# Viking Synth vs OCTANE Mobile

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Viking Synth at 69% against OCTANE Mobile's 20%. Viking Synth also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). OCTANE Mobile's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

OCTANE Mobile is free to download; Viking Synth costs $3.99 up front. OCTANE Mobile sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Viking Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

Viking Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 89 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Viking Synth's written reviews are positive against 20% of OCTANE Mobile's.

Viking Synth ships an update every 4 months, OCTANE Mobile monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Viking Synth | OCTANE Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viking-synth/id1085274012/reviews)** | [3.4 (89 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octane-mobile-auv3/id1586784492/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 42 | **89** |
| Positive reviews | **69.4% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 11 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blamsoft, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1051938244) | [SoundWare, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1130726631) |

## 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


### OCTANE Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octane-mobile-auv3/id1586784492)

This audio plugin offers a vast library of over 1,000 instruments and presets, along with extensive effects and layering capabilities. It allows producers to quickly find and shape sounds for their music, with new content added weekly. The app also features a 6-band equalizer and dynamics tools for precise sound manipulation.

**Highlights:** 1,000+ Instruments & Presets, Reverb, Delay, Filter, Distortion, Layering with ADSR & Arpeggiator, 6-Band Equalizer, Dynamics & Lo-Fi Effects, Weekly Sound Pack Updates

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| In My Bag (Drum Kits) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Industry Standards | $1.99 | one-time |
| LoFi Vibes | $1.99 | one-time |
| Trap Star | $1.99 | one-time |
| Cinematic Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Love Lust Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| In My Bag 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Guitar Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| 808 Legends | $1.99 | one-time |
| OCTANE | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Rich, high-quality sound packs
- 🎨 Intuitive and visually appealing GUI
- 💰 Affordable pricing for features offered
- 🔄 Cross-platform access (iOS, desktop, iPad)
- 🎹 Diverse layering and sound editing options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- 🚫 Incompatible with GarageBand and Logic Pro
- 🔐 Mandatory account creation before use
- 📥 Download failures at 99% completion
- ⚠️ Requires internet connection to function

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during initial download
- Download failures at 99.9% completion
- Login page not found or account creation fails
- Password authentication not working despite correct credentials
- App doesn't appear as AUv3 in GarageBand or Logic Pro

**Requested features**

- Free trial or demo before purchase
- Transparent pricing in app description
- Offline mode capability
- Keyboard zoom and stretch options
- Next/previous preset buttons


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Viking Synth free?

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

### Is OCTANE Mobile free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Viking Synth or OCTANE Mobile?

Viking Synth is rated higher. Viking Synth averages 4.7 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while OCTANE Mobile averages 3.4 from 89 ratings.

### Do Viking Synth or OCTANE Mobile have ads?

Neither Viking Synth nor OCTANE Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Viking Synth or OCTANE Mobile?

Viking Synth ships an update every 4 months, and OCTANE Mobile monthly. Most recently, Viking Synth was updated on September 23, 2026 and OCTANE Mobile on August 15, 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.*