Best modstep alternatives: apps like modstep

9+ similar apps compared and reviewed

4.8 avg rating

5 free apps

Updated October 2026

modstep

AppBC

🎬 Entertainment

🎵 Music

modstep is great, but it's not the only option. Explore 9+ similar apps for iPhone and iPad, each reviewed and rated by real users. Find free alternatives, premium upgrades, and hidden gems.

Top Alternatives to modstep

SAGA Synth | 16-Bit Sonic Fun! by AudioKit Pro

#1 Video Game Music App + AUv3

Editor's Choice

🎵 Music

4.9😊(442 ratings)

$3.99

SAGA Synth | 16-Bit Sonic Fun! screenshot 1

SAGA Synth | 16-Bit Sonic Fun! screenshot 2

SAGA Synth | 16-Bit Sonic Fun! screenshot 3

SAGA Synth | 16-Bit Sonic Fun! screenshot 4

SAGA Synth | 16-Bit Sonic Fun! screenshot 5

SAGA Synth | 16-Bit Sonic Fun! screenshot 6

This app provides a 16-bit retro video game synthesizer with over 350 presets. It allows for the creation of expressive pads, sound effects, drums, and leads, and can be used as a standalone app or an AUv3 plugin. Record and export your creations as WAV files.

What We Love

🎶 Awesome retro sounds
👍 Great creation methods
🎨 Versatile and fun
🎨 More than just game sounds
👍 Tons of presets
👍 Excellent sounds
🎨 Upbeat and lively sounds
🎨 Nostalgic and inspirational

Room to Improve

🐛 Midi not working properly
🐛 Sequencer issues with recording
🐛 Keyboard issues and bugs
🐛 Crashes and stability problems
🤔 Not true 16-bit emulation

SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer by Matteo Caldari

Record & Make Music, Host AUv3

Strong Contender

🎵 Music

4.6😊(86 ratings)

FreeIn-App Purchases

This app is a grid-based music sequencer that allows users to create compositions using AUv3 plugins and external MIDI devices. It offers extensive tools for arranging clips, editing notes, automating parameters, and routing MIDI.

What We Love

👍 Great UI and features
💡 Potential for music creation
🚀 Fast and creative workflow
👍 Easy to use, no instructions needed
💡 Most usable studio on small screen
👍 Simple yet feature-filled
👍 Excellent developer understanding of workflow
👍 Great on phone
👍 Brilliant concept
👍 Dope and simple
👍 Solid experimental clip launch
👍 Minimalist UI
👍 Good value
👍 Smooth workflow
👍 Great start
👍 Easy to use
👍 Clean and easy to use
👍 Flexible and easy to use as groove box
👍 Good for beginners
👍 Fast beat creation
👍 Good for iOS music making
👍 Accessible developer
👍 Fun to use
👍 Brilliant app
👍 Great for AUV3s
👍 Deep yet simple interface
👍 Refreshingly simple
👍 Powerful and simple
👍 Good for composing
👍 Great on small screens
👍 Well-organized main interface
👍 Mappable features

Room to Improve

🐛 Record function always starts
🐛 Sand not opening in overview
🐛 Integration with other apps seems off
🐛 Record does not pick up data
🐛 Cannot save ideas from one app to another
🐛 Auv3 interfaces don't scale well
🐛 Not clearly explained it's a paid app
🐛 Not intuitive to use yet
🐛 Note editing, snapping/quantization awkward and buggy
🐛 Sand won't run within AUM anymore
🐛 Sand not recognized within AUM
🐛 Sand wouldn't recognize other apps as host
🐛 Rendering issues
🐛 Editing notes in pitch grid flies up
🐛 Entering note values difficult
🐛 Changing note length has issues
🐛 Bugs not worked out, more brought in
🐛 Clips out of sync when manually triggered
🐛 Needs more detailed instructions
🐛 Unpredictability for creating new notes
🐛 Selecting notes for editing difficult
🐛 Synchronizing between tracks problematic
🐛 Not enough features for usefulness
🐛 Paid for a half-finished app
🐛 Too cluttered to use on iPhone
🐛 Basic functionality
🐛 Cannot change sequence size (meter)
🐛 Cannot set velocity and modulation parameters
🐛 No CC automation recording
🐛 Few slots for patterns
🐛 Does not work with most other iPad instrument apps
🐛 Misleading advertising claims
🐛 Audio integration needed
🐛 Notes editing/selection/moving process is a pain
🐛 No BT headphone support
🐛 Needs more polish
🐛 Occasional crashes
🐛 Useless at v1.0.1
🐛 Less than 50% of synths/plugins show up
🐛 Many plugins don't work properly
🐛 Money better spent elsewhere
🐛 App prompts for purchase again after buying
🐛 Minimalistic beginnings
🐛 Missing standard sequencer features

