# Dahlia Delay vs VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

The clearest difference is price: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave at Free against Dahlia Delay's $1.99. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (132 vs 6). Dahlia Delay's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 51%) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On device support there is nothing between them.

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download; Dahlia Delay costs $1.99 up front. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Dahlia Delay asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dahlia Delay holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave has 132 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Dahlia Delay's written reviews are positive against 51% of VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's.

Dahlia Delay ships an update every 5 months, VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dahlia Delay | VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dahlia-delay/id1006375672/reviews)** | [4.0 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **132** |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 51.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Paid** | Subscription |
| Size | 13 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 14.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Flora Creative Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/931393909) | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) |

## What reviewers say

### Dahlia Delay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dahlia-delay/id1006375672)

This audio effect app provides a tape-style echo with adjustable feedback and warble. It's designed to be lightweight and integrate with other music production apps via Inter-App Audio and Audiobus.

**Highlights:** Tape style delay effect, Filtered feedback control, Warble amount control, Lightweight audio processing, Inter-App Audio support, Audiobus support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667)

This app creates unique synth sounds by recording classic synths to VHS tape and then resampling them. It offers a vast library of presets and effects to achieve lo-fi, retro vibes for various music genres. An AUv3 plugin and standalone app are included.

**Highlights:** VHS-recorded and resampled synths, Over 280+ presets, Standalone app and AUv3 plugin, VCR sound effects, VCR FX section for customization, Free expansion pack included

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Excellent lo-fi and retro 80s sound quality
- 🎹 Extensive library of high-quality presets
- 💰 Affordable pricing (at original purchase)
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface design
- 🔊 Versatile sounds for multiple genres

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Aggressive subscription model for previously purchased app
- 🔄 Conversion from AudioKit broke existing projects
- 📊 User data tracking added without clear benefit
- 🚫 Removed access to previously purchased presets/banks
- 😠 Lack of developer communication about changes

**Reported bugs**

- GarageBand compatibility broken after updates
- App not recognized in Logic Pro after updates
- Inconsistent sound quality across different registers
- Patch/preset settings not retained after closing DAW
- Audio Unit Extension crashes in GarageBand

**Requested features**

- Mac OS version for DAW compatibility
- Velocity sensitivity settings for keyboard
- Pitch bend and modulation wheels with actual functionality
- Better keyboard design with proper key sizing
- Improved UI layout to reduce wasted space in AUv3 mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dahlia Delay free?

Dahlia Delay costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave free?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Dahlia Delay or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

Dahlia Delay is rated higher. Dahlia Delay averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave averages 4.0 from 132 ratings.

### Do Dahlia Delay or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave have ads?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave shows ads; Dahlia Delay does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dahlia Delay or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

Dahlia Delay ships an update every 5 months, and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. Most recently, Dahlia Delay was updated on September 23, 2026 and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave on September 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*