Comparison

Arturia iSpark vs Replicant 3

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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.

About

Replicant 3

This real-time audio effect processor captures, loops, and mangles audio on the fly. It offers advanced sequencing with per-step probability and direction, alongside four distinct slice effects for creative sound design. Control dynamics with envelope crossfading and trigger slices manually or via MIDI.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio slicing and mangling
  • Advanced step sequencer (3-16 steps)
  • Four distinct slice effects (Stutter, Delay, Redukt, Ring Mod)
  • Envelope crossfading for dynamic control
  • Manual and MIDI triggering
  • Intuitive visual step sequencer interface
  • AUv3 compatible
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Replicant 3 is a real-time audio slicing and mangling effect, the third generation of the plugin that started the genre in 2007. Feed it any audio and Replicant's sequencer captures, loops, reverses, and re-slices it on the fly, layering in delay, filtering, panning, ring modulation, and bit-crushing to turn predictable tracks into something unpredictable. Version 3 is a ground-up rebuild with an all-new sequencer engine, expanded effects, and a redesigned interface that makes programming complex slice patterns fast and intuitive. SEQUENCER ENGINE Program 3 to 16 steps per measure with multiple step-size modes, from dotted notes through nontuplets. Build rhythmic patterns that go well beyond straight time. Per-step probability, direction (forward or reverse), and effect routing let you create patterns that evolve and surprise. FOUR SLICE EFFECTS The original Stutter capture-and-repeat is joined by three new modes. Delay adds rhythmic echoes to sliced audio. Redukt applies bit-crushing and sample-rate reduction for lo-fi destruction. Ring Mod adds metallic, inharmonic tonal coloring to any slice event. ENVELOPE CROSSFADING Smooth transitions or hard-gated rhythmic chops on every slice event. Control the attack and release shape of each captured buffer for precise dynamic control. MANUAL AND MIDI TRIGGER Bypass the sequencer entirely and fire slices on demand. Manual trigger mode works with touchscreens for live performance. MIDI trigger lets you drive Replicant from a controller, keyboard, or DAW automation. REDESIGNED INTERFACE A visual step sequencer puts your entire pattern on screen at once. Edit steps, assign effects, set probabilities, and adjust parameters without menu-diving. CROSS-PLATFORM PRESETS XML-based preset manager with presets compatible across all Audio Damage plugin formats and operating systems. SOUND DESIGN IDEAS Sequence stuttering vocal chops with per-step filter sweeps. Build glitched-out drum fills by randomizing slice direction and bit-crushing depth. Layer ring modulation on sustained pads for metallic, evolving textures. Use MIDI trigger mode to fire slices manually in a live set. Program polyrhythmic slice patterns with odd step counts against 4/4 time. Run full mixes through Replicant on a bus for controlled chaos breakdowns. AUv3 compatible. Runs standalone or hosted in AUM, ApeMatrix, Audiobus, Cubasis, GarageBand, and other AUv3 hosts on iOS 11 or newer. From Audio Damage, making creative software for discerning musicians since 2002.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Replicant 3 at $4.99 against Arturia iSpark's $19.99. Replicant 3 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 14) and review sentiment (67% vs 50%). Arturia iSpark's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 18 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On ads 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

Arturia iSpark costs $19.99 and Replicant 3 $4.99 up front. Arturia iSpark sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Replicant 3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Arturia iSpark ships an update every 3 months, Replicant 3 every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Arturia iSpark versus Replicant 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArturia iSparkReplicant 3
Price$19.99$4.99 — better
Rating3.9 (60 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.3% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings60 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 18 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size396 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArturiaAudio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

Arturia iSpark

All ratings59 ratings
Positive71.2%
Neutral6.8%
Negative22.0%
Written reviews157 reviews
Positive50.3%
Neutral12.1%
Negative37.6%

Replicant 3

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Arturia iSpark

One-time13
  • iSpark ALMA FragmentFree
  • Techno Fragment2 variants$3.99
  • Noise Fragment$3.99
Show 10 more
  • 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
None

Replicant 3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Arturia iSpark free?
Arturia iSpark costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Replicant 3 free?
Replicant 3 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Arturia iSpark or Replicant 3 have ads?
Neither Arturia iSpark nor Replicant 3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Arturia iSpark or Replicant 3?
Arturia iSpark ships an update every 3 months, and Replicant 3 every 18 months. Most recently, Arturia iSpark was updated on October 7, 2026 and Replicant 3 on October 2, 2026.

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