Theremin Touch vs SAGA Synth | 16
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Theremin Touch
Experience the unique sound of a classic electronic instrument with this vintage-styled simulator. It offers multiple oscillator wave shapes, adjustable frequency ranges, and built-in effects for a realistic playing experience. Optimized for touch and Apple Pencil on compatible devices.
- Vintage theremin emulation
- Onboard delay and reverb FX
- 4 oscillator wave shapes
- Adjustable frequency range
- Touchpad for frequency and volume control
- Apple Pencil support (iPad only)
- Built-in tuner
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The Theremin is one of the earliest electronic musical instruments, created by Leon Theremin in the late 1920's. Theremin Touch is a vintage styled theremin simulator designed to emulate the sound and spirit of the theremin. This single oscillator, monophonic synthesizer with real world style control features - onboard delay and reverb FX - 4 different oscillator wave shapes - adjustable frequency range for a more stable and playable instrument - 1 to 7 octave range (approx.). 32.703Hz (C1) to 4.186KHz (C8) - touch pad to control frequency and volume - works with Apple Pencil (iPad only) - tuner - customisable look - built with AudioKit With its beautiful vintage audio look, "Theremin Touch" provides the closest experience to playing a theremin on iOS.
SAGA Synth | 16
This app provides a 16-bit retro video game synthesizer with over 350 presets. It allows for the creation of expressive pads, sound effects, drums, and leads, and can be used as a standalone app or an AUv3 plugin. Record and export your creations as WAV files.
- 16-bit retro video game synth
- Over 350+ presets
- Standalone app & AUv3 plugin
- Step sequencer
- Audio recording and export
- MIDI keyboard support
- Ableton Link
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"SAGA SYNTH IS THE MOST FUN MUSIC APP ON THE PLANET!" – The GarageBand Guide SAGA Synth is a super-fun retro 16-bit video game synth More than chiptunes, you can use this synth for amazing and expressive pads, sound fx, drums, leads, and more! Make your music stand out with real 16-bit retro video game power. Created from 5 different vintage hardware YM2616 sound chips for the greatest collection of 16-bit sounds ever produced. We put lots of love into making this app. Ready Player One? Press a Key to take your music to the next level! REQUIRES iOS 14 and ABOVE! Thank you. :) Includes over 350+ Presets by MobyPixel, Electronisounds, Red Sky Lullaby, Gavinski, The GarageBand Guide, DJ Puzzle, The Audio Dabbler, Sound of Izrael, Marc Hupkens, AnalogMatthew, Brian Funk, Shazaam the Producer and more. Features custom-created sounds for this app, made from vintage retro gaming hardware. Learn More & Watch Videos: audiokitpro.com/sagasynth SAGA SYNTH is available only on iOS and iPadOS. FEATURES: • Standalone app & iOS AUv3 Plugin • Over 350+ presets to inspire you • Fun free-running step sequencer • Exclusive sound sources made for this app • New, more stable AudioKit code • 16-bit Synth, Drum, and Sound FX sounds included • Over 600+ Mb of sounds compressed to under 150 Mb • Audio recording, record your sounds then export wav files! No other apps needed • Use as an iOS Plug-in in hosts like GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, Beatmaker 3, and more • Use with MIDI keyboard or iOS MIDI host • Ableton Link SAGA Synth is the first of the next generation of AudioKit Pro apps, written from the ground up with a focus on playability and amazing sound. We've added rock-solid sequencer timing, improved AUv3 support, easy standalone recording, and much more. It's created with lots of love. + iPhone & iPad versions included for one low price ++ BONUS: Includes sounds from the best-selling Ableton 16-Bit Video Game sound packs by Brian Funk. For the first time on iOS! More Info: www.audiokitpro.com/sagasynth ### AudioKit is an open-source project intended to bring joy and music to people, and enlighten people on how to build custom instruments and iOS apps. All product names, images, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners, including SEGA Corporation, Yamaha Corporation, Twisted Electrons, MEGAfm, Genesis, MegaDrive, and others, which are in no way associated or affiliated with the creators of this app, including AudioKit, Brian Funk, AudioKit Pro, LLC, and the other contributors. Product names are used solely for the purpose of identifying specific products related to hardware, synthesizers, sampling, sound design, and music-making. Use of these names and images does not imply any cooperation or endorsement, including SEGA Corporation, Yamaha Corporation, Twisted Electrons, MEGAfm, Genesis, MegaDrive, and others. We thank them for their incredible hardware and instruments.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SAGA Synth | 16 at 4.9 against Theremin Touch's 4.0. SAGA Synth | 16 also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 65%) and ratings volume (443 vs 15). Theremin Touch's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $3.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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
Theremin Touch costs $2.99 and SAGA Synth | 16 $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SAGA Synth | 16 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAGA Synth | 16 has 443 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Theremin Touch's written reviews are positive against 89% of SAGA Synth | 16's.
Theremin Touch ships an update every 2 weeks, SAGA Synth | 16 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Theremin Touch | SAGA Synth | 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (15 ratings) | 4.9 (443 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 64.7% of reviews | 89.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 15 | 443 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 14.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 121 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | John McMillan | AudioKit Pro |
Customer experience
Theremin Touch
SAGA Synth | 16
Bugs and requests
Theremin Touch
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
SAGA Synth | 16
Reported bugs
2 issues- Crashes when too many favorites
- Overlapping UI elements on phones
Requested features
3 requests- Export to Famitone music file
- macOS version
- Improved quantization
In-app purchases
Theremin Touch
No in-app purchases
SAGA Synth | 16
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Theremin Touch free?
Is SAGA Synth | 16 free?
Which has better reviews, Theremin Touch or SAGA Synth | 16?
Do Theremin Touch or SAGA Synth | 16 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Theremin Touch or SAGA Synth | 16?
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