Comparison

Fugue Machine vs Riffer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Fugue Machine

This music sequencer uses multiple playheads to create complex melodic patterns inspired by Baroque and serialist composition techniques. Manipulate speed, direction, and pitch to generate unique soundscapes.

Highlights
  • Multi-playhead piano roll
  • Manipulate speed, direction, and pitch
  • Create complex melodic patterns
  • Inspired by Baroque and serialist music
  • Supports MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link
  • Inter-App Audio and Audiobus compatibility
Features
Read full description

A music sequencer reimagined with multiple playheads. "How Bach would have made a sequencer." (Create Digital Music) "A musical feat." (Creator's Project) "A new approach to sequencing." (XLR8R) "A next generation music sequencer." (Ask Audio) Fugue Machine Classic is a tool inspired by composition techniques used in Baroque music and Serialism — e.g. Bach’s canons and fugues, and Schoenberg’s twelve-tone technique. The idea was to design a tool to manipulate a melody’s speed, direction, and pitch, as well as play multiple variations of the melody simultaneously. As it turned out, the best implementation for this was to reimagine one of the most fundamental building blocks of all music sequencers: the piano roll. Fugue Machine Classic is the world’s first multi-playhead piano roll. Create a music sequence and play it back with up to four playheads at once — each at various speeds, directions, pitches, and more. Watch the playheads dance, and hear the complex patterns that emerge. It’s mesmerizing. Fugue Machine Classic supports iPhone, iPad, MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link, Audiobus, Audiobus 3 MIDI, and Inter-App Audio. Thanks to the AUv3 standard, you can run multiple instances of Fugue Machine Classic on a single device when hosted in an AUv3 MIDI host app — like AUM, Logic Pro for iPad, Loopy Pro, and Cubasis.

About

Riffer

This app generates random MIDI patterns and melodies for synths, samplers, and drum machines. Explore scales, complexity, and playback options to create unique musical ideas. Save your favorite riffs and use Infinity mode for endless generation.

Highlights
  • Random pattern and melody generation
  • Supports software and hardware MIDI devices
  • Customizable scales, complexity, and steps
  • Playback motion and transpose controls
  • Infinity mode for endless generation
  • MIDI output over WiFi or cable
  • Ableton Link sync
Read full description

Riffer is a creative MIDI sequencer that generates random patterns and melodies for you. Designed to feed any Synth, Sampler, Drum Machine and anything that accepts MIDI signal both software and hardware. You can choose scales, complexity, steps, start and end points, playback motion, set pitch, transpose, measures and many more. Generate fresh ideas, sequences, melodies, riffs and musical patterns. Turn them into something of your own, or let it run endlessly using the Infinity mode. Riffer is built both for studio and live performance. The app includes a huge variety of scales, from western to eastern and you can save your favorite Riffs for quick access. Featuring MIDI output support over WiFi or MIDI cable. Riffer also supports Ableton Link for tight sync between apps on the same network.

Screenshots

Fugue Machine4 screens
Riffer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Riffer at $9.99 against Fugue Machine's $19.99. Fugue Machine's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (90% vs 65%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Fugue Machine costs $19.99 and Riffer $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fugue Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fugue Machine has 623 ratings behind it against 87, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Fugue Machine's written reviews are positive against 65% of Riffer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fugue Machine ships an update every 8 days, Riffer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Fugue Machine versus Riffer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFugue MachineRiffer
Price$19.99$9.99 — better
Rating4.9 (623 ratings) — better4.1 (87 ratings)
Positive reviews90.3% of reviews — better64.8% of reviews
Number of ratings623 — better87
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexandernautAUDIOMODERN

Customer experience

Fugue Machine

All ratings623 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews238 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral5.0%
Negative4.6%

Riffer

All ratings87 ratings
Positive75.9%
Neutral4.6%
Negative19.5%
Written reviews91 reviews
Positive64.8%
Neutral8.8%
Negative26.4%

In-app purchases

None

Fugue Machine

No in-app purchases

None

Riffer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Fugue Machine free?
Fugue Machine costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Riffer free?
Riffer costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Fugue Machine or Riffer?
Fugue Machine is rated higher. Fugue Machine averages 4.9 out of 5 from 623 ratings, while Riffer averages 4.1 from 87 ratings.
Do Fugue Machine or Riffer have ads?
Neither Fugue Machine nor Riffer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fugue Machine or Riffer?
Fugue Machine ships an update every 8 days, and Riffer every 6 weeks. Most recently, Fugue Machine was updated on September 17, 2026 and Riffer on September 24, 2026.

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