes, or “Housequake” when it’s time to get the party started. Add our random record widget to your home screen for quick, on-the-spot suggestions. Vinyl Premium Vinyl Premium is a $5.99/month subscription that unlocks exclusive features and supports ongoing app development. Subscribe from the Settings tab. Terms of Service - https://noahtovares.com/#vinylterms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Vinyl Record App at 3.6K against Wax for iPhone's 144. Wax for iPhone's advantage is iOS requirement (11.1 vs 18.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Wax for iPhone sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Vinyl Record App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Vinyl Record App holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Vinyl Record App has 3.6K ratings behind it against 144, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Wax for iPhone's written reviews are positive against 72% of Vinyl Record App's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Wax for iPhone | Vinyl Record App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (144 ratings) | 4.8 (3.6K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 67.9% of reviews | 72.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 144 | 3.6K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.1 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Richard Myers | Noah Tovares |
Customer experience
Wax for iPhone
Vinyl Record App
Bugs and requests
Wax for iPhone
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Vinyl Record App
Reported bugs
4 issues- Collection data disappearing
- Inability to edit or delete records
- Inconsistent search results
- Syncing problems between iOS devices
Requested features
5 requests- Add barcode scanning
- Implement dark mode
- Allow manual album entry
- Add more sorting and filtering options
- Improve Discogs integration and reliability
In-app purchases
Wax for iPhone
- All Media Types$2.99
- Generous Tip$2.99
- Very Generous Tip$5.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Extremely Generous Tip$9.99
Vinyl Record App
- Vinyl Premium$1.991 Month
- Vinyl Premium$3.991 Month
- Vinyl Premium$5.991 Month
Questions
Is Wax for iPhone free?
Is Vinyl Record App free?
Which has better reviews, Wax for iPhone or Vinyl Record App?
Do Wax for iPhone or Vinyl Record App have ads?
Which is updated more often, Wax for iPhone or Vinyl Record App?
Other comparisons















