# Alina String Ensemble vs BrainBud

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BrainBud at 100% against Alina String Ensemble's 52%. BrainBud also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Alina String Ensemble's advantage is ratings volume (20 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Alina String Ensemble costs $3.99 and BrainBud $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

BrainBud holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Alina String Ensemble has 20 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Alina String Ensemble's written reviews are positive against 100% of BrainBud's.

Alina String Ensemble ships an update every 4 months, BrainBud every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alina String Ensemble | BrainBud |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **$2.99** |
| Rating | [4.2 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alina-string-ensemble/id1036045790/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainbud-bud-app-controller/id6446066258/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 131 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [insideout ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/315046293) | [Cem Olcay](https://appshunter.io/developer/523633853) |

## 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


### BrainBud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainbud-bud-app-controller/id6446066258)

This app acts as a central controller for other music creation applications, allowing you to manage keys and scales simultaneously. It integrates with a variety of Bud apps via MIDI, enabling synchronized changes and broadcasting of musical parameters. Experiment with randomization and automate settings through its AUv3 plugin.

**Highlights:** Centralized key and scale control, MIDI out to multiple Bud apps, Budcast for parameter broadcasting, Randomize musical parameters, AUv3 plugin for automation, Requires other Bud apps to function

**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 BrainBud free?

BrainBud costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

BrainBud is rated higher. Alina String Ensemble averages 4.2 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while BrainBud averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

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

Neither Alina String Ensemble nor BrainBud shows ads.

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

Alina String Ensemble ships an update every 4 months, and BrainBud every 2 months. Most recently, Alina String Ensemble was updated on September 22, 2026 and BrainBud on September 21, 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.*