# Viking Synth vs SoundForest

The clearest difference is price: SoundForest at Free against Viking Synth's $3.99. SoundForest also leads on ratings volume (447 vs 42) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 12.0). Viking Synth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.7 vs 4.2). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

SoundForest is free to download; Viking Synth costs $3.99 up front. SoundForest sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Viking Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

Viking Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SoundForest has 447 ratings behind it against 42, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Viking Synth's written reviews are positive against 67% of SoundForest's.

Viking Synth ships an update every 4 months, SoundForest every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Viking Synth | SoundForest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viking-synth/id1085274012/reviews)** | [4.2 (447 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundforest/id1194745290/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 42 | **447** |
| Positive reviews | **71.2% of reviews** | 67.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 11 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **7.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blamsoft, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1051938244) | [Justin Alexander](https://appshunter.io/developer/1194745289) |

## What reviewers say

### Viking Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viking-synth/id1085274012)

This app emulates a classic monophonic analog synthesizer with advanced DSP technology. It features three variable wave oscillators, dual ladder filters, an LFO, and two modulation busses for versatile sound design.  An intuitive interface and extensive preset library make it ideal for creating thick bass and rich lead sounds.

**Highlights:** Three continuously variable wave oscillators, Dual ladder filters (Lowpass/Highpass), Multi-wave LFO, Two modulation busses, Intuitive user interface with expandable controls, 228 presets including Bass, Lead, and Synthwave, State-of-the-art DSP for authentic sound

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Great sound quality
- 💡 Versatile sound options
- 💰 Excellent value (free)
- 💻 Lightweight and efficient
- 🎹 Good for learning synthesis

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❓ Preset issues
- 🔌 Not a standalone app
- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 💾 Settings not saving
- 🤷‍♂️ Difficult to find/use

**Reported bugs**

- Presets not showing up
- Presets disappear
- App not showing in AUv3 menu
- Settings not saving after iOS 14 update
- Crashes when opening presets browser

**Requested features**

- More subtle drive mode
- Categorized preset browser
- Polyphony option
- Dark mode
- More apps from developer


### SoundForest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundforest/id1194745290)

Instantly compose music by tapping on unique musical creatures that represent notes. Create hypnotic tunes and build a musical ecosystem with various environments and pitch levels. Explore endless song possibilities with this intuitive mini music maker.

**Highlights:** Instant music loop composition, 160 unique musical elements, 4 distinct musical environments, Adjustable pitch levels, Create quick loops or mini songs, Endless song creation possibilities

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Everything | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Cute and creative visuals
- 🎶 Diverse and fun sound palette
- 💰 Affordable unlock of full features
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🤩 Engaging and entertaining music creation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔌 Ads not working to unlock features
- 💳 In-app purchases not working as expected
- 🔍 Limited ability to delete/modify songs
- 🔊 Audio quality/tuning issues

**Reported bugs**

- Repeated tutorial loops
- Restore purchases button not working
- Compatibility issues on newer devices
- Audio not working with headphones
- Crashes when trying to unlock features

**Requested features**

- Ability to export/share created songs
- Option to create longer/more complex songs
- More themes, environments, and sound options
- Customization and personalization features
- Community features to discover and collaborate


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Viking Synth free?

Viking Synth costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SoundForest free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Viking Synth or SoundForest?

Viking Synth is rated higher. Viking Synth averages 4.7 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while SoundForest averages 4.2 from 447 ratings.

### Do Viking Synth or SoundForest have ads?

Neither Viking Synth nor SoundForest shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Viking Synth or SoundForest?

Viking Synth ships an update every 4 months, and SoundForest every 2 months. Most recently, Viking Synth was updated on October 16, 2026 and SoundForest on October 15, 2026.

---

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