Alien Box vs Solderbox
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Alien Box
This audio effect plugin creates a unique sound with increased sustain and gentle, LFO-modulated vibes. It functions as an AUv3 effect for hosts like GarageBand or as a standalone app for real-time audio input processing.
- Unique sound enrichment
- LFO modulated vibes
- Complex resonator system
- AUv3 plugin for hosts
- Standalone app mode
- Gain, Vibe, Depth, Reverb controls
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Alien Box is a completely new kind of audio effect that you have never heard before. It makes the sound big and slightly increases the sustain while adding gentle vibes to it. The vibes are LFO modulated and the effect is using very complex resonator system inside. It is modulation effect and you can compare it to flanger, phaser or chorus but it is not like any of them… The app is an Audio Unit Effect AUV3 and can be used inside GarageBand or other AU host apps as an effect plug-in. Alien Box can also run as a stand alone app adding effect to the audio input so you can play your guitar, bass or synth directly three the app if you have the connector to do so. Alien Box controls: - Gain - you can use it increase the gain and sustain - Vibe - main tone and background vibes balance - Depth - controls the modulations depth - Reverb - adds reverb to the background vibes
Solderbox
This app is a compact, semi-modular synthesizer designed for generative music creation. It offers a comprehensive set of modular functions, aiming for analog-like sound and behavior with unique digital effects and an 'Instability Engine' for organic fluctuations.
- Generative synthesis tools
- Analog-like sound emulation
- Instability Engine for organic fluctuations
- Audio Unit (AUv3) compatibility
- Built-in Pulsequencer melody generator
- Multiple filter modes
- Stackable patch cables
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Solderbox is a compact semimodular synthesizer, made in collaboration with Jakob Haq. It is heavily based on Jakob's own modular rack design (which features a lot of modules made by hand). The app is designed to offer a set of modular functions that is both comprehensive and eclectic, including several tools for generative synthesis, random signals and the surgical mangling of audio waves and modulation signals. A lot of effort went into making everything sound and behave as analog as digitally possible (with the exception of the unashamedly digital Entropy lo-fi effect processor). Additionally, the built-in Instability Engine injects the subtle fluctuations simulating the effects of crosstalk, leaky signals and expired electrical components. This is a living instrument with a soul of its own. - Full Audio Unit compatibility (AUv3 instrument, audio effect) - Universal design (iPhone, iPad, MacOS AUv3) - Built-in Pulsequencer (LFO-based generative melody generator with custom scales) - 4 mode Low-pass filter (6, 12, 18, 24 dB) - 3 voice polyphony - Drone mode - Stackable patch cables - DIY Lo-Fi digital delay circuit emulation - All synth settings exposed a AU Parameters (for automation and MIDI learning in your host of choice) Find the user manual on ruismaker.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Solderbox at 90% against Alien Box's 0%. Solderbox also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.3) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 38 months). Alien Box's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $12.99) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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
Alien Box costs $2.99 and Solderbox $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Solderbox holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solderbox has 27 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Alien Box's written reviews are positive against 90% of Solderbox's.
Alien Box ships an update every 38 months, Solderbox every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Alien Box | Solderbox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 1.3 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (27 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 90.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 27 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 38 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 13 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aleksandar Mlazev | Bram Bos |
Customer experience
Alien Box
Solderbox
In-app purchases
Alien Box
No in-app purchases
Solderbox
No in-app purchases









