Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Setapp VS Cubasis

Compare Setapp VS Cubasis and see what are their differences

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Setapp logo Setapp

The one place for trusted apps. Hundreds of high-quality apps for your Mac and iPhone, including AI tools.

Cubasis logo Cubasis

Cubasis is Steinbergโ€™s streamlined, multitouch sequencer for the iPad.
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25
  • Setapp
    Image date //
    2026-06-25

A unified marketplace for Mac and iPhone users to get hand-picked, trusted apps. Get over 260 apps for a flat fee with Setapp Membership, or purchase individual apps on flexible terms through Setapp Marketplace.

  • Cubasis Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30

Setapp

Website
setapp.com
$ Details
paid Free Trial $14.99 / Monthly (1 Mac)
Release Date
2017 January

Cubasis

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

Setapp features and specs

  • Diverse Application Library
    Setapp provides access to a wide range of high-quality Mac applications across different categories, all from a single subscription service.
  • Cost-Effective
    For a monthly fee, users gain access to multiple paid applications, which can be more cost-effective than purchasing individual app licenses.
  • Updates and Upgrades Included
    All apps within Setapp come with automatic updates and upgrades included in the subscription, ensuring users always have the latest features and security patches.
  • Easy Installation and Management
    The Setapp platform provides a user-friendly interface for browsing, installing, and managing applications, simplifying the overall user experience.
  • Free Trial Available
    Setapp offers a 7-day free trial, allowing potential users to explore and evaluate the service before committing to a subscription.

Cubasis features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Cubasis is known for its intuitive and accessible interface, making it easy for both beginners and experienced users to navigate and create music efficiently.
  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    It offers a wide range of features including MIDI and audio recording, virtual instruments, a variety of effects, and automation, providing a complete DAW experience on mobile devices.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Cubasis is available on both iOS and Android devices, allowing users to create and edit projects on multiple platforms.
  • High-Quality Sound Engine
    The application uses a high-quality audio engine that ensures professional-grade sound output and provides real-time processing for all tracks.
  • Integration with Other Steinberg Products
    Cubasis can seamlessly integrate with other Steinberg products, like Cubase, allowing users to transfer projects easily between mobile and desktop environments.

Possible disadvantages of Cubasis

  • Limited Track Count
    Compared to desktop DAWs, Cubasis may have a limited number of tracks and effects that can be used simultaneously, which might be restrictive for larger projects.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-intensive on mobile devices, potentially leading to performance issues on older hardware.
  • In-App Purchases
    While the base application comes with many features, a number of advanced functionalities and additional instruments require in-app purchases.
  • Learning Curve for Beginners
    Despite its intuitive interface, complete newcomers to digital audio workstations may still need time to understand all the features and workflow.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Some users have reported occasional crashes or stability issues, especially during complex tasks or when used on older devices.

Analysis of Setapp

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Setapp is considered good for users who frequently use multiple Mac apps and value convenience and flexibility. It provides excellent value for money by offering a diverse selection of reliable and well-crafted applications. However, it might not be the best choice for those who only need a few specific applications or prefer to own their software outright.

Why this product is good

  • Setapp is a subscription-based service that provides access to a wide range of Mac applications for a single monthly fee. Users often find it beneficial because it offers a curated selection of high-quality apps without the need to purchase each one individually. It saves time and money for those who require multiple tools, ensuring they always have the latest versions without additional costs. Furthermore, it simplifies software management by centralizing the process of discovering, updating, and accessing various applications.

Recommended for

    Setapp is recommended for professionals, creatives, and productivity enthusiasts who use a variety of Mac applications regularly and appreciate the ease of access to a comprehensive software library without the hassle of individual purchases. It's also suitable for users who enjoy exploring new tools and apps to enhance their workflow.

Analysis of Cubasis

Overall verdict

  • Cubasis by Steinberg is considered a strong option for mobile music production.

Why this product is good

  • Cubasis has a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features like MIDI, touch instruments, and effects. It is designed for iOS and Android, making it easily accessible for mobile users. The platform supports multiple tracks, offers high-quality audio processing, and integrates well with other music software.

Recommended for

    Cubasis is recommended for music producers and musicians who want to create and edit music on mobile devices. It is suitable for both beginners and experienced users who need a portable music production solution.

Setapp videos

What's Setapp?

Cubasis videos

Can you write REAL music on an iPad? CUBASIS 3 [REVIEW]

More videos:

  • Review - Cubasis 3 iOS | Verdict after ONE week (iPad/iPhone)
  • Review - Cubasis 3 First Impressions: Overview, New Features And More

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Setapp and Cubasis)
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Music
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Audio & Music
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Setapp and Cubasis.

What's the story behind your product?

Setapp's answer

Setapp was created in 2016 by MacPaw, the company behind apps such as CleanMyMac, ClearVPN, and more. The key idea behind Setapp was to give users a simple way to discover high-quality apps for Mac. Over the years, the catalog has grown to over 260 apps and now includes tools for Mac, iOS, and web. Setapp is localized in eight languages and has users all over the world. Here are the key dates:

November 2016: Setapp closed beta is launched for the press, opinion leaders, and influencers. December 6, 2016: Setapp Beta release. January 25, 2017: Setapp public release. August 6, 2020: Setapp let users install iOS apps. August 11, 2021: Setapp arrives on iPhone and iPad. March, 2026: Single app purchase via Setapp Marketplace is introduced. Now, Setapp includes 260+ apps, 50+ iOS apps, and about 10 web apps with more to come.

