Best apps like Thesys

7+ similar apps compared and reviewed

4.8 avg rating
3 free apps
Updated September 2026

Whether you want more options like Thesys or a completely different take on the same concept, our curated list of 7+ similar apps has you covered. Updated for 2026 with the latest ratings and comparisons.

Top Alternatives to Thesys

GSDSP MMM#1

GSDSP MMM by Gustav Scholda

Magic Midi Modulation!
Editor's Choice
🎵 Music
4.8(34 ratings)
Free
GSDSP MMM screenshot 1
GSDSP MMM screenshot 2
GSDSP MMM screenshot 3
GSDSP MMM screenshot 4

This app offers a robust MIDI modulation engine for controlling various instruments and plugins. It allows users to create dynamic audio with LFOs, random sources, and more, featuring a performance-focused interface for live use.

SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer#2

SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer by Matteo Caldari

Record & Make Music, Host AUv3
Strong Contender
🎵 Music
4.6😊(86 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer screenshot 1
SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer screenshot 2
SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer screenshot 3
SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer screenshot 4
SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer screenshot 5
SAND: Audio MIDI Sequencer screenshot 6

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
GSDSP MMMm#3

GSDSP MMMm by Gustav Scholda

Magic Midi Modulation!
Worth Considering
🎵 Music
4.9(14 ratings)
Free
GSDSP MMMm screenshot 1
GSDSP MMMm screenshot 2
GSDSP MMMm screenshot 3
GSDSP MMMm screenshot 4

This app provides a powerful MIDI modulation engine to control various plugins, hardware, and instruments. It offers a range of modulation sources like LFOs and random generators, and includes a dedicated performance skin for live use. It's a MIDI-only FX version for hosts requiring pure MIDI processing.

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4
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
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This app is a flexible MIDI drum sequencer for iOS, offering up to 16 tracks with advanced modulation and sequencing. It can be used standalone or as an AUv3 plugin in DAWs, and is optimized for drums but also suitable for melodies. It requires iOS 12 or higher.

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EG Nodes
EG Nodes
EG Nodes
Clip based Host/MIDI Sequencer
$19.99

This app is a clip-based audio unit host and MIDI sequencer for creating musical projects. It offers a variety of built-in MIDI and audio nodes for generating sequences, recording, and sampling. Users can load external Audio Units and automate parameters for unique compositions.

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6
Relic Waves
Relic Waves
Relic Waves
4 billion unique Lo-Fi sounds
$1.99

Generate unique Lo-Fi sounds, pads, and effects using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sonic possibilities with intuitive controls and real-time recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking experimental audio.

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Relic Flow
Relic Flow
Relic Flow
4 billion unique Lo-Fi rhythms
$1.99

Generate unique Lo-Fi rhythms, noise patterns, and drum loops using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sound samples with intuitive controls and real-time audio recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking endless creative possibilities.

Lo-Fi rhythm and drum loop generationBillions of unique sound samplesReal-time audio recording to WAV
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