Seaquence vs Polywave
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Seaquence
Create dynamic, layered music with a unique visual interface. Explore ambient drones, intricate rhythms, and share your creations with a global community. Unlock advanced tools and MIDI support with an optional upgrade.
- Polyphonic synth engine
- Dynamic spatial mixer
- Multitouch interface
- Visual voice editor
- Step-sequencer matrix
- Social sharing features
- Audio/Video recording
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Seaquence is a beautiful and lush sounding synthesizer with vast potential for creativity and exploration. Its uniquely designed interface allows you to create music with swimming creatures in a stereo mixing dish. Multiple voices are heard simultaneously, resulting in layered, dynamic compositions. Seaquence's wide sonic template allows you to create everything from ambient drones to intricately layered rhythms and transients. With its playful and colorful interface, even composers who are brand new to music will be able to unlock their synesthetic creativity. You can save your sessions, post and share them, and explore the Seaquence Galaxy to listen what others have shared and get inspired! Upgrading to Seaquence Complete unlocks more tools, effects, and Midi i/o support. Features Included in Free Download • Polyphonic synth engine • Dynamic spatial mixer and stereo-panning engine • 5 note polyphony per voice • 8 simultaneously voices • 64 unique voices in a composition (only the closest 8 voices are heard) • A true multitouch experience, up to 11 simultaneous touch points supported • Intuitive visual multitouch voice editor • Unique swimming physics and swim behaviors — swim patterns are based on synth and sequencer parameters per-voice • 16 x 16 multitouch step-sequencer matrix • Radial chromatic scale editor with octave • Amplitude envelope generator + length (ADSR+L) with curves and hold • Precision, sample-based clock and sequencing engine • Variable tempo, supporting 1 to 360 BPM with tap-tempo. • Global session transpose • 5 waveform shapes: Square, Saw, Tri, Sin, Noise • Save your own session presets • 30+ included session presets • Social sharing features - post and share links to sessions • Session links are maintained — trace back the history of a composition, see who remixed a session • Audio and Video recording and export using Apple ReplayKit. Share performances! Features of Seaquence Complete (unlocked with a single In-App Purchase) • Per-voice state-variable filter with morphable hi-pass, band-pass, lo-pass, and notch modes • Filter attack envelope generator with resonance (Q) and curve • Swing/Shuffle • Step length subdivision: 1/1 to 1/64, including triplets • Portamento/Glide with curve editor • Additional monophonic voice modes: Sub-Oscillator tuned to a 5th and Detuned Unison • Delay effect on the master channel with feedback and individual voice fx-send • MIDI notes i/o per voice • MIDI cc i/o per voice • MIDI clock sync • Assignable MIDI notes/cc/clock in/out per MIDI device • User-adjustable MIDI Latency • Optionally enable/disable Audio engine when using MIDI Your purchase directly supports our two-person studio and helps us continue to release updates with new features and bug fixes! Thanks for your support.
Polywave
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.
- Wavetable sequencer
- Custom waveform drawing
- Expansive waveform library
- 100+ factory presets
- MIDI and Audio Unit support
- Live recording module
- 8-voice polyphony
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From Fingerlab (multiple-time winner of Music App of the Week, 2012 Apple Design Award) and Jordan Rudess (keyboardist of Dream Theater), comes Polywave — a revolutionary wavetable sequencer synthesizer for iPhone, iPad & Mac. Inspired by the legendary Korg Wavestation, Polywave lets you draw your own waveforms with your finger and create unique, ever-evolving sounds that are truly yours. Draw your own waveforms directly on screen 100+ factory presets: leads, pads, loops & FX Connect any MIDI keyboard or load as AUv3 in your DAW Live recording built-in Free version includes 12 factory presets and a selection of core features. Get the Full Version IAP to unlock everything. Features: • 8-voice polyphony & 6 octaves • Wavetable & waveform sequencer • VCO & FM Oscillators • FM Modulation & Detune • ADSR Envelope editor • Moog Ladder filter with ADSR • 2 LFOs with custom modulation waveform • LFO Sync & Loop mode • Waveform drawing editor & library (100 waveforms) • Preset Randomizer & export/import • 5 FX: Tube Amp, Vibrato, Chorus, Delay & Reverb • Live recording & export • Full MIDI & MIDI Mapping support • AudioBus & Inter-App Audio (iOS) • Full AudioUnit AUv3 support • iCloud Family Sharing Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you: contact@fingerlab.net Stay tuned! The Fingerlab Team
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Seaquence at 11.0 against Polywave's 13.0. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Seaquence sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Polywave sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Seaquence against 4.7 for Polywave. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 74 and 34 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Seaquence's written reviews are positive against 80% of Polywave's.
Seaquence ships an update every 5 months, Polywave every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Seaquence | Polywave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (74 ratings) | 4.7 (34 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews — better | 80.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 74 — better | 34 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Okaynokay | Fingerlab |
Customer experience
Seaquence
Polywave
Bugs and requests
Seaquence
Reported bugs
6 issues- App immediately crashes upon launch
- MIDI function doesn't work
- Menu system is confusing
- App not opening on iPhone 12 mini
- App kicks user back to home page
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- IAP purchase not recognized across devices
Requested features
18 requests- Mix sound with other apps (AUM/Audiobus)
- Airplay support
- Zoom in/out for larger creature populations
- Audio Unit support
- Manual in the app (PDF version)
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- Ableton Link
- MIDI Channel per creature
- Competitive mode (online)
- Creature interaction
- LFOs for animation
- Multiple MIDI channels out
- Set playback time/schedule
- Creature path setting
- Android version
- Audiobus or IAA implementation
- Landscape mode
- Arrangement tool for longer compositions
- Like/dislike function for songs
Polywave
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Seaquence
- Seaquence Complete$9.99
Polywave
- Full Version$7.99








