# MIDIplay vs Ember

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ember at 100% against MIDIplay's 33%. Ember also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.3) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

MIDIplay costs $1.99 and Ember $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Ember holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of MIDIplay's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ember's.

MIDIplay ships an update every 2 months, Ember monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MIDIplay | Ember |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiplay/id1240938980/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-overdrive-distortion/id6788960282/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 5 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Carlotto](https://appshunter.io/developer/293347135) | [Joshua Rideout](https://appshunter.io/developer/1862462443) |

## What reviewers say

### MIDIplay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiplay/id1240938980)

This application allows users to play MIDI files with multiple tracks and channels, offering selective control. It features a built-in FM synth and a sound space surface controller, with sliders for tempo and pitch adjustment.

**Highlights:** MIDI file playback, Multi-track and channel control, Built-in FM synth, Sound space surface controller, Tempo and pitch sliders, Transposition +/- 6 semi-tones

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ember

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-overdrive-distortion/id6788960282)

This app offers a versatile guitar drive experience, combining overdrive, fuzz, and compression into a single unit. It provides three distinct sound profiles and extensive control over tone, bite, and bias for studio or stage use.

**Highlights:** Integrated overdrive, fuzz, and compression, Three distinct sound voices: Warm, Drive, Ravage, Adjustable drive, tone, bite, and bias controls, AUv3 support for hosts like GarageBand and Logic Pro, MIDI learn for hands-free control, Standalone app for practice and recording

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MIDIplay free?

MIDIplay costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ember free?

Ember costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MIDIplay or Ember?

Ember is rated higher. MIDIplay averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Ember averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do MIDIplay or Ember have ads?

Neither MIDIplay nor Ember shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MIDIplay or Ember?

MIDIplay ships an update every 2 months, and Ember monthly. Most recently, MIDIplay was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ember on October 24, 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.*