Arturia iSpark vs Riffer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Arturia iSpark
Create complete music tracks with a versatile beat-making solution. Explore a vast library of drum kits and instruments, then sculpt your sound with powerful editing tools and a flexible sequencer. Design unique sonic textures and melodic elements for your compositions.
- Real-time pattern playing and tweaking
- 64-step flexible sequencer
- Modular engine with TAE® technology
- Extensive sound customization
- Song mode for chaining patterns
- XY modulation touchpads
- Compatibility with Spark environment
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iSpark is an all-inclusive beat-making solution allowing to create rich tracks from A to Z while experiencing an unequaled workflow. It includes a large variety of drum kits and individual instruments based on the most renowned drum machines and top-notch sound design. It is the result of a simple recipe, care for rhythm, innovation and uncompromising ergonomics combined with the personality of the greatest drum machines. What you can do with iSpark: iSpark allows you to play drum patterns in-real time and to tweak your sound on-the-fly. Its optimized and performance-oriented layout gives you a direct access to an extended range of sonic parameters. It also integrates a powerful and flexible 64-step sequencer enhancing your creative freedom and effectiveness. iSpark unites our multi-rewarded TAE® technology coupled with a modular engine and crystal-clear multi-layered samples. Beyond drum and percussive sounds, iSpark blasts the frontiers of beat-making through a range of singular sonic effects, warm analog synth textures and melodic elements. Details: Main screen The main screen is all about performance. Its layout, inspired by our SparkLE controller, gives you immediate access to a comprehensive set of fundamental controls and parameters. Its lower part allows you to play and record your drum patterns in real-time, step by step, to jump between your patterns and to set their length. Mixer In the mixer, you can adjust the volume and panorama of your instruments, set two individual effects for each of them, and modify the sending levels to the return effects. The VU meters help you to balance effectively your instruments. Studio The Studio is the iSpark laboratory of sound. This is where you will customize your kits and all the instruments that compose it. For each instrument, you can choose the samples that are used and adjust a comprehensive list of parameters. Sequencer In the sequencer screen, all the steps of your different instruments are right in front of you. You can thus create your sequences in a flash. Besides, the automation tool allows you drawing modulation curves with a simple glide of your fingertip. Song The Song mode gives you the possibility to chain your pattern in order to create a whole performance. Organizing your song is as easy as a drag-and-drop. Switch to “Perform” and discover two large XY modulation touchpads that will bring your songs to life. Connectivity: iSpark offers a total and seamless compatibility with the existing Spark environment. Maintain continuously your creative flow by transferring in a heartbeat your projects, patterns, your kits and individual instruments between Spark 2 and iSpark. Connect the dedicated SparkLE controller to iSpark and associate the flexibility of an app-based instrument to the effectiveness and comfort of hardware. The compatibility with AudioBus and Inter-App Audio offers a smooth integration of iSpark in you iPad-based setup. With iSpark, your mobile setup found its beat-making solution. Main features: Pristine quality sound engines including: TAE® analog synthesis, physical modeling, and multi-layered samples provided by our top-tier development partners · 640 Instruments / 40 kits - Classic drum machines - Electronic kits - Acoustic kits · Shuffle and shift modes to humanize grooves · Choke groups to mute instruments naturally · Song mode with 16 segments · Song segment triggering from hardware · Performance master effects: repeat, tape, reverse, strobe, pan, mix, bit crusher, 8-mode filter and Roller · 16-track mixer with high-quality effects: multiband compressor, bit crusher, multiband EQ, chorus, delay, reverb, distortion, phaser, plate reverb, destroyer, flanger, space pan, limiter, sub generator · Real-time automation on all parameters · Compatible with SparkLE controller · Ableton Link integration · Possibility to share projects, kits and instruments between iSpark and the desktop version of Spark 2.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Riffer at $9.99 against Arturia iSpark's $19.99. Riffer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 14) and review sentiment (65% vs 50%). Arturia iSpark's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
Arturia iSpark costs $19.99 and Riffer $9.99 up front. Arturia iSpark sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Riffer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Riffer holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 87 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Arturia iSpark's written reviews are positive against 65% of Riffer's.
Arturia iSpark ships an update every 3 months, Riffer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Arturia iSpark | Riffer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | $9.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (60 ratings) | 4.1 (87 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.3% of reviews | 64.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 60 | 87 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 396 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arturia | AUDIOMODERN |
Customer experience
Arturia iSpark
Riffer
In-app purchases
Arturia iSpark
- iSpark ALMA FragmentFree
- Techno Fragment2 variants$3.99
- Noise Fragment$3.99
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- EDM Fragment$3.99
- HipHop Fragment$3.99
- EDM Fragment 2$3.99
- Hip Hop Fragment 2$3.99
- Hip Hop Fragment 4$3.99
- Raw House Fragment 1$3.99
- Hip Hop Fragment 3$3.99
- EDM Fragment 3$3.99
- EDM Fragment 4$3.99
- Noise Fragment 3$3.99
Riffer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Arturia iSpark free?
Is Riffer free?
Which has better reviews, Arturia iSpark or Riffer?
Do Arturia iSpark or Riffer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Arturia iSpark or Riffer?
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