# Sidecar MIDI Controller vs ULTIMIDI

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sidecar MIDI Controller at 76% against ULTIMIDI's 0%. Sidecar MIDI Controller also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). ULTIMIDI's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

ULTIMIDI is free to download; Sidecar MIDI Controller costs $4.99 up front. ULTIMIDI sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Sidecar MIDI Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sidecar MIDI Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.0. 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. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Sidecar MIDI Controller's written reviews are positive against 0% of ULTIMIDI's.

Sidecar MIDI Controller ships an update every 3 months, ULTIMIDI every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sidecar MIDI Controller | ULTIMIDI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecar-midi-controller/id1073305840/reviews)** | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ultimidi/id6763802168/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **76.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 6 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Secret Base Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/413007812) | [Nicholas Hogan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895496828) |

## 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


### ULTIMIDI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ultimidi/id6763802168)

Design custom MIDI touch control surfaces with a free-form canvas. Assign gestures, physics, and automation to faders, knobs, and more. Connect to any MIDI-capable app or hardware for a personalized music creation experience.

**Highlights:** Customizable MIDI touch control surfaces, Free-form canvas for layout design, Assign gesture bindings and automation, Connect to MIDI apps and hardware, Advanced control logic and routing, Cloud saving for controller layouts

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Performance Pack | $25.00 | one-time |
| Stepped Controls Pack | $25.00 | one-time |
| Automation Pack | $25.00 | one-time |
| Standard Upgrade | $50.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sidecar MIDI Controller free?

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

### Is ULTIMIDI free?

ULTIMIDI is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sidecar MIDI Controller or ULTIMIDI?

Sidecar MIDI Controller is rated higher. Sidecar MIDI Controller averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while ULTIMIDI averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Sidecar MIDI Controller or ULTIMIDI have ads?

Neither Sidecar MIDI Controller nor ULTIMIDI shows ads.

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

Sidecar MIDI Controller ships an update every 3 months, and ULTIMIDI every 5 weeks. Most recently, Sidecar MIDI Controller was updated on October 13, 2026 and ULTIMIDI on October 6, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*