Comparison
Reel vs 4TRACK
A free tape-style 4-track recorder app for iPhone.
Visit the 4TRACK site ↗The short answer
Both are tape-style 4-track recorders for iPhone and by all accounts 4TRACK is a lovely little app. It is free, it overdubs, punches in, loops a section and edits regions. For catching an idea it stays out of the way. So why does Reel cost $14.99? Two reasons that matter if you record real gear. Reel captures 32-bit float at up to 96kHz and it records from any class-compliant USB instrument, groovebox or interface plugged straight into the phone, which 4TRACK does not do. It also keeps time with that gear, MIDI clock in both directions, and a looped take ends itself on the bar. There is also the feel, a spinning disc you scrub and scratch with your finger. If you mostly track the built-in mic and want free, 4TRACK covers that ground and costs nothing to try. If you record hardware or want higher-resolution capture and the tactile workflow, that is where Reel earns its price.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Reel | 4TRACK |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous tracks | 4 (stereo, 8 ch) | 4 |
| Bit depth | 32-bit float | Not stated |
| Max sample rate | 96kHz | Not stated |
| Overdub | ||
| Punch-in recording | ||
| Looped playback | ||
| Variable-speed playback | ||
| Tactile transport (jog wheel or scrub) | ||
| Built-in microphones | iPhone mic | Device mic |
| XLR inputs with phantom power | ||
| Records from a USB audio interface | ||
| Works as a USB audio interface | ||
| Runs standalone, no phone or computer | ||
| Price | $14.99 one-time | Free |
| Platform | iOS 18+ | iOS |
Every value is researched per product against manufacturer sources and may change over time. Verify current details with each maker.
Where Reel wins
- +Clean 32-bit float recording at up to 96kHz
- +Records from any class-compliant USB instrument, groovebox or interface
- +Tactile spinning disc for scrubbing and scratching, with haptics
- +Varispeed for tape-style pitch and speed
- +Keeps time with hardware: MIDI clock both ways, MIDI Learn, Bluetooth MIDI and Ableton Link in beta
- +A looper where takes end themselves on the bar and the next layer arms mid-loop
Where 4TRACK wins
- +Free, with no accounts or ads
- +Overdub, punch-in and loop recording at no cost at all
- +Region editing, track EQ and built-in delay and reverb
Frequently asked questions
Is Reel a good 4TRACK alternative?
They are close cousins, so the honest answer is that 4TRACK is free and aimed squarely at recording the built-in mic, and we have not tested it ourselves. Reel is the paid option and earns it in two places: higher-resolution 32-bit float capture up to 96kHz, and recording from USB interfaces, instruments and grooveboxes. If you record hardware, that is the difference. If you do not, 4TRACK may be all you need.
Is 4TRACK or Reel the better 4-track app for iPhone?
It comes down to fidelity and hardware. 4TRACK is free and built for quick sketches with the built-in mic, with overdub, punch-in, looping and region editing. Reel is $14.99 and adds clean 32-bit float capture at up to 96kHz, recording from class-compliant USB gear and a tactile jog-wheel workflow. Pick 4TRACK for free sketching, Reel for higher-resolution capture and recording hardware.
Can 4TRACK record from a USB audio interface?
No. 4TRACK records from the iPhone's built-in mic. If you want to record from a class-compliant USB audio interface or plug a groovebox or synth straight into your phone, Reel is built for that. It is the main practical difference between the two apps.
Try Reel on your iPhone
A portable 4-track recorder with 32-bit float audio and a hardware-inspired workflow.
Download on the App Store