# Viking Synth vs Mellowsound

The clearest difference is price: Mellowsound at Free against Viking Synth's $3.99. Mellowsound also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (237 vs 41). Viking Synth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (4.7 vs 4.3). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Mellowsound is free to download; Viking Synth costs $3.99 up front. Mellowsound sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Viking Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

Viking Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mellowsound has 237 ratings behind it against 41, 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 60% of Mellowsound's.

Viking Synth ships an update every 4 months, Mellowsound every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Viking Synth | Mellowsound |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viking-synth/id1085274012/reviews)** | [4.3 (237 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mellowsound-vintage-sampler/id1313209081/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **237** |
| Positive reviews | **71.2% of reviews** | 60.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 11 MB | 899 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blamsoft, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1051938244) | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) |

## 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


### Mellowsound

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mellowsound-vintage-sampler/id1313209081)

Experience the iconic sounds of a 1960s keyboard sampler with this app. It offers professional audio quality, allowing you to play vintage orchestra sounds on your device. Customize your sound with various effects and recording options.

**Highlights:** Authentic Mellotron emulation, Professional 16-bit/44.1Khz audio, Photo-realistic user interface, Blend mode for two instruments, MIDI and Audio Unit support, In-app purchases for more instruments and FX

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chamberlin Instruments Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Full Version | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎹 Authentic Mellotron sounds
- 🔊 Great sound quality
- 🎨 Nice visual design
- 💸 Good value for money
- 🔌 Integrates well with other apps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Limited free version
- 🔒 Paywall for full functionality
- 🎹 Keyboard range limited to 3 octaves
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Incompatibility with some iOS versions and devices
- Issues with Inter-App Audio and AUv3 functionality
- Keyboard not responsive or disappearing

**Requested features**

- Ability to blend/layer multiple instruments
- Expanded sound library with more Mellotron presets
- Sustain pedal support
- MIDI channel selection
- Improved performance in DAWs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Viking Synth free?

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

### Is Mellowsound free?

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

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

Viking Synth is rated higher. Viking Synth averages 4.7 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Mellowsound averages 4.3 from 237 ratings.

### Do Viking Synth or Mellowsound have ads?

Neither Viking Synth nor Mellowsound shows ads.

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

Viking Synth ships an update every 4 months, and Mellowsound every 4 weeks. Most recently, Viking Synth was updated on November 2, 2026 and Mellowsound on November 4, 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.*