Drambo by BeepStreet

Modular groovebox, synth & fx

Worth Considering

🎵 Music

4.8😊(330 ratings)

$24.99In-App Purchases

This app offers a flexible sound design experience, allowing users to build beats, create synthesizers, and process audio with effects. Its innovative modular system simplifies connections and organization, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians. It functions as a standalone application or a plugin within a DAW.

What We Love

🚀 Incredibly powerful and flexible
🎨 Endless creative possibilities
👍 Intuitive and well-designed interface
🔧 Modular synth capabilities
🎛️ Excellent sequencing and groove box features
💻 Works great as a standalone app or AUv3 plugin
🔁 Constant updates and improvements

Room to Improve

🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
🔒 Limited undo/redo functionality
🔊 Audio export issues (pitch/tempo problems)
🔀 Lack of dedicated audio track support

More apps like modstep

SynthMaster 2

Power Synth

$14.99

This powerful software synthesizer offers a vast array of sound design capabilities, including multiple oscillator modes, extensive modulation options, and a wide selection of filters. Explore over 1000 factory presets or create your own unique sounds. Available as a standalone app or AUv3 plugin.

Multiple oscillator modes (Basic, Additive, Wavetable, Vector)Extensive modulation architecture6 filter categories

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(451)

free with in-app purchases

Compare with modstep

Factory - Modular Synthesizer

Liquid Modular Synthesizer

Free

Create complex and organic sounds with a powerful modular synthesizer. Explore a vast array of synthesis types, a deep modulation matrix, and dynamic signal flow. Easily find and morph between sounds with a built-in browser and crossfader.

Modular synthesis with extensive modulation matrixMultiple oscillator engines and synthesis typesDynamic signal flow with 3-FX chain

🎵 Music

(488)

free with in-app purchases

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AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

80s 90s Music Synthesizer

Free

This app is a virtual analog and PCM synthesizer for iPad, inspired by the digital synthesizers of the 80s and 90s. It offers a vast library of presets, advanced synthesis features, and built-in effects for creating rich, retro-inspired sounds.

64-voice hybrid digital poly synthesis1GB+ of original samplesStand-alone, IAA, and AUv3 support

Custom MIDI Controller

Free

Create custom MIDI controllers for any MIDI-enabled hardware or software. Offers extensive customization, a large user-created layout library, and robust MIDI communication. Ideal for musicians and producers seeking a personalized control experience.

Control any MIDI-enabled deviceNetwork, Bluetooth, and USB MIDIExtensive user layout library

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

Virtual Analog Synthesizer

$5.99

This virtual analog synthesizer offers a powerful and intuitive sound design experience, inspired by classic hardware. Explore over 40 classic waveforms, a versatile arpeggiator, step sequencer, and lush effects to craft unique electronic music.

Virtual Analog Synthesizer40+ Classic WaveformsArpeggiator

Moon Bounce Simulator

Free

This free music app simulates echoes using the moon as a radio wave reflector. It creates unique, lively, and lo-fi effects modulated by celestial movements, offering a playful tool for both musicians and space enthusiasts.

Moon-based echo simulationLo-fi musical effectCelestial modulation