# Synesthesia vs Music Strobe

The clearest difference is rating: Music Strobe at 4.4 against Synesthesia's 2.3. Music Strobe also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 38%) and ratings volume (737 vs 16). Synesthesia's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Music Strobe holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Music Strobe has 737 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Synesthesia's written reviews are positive against 72% of Music Strobe's.

Synesthesia ships an update monthly, Music Strobe every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Synesthesia | Music Strobe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synesthesia-music-visualizer/id1046438840/reviews) | **[4.4 (737 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-strobe/id1122365326/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **737** |
| Positive reviews | 37.5% of reviews | **71.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 31 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Auzinger](https://appshunter.io/developer/918405870) | [Thomas Kiddle](https://appshunter.io/developer/1122365325) |

## What reviewers say

### Synesthesia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synesthesia-music-visualizer/id1046438840)

Experience music through a spectrum of colors, mimicking the sensory phenomenon of synesthesia. Use it as a dynamic mood light, a calming night light, or to visualize the pitches of songs and instruments.

**Highlights:** Music visualization, Mood lighting, Night light functionality, Pitch to color mapping, Microphone access for real-time audio

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Music Strobe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-strobe/id1122365326)

Create a dynamic light show for your parties by syncing visual strobes with your music. Adjust frequencies and volume sensitivity for a personalized experience. Choose to use your device's camera flash or screen for illumination.

**Highlights:** Music-reactive strobe effects, Adjustable frequency control, Automatic volume adjustment, Camera flash or screen illumination, Customizable strobe patterns

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app for parties
- 🎨 Responsive color effects
- 🎶 Syncs well with music

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes or stops working
- 🔌 Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 🔅 Flashlight brightness could be improved

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work on iOS 18
- Volume gets reduced when app is open
- Strobe effect doesn't stop automatically

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support
- Improve flashlight brightness control
- Implement background playback


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Synesthesia free?

Synesthesia is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Music Strobe free?

Music Strobe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Synesthesia or Music Strobe?

Music Strobe is rated higher. Synesthesia averages 2.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Music Strobe averages 4.4 from 737 ratings.

### Do Synesthesia or Music Strobe have ads?

Music Strobe shows ads; Synesthesia does not.

### Which is updated more often, Synesthesia or Music Strobe?

Synesthesia ships an update monthly, and Music Strobe every 4 months. Most recently, Synesthesia was updated on June 1, 2026 and Music Strobe on September 16, 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.*