# S vs Branches

The clearest difference is rating: Branches at 3.9 against S's 2.6. Branches also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 7 months) and review sentiment (44% vs 31%). S's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

S costs $2.99 and Branches $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Branches holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of S's written reviews are positive against 44% of Branches's.

S ships an update every 7 months, Branches every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | S | Branches |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [2.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s-modular/id1291071549/reviews) | **[3.9 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/branches-semi-modular-synth/id1520212093/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **44.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 7 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Paul Betowski](https://appshunter.io/developer/538476580) | [Willow & Oak AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/314685948) |

## What reviewers say

### S

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s-modular/id1291071549)

This semi-modular synthesizer app for iPad offers a hands-on sound design experience with a single-screen interface for intuitive patching. It delivers a warm, vintage sound inspired by 1970s synthesizers, featuring dual oscillators, resonant filters, and multiple modulation sources.

**Highlights:** Single-screen interface, Fast, hands-on patching, Vintage 1970s synth sound, Dual oscillators, Resonant ladder filter, Multiple modulation sources

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Branches

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/branches-semi-modular-synth/id1520212093)

This semi-modular synthesizer offers a "west coast" style of sound design, inspired by classic synthesizers. It functions as a standalone app with MIDI input or as an AUv3 plugin within a DAW, allowing for complex sound creation and experimentation.

**Highlights:** Semi-modular synthesis engine, Standalone app and AUv3 plugin support, West coast style sound processing, Duophonic synthesis with dual MIDI channels, Generative melody capabilities, Waveform fading and wave folding

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is S free?

S costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Branches free?

Branches costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, S or Branches?

Branches is rated higher. S averages 2.6 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Branches averages 3.9 from 12 ratings.

### Do S or Branches have ads?

Neither S nor Branches shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, S or Branches?

S ships an update every 7 months, and Branches every 6 days. Most recently, S was updated on September 19, 2026 and Branches on June 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.*