# mood vs VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

The clearest difference is price: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave at Free against mood's $12.99. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave also leads on iOS requirement (14.5 vs 17.0). mood's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download; mood costs $12.99 up front. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. mood asks for nothing beyond the download.

mood holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 87 and 132 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of mood's written reviews are positive against 51% of VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's.

mood ships an update every 3 weeks, VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | mood | VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $12.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mood/id1218198148/reviews)** | [4.0 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 87 | **132** |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 51.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Paid** | Subscription |
| Size | 38 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [apeSoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/464660782) | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) |

## What reviewers say

### mood

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mood/id1218198148)

This app offers a personal interpretation of a legendary analog synthesizer, providing immense sonic ability and a captivating sense of discovery. It includes a wide array of features expected in a top-tier iOS instrument app, allowing for deep sound design and musical exploration.

**Highlights:** Audiounit v3 support, Audiobus and Inter-App Audio, Sample WARP and FM Module, Multiple Oscillators, VCF Filter Ladder, Mono or Polyphonic modes, MIDI and Ableton Link support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Great sound quality
- 🎵 Warm and punchy tones
- 🎹 Excellent Minimoog emulation
- 💡 Versatile sound design capabilities
- 🎛️ Deep modulation options (LFOs)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📱 Poor AUv3 interface
- ⌨️ Unhideable keyboard in AUv3
- 🎛️ Cramped controls in AUv3
- 🎛️ Too many pages/flipping in AUv3
- 🎛️ No birds-eye overview in AUv3

**Reported bugs**

- Filter FM does not work properly at audio rates
- App intercepts GarageBand audio output file
- App mutes notes during playback in BeatMaker3
- Some presets require audio files that are missing
- Note hangs and crashes in AUM

**Requested features**

- Add MPE Support
- Update for iPadOS 26 compatibility
- Option to show/hide keyboard in AUv3
- Option to show/hide keyboard partially in AUv3
- More LFOs and envelopes


### VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667)

This app creates unique synth sounds by recording classic synths to VHS tape and then resampling them. It offers a vast library of presets and effects to achieve lo-fi, retro vibes for various music genres. An AUv3 plugin and standalone app are included.

**Highlights:** VHS-recorded and resampled synths, Over 280+ presets, Standalone app and AUv3 plugin, VCR sound effects, VCR FX section for customization, Free expansion pack included

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Excellent lo-fi and retro 80s sound quality
- 🎹 Extensive library of high-quality presets
- 💰 Affordable pricing (at original purchase)
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface design
- 🔊 Versatile sounds for multiple genres

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Aggressive subscription model for previously purchased app
- 🔄 Conversion from AudioKit broke existing projects
- 📊 User data tracking added without clear benefit
- 🚫 Removed access to previously purchased presets/banks
- 😠 Lack of developer communication about changes

**Reported bugs**

- GarageBand compatibility broken after updates
- App not recognized in Logic Pro after updates
- Inconsistent sound quality across different registers
- Patch/preset settings not retained after closing DAW
- Audio Unit Extension crashes in GarageBand

**Requested features**

- Mac OS version for DAW compatibility
- Velocity sensitivity settings for keyboard
- Pitch bend and modulation wheels with actual functionality
- Better keyboard design with proper key sizing
- Improved UI layout to reduce wasted space in AUv3 mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is mood free?

mood costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave free?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, mood or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

mood is rated higher. mood averages 4.7 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave averages 4.0 from 132 ratings.

### Do mood or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave have ads?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave shows ads; mood does not.

### Which is updated more often, mood or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

mood ships an update every 3 weeks, and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. Most recently, mood was updated on October 14, 2026 and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave on October 7, 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.*