# Sidecar MIDI Controller vs SFX Library

The clearest difference is price: SFX Library at Free against Sidecar MIDI Controller's $4.99. SFX Library also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Sidecar MIDI Controller's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (14 vs 1). On rating, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

SFX Library is free to download; Sidecar MIDI Controller costs $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 — 4.9 for Sidecar MIDI Controller against 5.0 for SFX Library. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sidecar MIDI Controller has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Sidecar MIDI Controller ships an update every 3 months, SFX Library every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sidecar MIDI Controller | SFX Library |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecar-midi-controller/id1073305840/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sfx-library/id6738878793/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 76.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 6 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Secret Base Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/413007812) | [Jonathan Stinson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1655952998) |

## What reviewers say

### Sidecar MIDI Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecar-midi-controller/id1073305840)

Transform your QWERTY keyboard or game controller into a powerful MIDI controller for your iOS music apps. Play melodies, trigger chords, and adjust synth parameters with ease, even while running other apps in the background.

**Highlights:** QWERTY keyboard piano mapping, Configurable pads for notes, chords, and messages, Scale-configurable virtual keyboard, Game controller support, AUv3 plugin integration, Slide-over and side-by-side mode compatibility

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### SFX Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sfx-library/id6738878793)

Access a vast collection of copyright-free sound effects directly on your mobile device. Play audio clips instantly for your projects or enjoyment.

**Highlights:** Copyright-free sound effects library, Instant audio playback, On-device access, Wide range of audio clips

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sidecar MIDI Controller free?

Sidecar MIDI Controller costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SFX Library free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sidecar MIDI Controller or SFX Library?

SFX Library is rated higher. Sidecar MIDI Controller averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while SFX Library averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Sidecar MIDI Controller or SFX Library have ads?

SFX Library shows ads; Sidecar MIDI Controller does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sidecar MIDI Controller or SFX Library?

Sidecar MIDI Controller ships an update every 3 months, and SFX Library every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sidecar MIDI Controller was updated on October 13, 2026 and SFX Library on October 9, 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.*