Comparison

VC vs Mantis

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

Head to head
About

VC

This app offers a versatile, vintage-voiced multi-stage chorus effect for music production. It provides multiple chorus models, configurable stages, and advanced stereo processing for unique and extreme sound design.

Highlights
  • Multi-stage chorus effect
  • Vintage and digital chorus models
  • Serial and parallel configurations
  • True stereo processing
  • MIDI control
  • Audio Unit Extension support
Features
Read full description

VC-1 - Multi Stage Chorus VC-1 is a flexible, vintage voiced chorus effect capable of delivering many classic chorus sounds but it doesn't stop there. Featuring several true stereo algortihms with up to 3 chorus stages per channel, parallel & serial configurations, a 3 band split input section and much more VC-1 offers almost endless posibilites for new, extreme or unconventional effects. Overview: * 3 unique chorus models (Analog, Digital, Vintage Digital) * Up to 3 chorus stages in either serial or parallel configuration * Modulation via sine LFO or lowpass noise * Fixed 3 band split input section and +/-6db shelving filters at the output * Advanced Dimension D style stereo coupling * Stereo Animator & true stereo processing throughout Programs: 1. Analog Warm sounding analog voiced chorus utilizing a BBD (bucket brigade delay) emulation and Dimension-D style cross-coupling. 2. Digital Bright & modern sounding digital chorus (full bandwith). 3. Vintage Digital Dark & noisy vintage voiced digital chorus (10khz bandwidth / 12bit processing). Connectivity: - Audio Unit Extension - Inter-App Audio Effect - Audiobus 3 (Filter) - Ableton Link - USB Audio - MIDI Control (Network, USB, Bluetooth)

About

Mantis

This audio plugin emulates a vintage 70s analog delay/echo unit, offering a warm, authentic sound. It features four echo taps, swell selectors, and a unique modulation section for chorus-like effects.

Highlights
  • Emulates rare 70s BBD delay/echo
  • Warm analog sound
  • Four echo taps
  • Four swell selectors
  • Rotafaze modulation section
  • Mimics tape echo wow/flutter
  • Chorus-delay effect
Features
Read full description

Mantis is a plugin that emulates a rare BBD (bucket-brigade device) delay/echo unit of the 70s, faithfully recreating its warm and analog sound. Available as AUv3 and Standalone. As the original unit, Mantis features an echo section with four taps and four swell selectors. It also features the rotafaze section, a modulation that can mimic the wow/flutter of a tape echo or turn the unit into a unique chorus-delay.

Screenshots

VC3 screens
Mantis1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VC at $5.99 against Mantis's $14.99. VC also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). Mantis's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

VC costs $5.99 and Mantis $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mantis holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 8 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VC ships an update every 15 months, Mantis every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
VC versus Mantis: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVCMantis
Price$5.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.8 (5 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings58 — better
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 9 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai ArasAudioThing Ltd.

Customer experience

VC

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%

Mantis

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

VC

No in-app purchases

None

Mantis

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VC free?
VC costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mantis free?
Mantis costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VC or Mantis?
Mantis is rated higher. VC averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Mantis averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do VC or Mantis have ads?
Neither VC nor Mantis shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VC or Mantis?
VC ships an update every 15 months, and Mantis every 9 months. Most recently, VC was updated on September 8, 2026 and Mantis on September 10, 2026.

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