What makes your product unique?

Setapp's answer

Setapp's key differentiators:

-Curation. Setapp is a curated platform with trusted, hand-picked apps โ€” not a place filled with self-submitted apps.

-Professional focus. Setapp includes apps aimed at improving productivity and workflows for professionals who rely on their Macs. Setapp users range from developers and marketers to educators, healthcare experts, logistics and retail professionals, and more.

-Flexible access. Users have two ways to get apps: a single-fee subscription to 260+ fully unlocked Mac, iOS, and web apps; or individual app purchases via Setapp Marketplace, for those who need just a few apps rather than the full catalog.

-Security. Setapp holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2, and GDPR certifications. Apps are not permitted to display ads or include hidden in-app purchases.

-AI access. AI+ plans give access to all popular LLM models โ€” GPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok โ€” through a single gateway.

Setapp gives users apps they can count on. Itโ€™s not an endless store but a curated collection of apps worth usersโ€™ time and money.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Setapp's answer

-Quality over volume. The catalog includes only hand-picked, trusted apps. When downloading an app from Setapp, users can be sure it is high quality and safe to use.

-Trusted apps, no fillers. Every app is Apple-notarized, ad-free, fully unlocked, and has no features locked behind additional paywalls. Getting apps through Setapp means avoiding malware and unpleasant surprises.

-Save costs. Setapp Membership offers access to over 260 apps for a flat fee โ€” no need to subscribe to multiple individual apps and juggle subscriptions. In Setapp Marketplace, users can purchase hand-picked, trusted apps individually, with no need to double-check quality or security.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Setapp's answer

Setapp is actively used by professionals who rely heavily on their Macs and want to improve their workflows โ€” including developers, IT specialists, content creators, designers, marketers, writers, educators, students, and specialists in agriculture, logistics, retail, healthcare, and other fields.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Setapp and Cubasis

Setapp Reviews

We have no reviews of Setapp yet.
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Cubasis Reviews

10 Best GarageBand Alternatives for Android
If you are completely into music production and willing to spend almost 25$ to get a powerful DAW, then you should get your hands on Cubasis 3. Just like FL Studio, itโ€™s a full-fledged digital music studio that gives you a desktop DAW-like feel on the small screen. It has endless numbers of MIDI and audio tracks, over 120 virtual instruments, a mixer with 17 effects...
Best Music Making Apps for Android 2023: The Essential Guide
At last, Cubasis has made it onto Android. Itโ€™s easily one of the best mobile platform DAWs out there and now more people can get into it on Android and Chrome OS. This is the real deal, although there are some great alternatives.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Setapp seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 15 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Setapp mentions (15)

  • Ask HN: How to Sell as a Software Engineer?
    > I've reached the conclusion that software quality and even price matters much less than distribution, especially now. I highly doubt that is true. We don't yet know how end-users will make purchasing decisions now that almost anyone can build something that "works". Taking AI out of the picture: you still need to define the target market segment before you build anything. You still need to find a way to... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Show HN: BoringBar โ€“ a taskbar-style dock replacement for macOS
    There could be 4x buyers at $10. Iโ€™d be one of the now, the dock is a constant annoyance. The app looks great, downloading the trial now. To the appโ€™s author Iโ€™d say get as many licensees as you can fast before youโ€™re Sherlocked or somebody vibecodes a clone out of โ€œwhy notโ€. I use many free and paid apps, little QoL types, like BetterDisplay, Coctail, etc and for me the included support is of little value. These... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Coders Coded Their Job Away. Why Are So Many of Them Happy About It?
    I used a bunch of tools from https://setapp.com/ and no longer subscribe. I used to pay for Linear for all my personal projects, built one with CC that perfectly fits my needsโ€ฆ I also built a myriad of small tools that help me automate bunch of busy work I used to do manually, both for professional and personal projects. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Italian Competition Authority Fines Apple $115M for Abusing Dominant Position
    > are there any real 3rd-party AppStores for iOS now "Always has been": Setapp. Very interesting model. Readily recommend devs subscribing to this collection, but non-devs as well if you're into "there's an app for that" and fatigued with IAP. https://setapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • The One Productivity Tool You Didn't Know You Can't Live Without
    I use Paste, a very feature rich clipboard manager for Mac with gorgeous UI. It's not free, but it comes along with a Setapp license that I got from work, so if you already have a license you can use it to install Paste. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

Cubasis mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Cubasis yet. Tracking of Cubasis recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Setapp and Cubasis, you can also consider the following products

Konfigure - APARTMENTS | VILLA | WORKSPACE | RETAIL

SunVox - SunVox is a small, fast and powerful modular synthesizer with pattern based sequencer (tracker).

Metavine Platform - Metavine Platform is a comprehensive Platform-as-a-Service that help businesses build agility and compete effectively in the digital world by enabling them to iterate and create apps quickly.

FamiStudio - FamiStudio is very simple music editor for the Nintendo Entertainment System or Famicom. It is designed to be easier to use than FamiTracker, but its feature set is also much more limited.

QuickBase - Quickbase provides a no-code operational agility platform that enables organizations to improve operations through real time insights and automation across complex processes and disparate systems. โ€‹โ€‹

MOTU Digital Performer - Get inspired, then refine your mix โ€” all in a singular workflow.