# Viking Synth vs Polywave

The clearest difference is price: Polywave at Free against Viking Synth's $3.99. Polywave also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 69%). Viking Synth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Viking Synth against 4.7 for Polywave. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 34 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Viking Synth's written reviews are positive against 80% of Polywave's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Viking Synth | Polywave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viking-synth/id1085274012/reviews) | [4.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **42** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 69.4% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 11 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| 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


### Polywave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271)

Create unique, evolving sonic experiences with a novel wavetable sequencer inspired by vintage synths. Draw your own waveforms, explore a vast library, and connect to external keyboards or DAWs. Record your creations directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Wavetable sequencer, Custom waveform drawing, Expansive waveform library, 100+ factory presets, MIDI and Audio Unit support, Live recording module, 8-voice polyphony

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Viking Synth free?

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

### Is Polywave free?

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

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

Viking Synth and Polywave are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 42 and 34 ratings respectively.

### Do Viking Synth or Polywave have ads?

Neither Viking Synth nor Polywave shows ads.

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

Viking Synth ships an update every 4 months, and Polywave every 4 months. Most recently, Viking Synth was updated on September 23, 2026 and Polywave on September 23, 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.*