Comparison

OP vs PunchKit

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

OP

This app provides a wireless screen for the OP-Z synthesizer, displaying real-time musical data like mixer levels and effect amounts. It enhances interaction with multi-touch controls for simultaneous adjustments and a smooth touchpad for effects.

Highlights
  • Wireless screen for OP-Z
  • Real-time data visualization
  • Mixer level monitoring
  • Effect level monitoring
  • Multi-touch mixer control
  • Touchpad for effects/filters
Features
Read full description

This is the official OP-Z companion app. Use your iOS device as a wireless screen for the mighty OP-Z synthesizer. See the numbers and graphs behind the music you create in real time. At a glance, you know how your instruments are balanced in the mixer or just how much effect is applied to each instrument. The app adds another dimension to your interaction with the OP–Z. Unlocking multi-touch features, you can adjust multiple mixer sliders at once or use the smooth touch pad to adjust effects or filters.

About

PunchKit

This app enhances your music production workflow with a compatible hardware device. It allows instant access to projects, sounds, and memory, plus recording, editing, and backup capabilities. Streamline your creative process and manage your music projects efficiently.

Highlights
  • Automatic device connection
  • Browse projects, sounds, and memory
  • Record USB audio and iOS input
  • Signal-activated recording
  • Bundle recordings for backup
  • Add effects to recordings and samples
  • Backup and restore projects
Features
Read full description

PunchKit is a local-first companion for the Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II, EP-1320 Medieval, and EP-40 Riddim. Build kits, manage samples, record and process audio, separate stems, perform live effects, and create dependable backups from your iPhone or iPad. MIDI PLAYGROUND - Layer independent Chords, Melody, and Bass machines beside a connected EP - Follow EP MIDI clock with retained-BPM fallback if pulses stop - Use Auto Key or choose key, scale, harmony, voicing, inversion, octave, and expression manually - Shape chord feel with strum order, groove, timing, humanization, velocity, and release - Build melody and bass phrases on 16-step note grids, with octave transposition while playing OFFLINE KIT BUILDER - Build and save 12-pad kits without connecting an EP - Browse and preview samples from Files, then assign them to pads - Trim or convert samples for EP limits - Import, export, duplicate, rename, and share kit archives - Connect later to upload a kit to a chosen project and group DEVICE AND SAMPLE MANAGEMENT - Automatically detect compatible EP devices over USB MIDI - Browse projects, groups, pads, assignments, sounds, and memory slots - Browse one shared local Sample Shelf across Library, Projects, and Kit Builder - Drag a complete folder, including nested folders, to a Library slot - Review each file's path, duration, source size, converted device size, and memory before upload - Remove or edit individual pending samples without changing shelf files - Choose free-slot or sequential placement and explicitly confirm overwrites RECORD, EDIT, AND PUNCH - Record from the microphone or compatible USB audio inputs in WAV or M4A - Use signal-activated recording, waveform trimming, playback controls, and original/rendered versions - Monitor processed USB audio live with adjustable level and latency - Capture beat-synced loops using MIDI, detected audio, or tap tempo, then scratch and perform them from the cassette - Apply stackable Color and tempo-synced Motion effects with Direct or XY controls - Build a custom 12-slot Punch It page PIXEL BACKGROUND STUDIO - Turn short videos from Photos into pixel-art backgrounds - Trim, frame, process, and arrange clips locally - Available with Lifetime Pro LOCAL STEM SEPARATION - Separate a take into vocals, drums, bass, and other - Choose Fast, Balanced, or Best quality - Download the optional model once, then process locally - Mix, save, share, bounce, or upload stems BACKUP AND RESTORE - Back up banks, projects, or the complete device - Add PunchKit ZIPs and TE Sample Tool PAKs to the library without an EP - Opt in to iCloud Drive backup sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Review source-device compatibility warnings before restoring MADE FOR IPHONE AND IPAD - Adaptive portrait and landscape layouts - System, Light, and Dark appearances FREE TO START, PRO FOR UNLIMITED WORKFLOWS PunchKit is free to download. Connecting, browsing, previewing, playing, sharing, renaming, deleting, restoring backups, and using existing files remain available without limits. The free tier includes three successful take creations, one local kit creation and one complete kit upload, three successful sample writes, one stem separation, and one bank, project, and complete-device backup. Allowances count only after an operation succeeds. One optional Lifetime Pro purchase removes these limits. There is no subscription, and Pro supports Apple Family Sharing. On iPhone and iPad, people who first downloaded PunchKit before version 1.3 receive Lifetime Pro automatically as founding users. LOCAL-FIRST BY DESIGN No PunchKit account, ads, third-party analytics, or tracking. Optional iCloud Drive backup sync uses your Apple account. Other content stays local unless you share or export it. Diagnostic reports are sent only when you choose and exclude audio, sample and project contents, and filenames. DISCLAIMER PunchKit is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Teenage Engineering.

Screenshots

OP4 screens
PunchKit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PunchKit at 96% against OP's 47%. PunchKit also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). OP's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PunchKit sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. OP asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PunchKit holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 116 and 56 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of OP's written reviews are positive against 96% of PunchKit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OP ships an update every 6 weeks, PunchKit weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
OP versus PunchKit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOPPunchKit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (116 ratings)4.9 (56 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.2% of reviews96.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings116 — better56
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size127 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTeenage EngineeringKristaps Dreija

Customer experience

OP

All ratings115 ratings
Positive80.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative17.4%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive47.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative47.2%

PunchKit

All ratings56 ratings
Positive98.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive96.4%
Neutral3.6%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

OP

Reported bugs

26 issues
  • Manufacturing defects
  • App crashes when using videoout feature
  • App crashes or hangs with HDMI output
  • Unable to connect through Bluetooth or adapter
  • App no longer connects after getting a new iPad
Show 21 more
  • Won't reliably connect via Bluetooth
  • OP-Z won't stay connected to iPhone
  • Disconnects after Bluetooth setup
  • Won't connect via USB or Bluetooth
  • App won't stay connected
  • App crashes every time it's opened
  • Fails to pair to screenless OP-Z
  • Bluetooth still isn't working with current iOS
  • Cannot connect, screen button doesn't work
  • App not properly connected
  • Disconnects
  • Doesn't work on iPhone or iPad
  • Bluetooth connection not sticking on iOS version 14.2
  • Stopped working
  • Bluetooth in iPadOS14.2 disconnects
  • App no longer displays data from OP-Z
  • iPad won't scan for OP-Z
  • iPad app won't scan again
  • iPad won't scan or recognize OP-Z
  • Scan button currently doesn't detect OP-Z
  • OP-Z app is stuck in sync mode

Requested features

5 requests
  • Make compatible for older iOS
  • Offline guide available
  • Add clear dial metrics
  • Import sound plugs via app
  • Add own Unity graphics

PunchKit

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

OP

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

PunchKit

One-time4
  • Small Tip$2.99
  • Generous Tip$5.99
  • Huge Tip$12.99
Show 1 more
  • PunchKit Pro Lifetime$14.99

Questions

Is OP free?
OP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PunchKit free?
PunchKit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, OP or PunchKit?
PunchKit is rated higher. OP averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116 ratings, while PunchKit averages 4.9 from 56 ratings.
Do OP or PunchKit have ads?
Neither OP nor PunchKit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OP or PunchKit?
OP ships an update every 6 weeks, and PunchKit weekly. Most recently, OP was updated on October 24, 2026 and PunchKit on October 25, 2026.

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