# Alina String Ensemble vs Pulsar

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pulsar at every 3 weeks against Alina String Ensemble's every 4 months. Pulsar also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 52%) and chart position (#188 vs unranked). Alina String Ensemble's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $4.99). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Alina String Ensemble costs $3.99 and Pulsar $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Alina String Ensemble against 4.3 for Pulsar. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 7 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of Alina String Ensemble's written reviews are positive against 67% of Pulsar's.

Alina String Ensemble ships an update every 4 months, Pulsar every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alina String Ensemble | Pulsar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alina-string-ensemble/id1036045790/reviews) | **[4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-es-drum-machine/id1661825756/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#188** |
| Size | 131 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [insideout ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/315046293) | [Dmytro Kiro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621893756) |

## What reviewers say

### Alina String Ensemble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alina-string-ensemble/id1036045790)

This app is a musical keyboard simulator that recreates the authentic sounds of the Solina String Ensemble from the 1970s. It features a 49-key, 4-octave keyboard with multiple instrument sounds and built-in effects like reverb and modulation.

**Highlights:** Solina String Ensemble sound simulation, 6 pre-loaded instruments, 49-key, 4-octave keyboard, Core MIDI and MIDI compatible, Built-in spring reverb effect, Adjustable modulation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pulsar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-es-drum-machine/id1661825756)

**Currently charting:** #188 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This music app provides a virtual drum machine with 8 pads for improvising and playing along to built-in rhythm presets. It features real-time rhythm switching, tempo control, and various effects. It also supports Ableton Link and MIDI for seamless integration with other music software and hardware.

**Highlights:** 8-pad drum machine, Built-in rhythm presets, Real-time rhythm switching, Tempo and accent control, Drive, reverb, and filter effects, Ableton Link synchronization, MIDI In/Out support, AUv3 compatibility

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alina String Ensemble free?

Alina String Ensemble costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pulsar free?

Pulsar costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Alina String Ensemble or Pulsar?

Pulsar is rated higher. Alina String Ensemble averages 4.2 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Pulsar averages 4.3 from 7 ratings.

### Do Alina String Ensemble or Pulsar have ads?

Neither Alina String Ensemble nor Pulsar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alina String Ensemble or Pulsar?

Alina String Ensemble ships an update every 4 months, and Pulsar every 3 weeks. Most recently, Alina String Ensemble was updated on September 22, 2026 and Pulsar on September 18, 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.*