Comparison

S vs Reel Recorder

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

S

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
Read full description

S-Modular is a semi-modular synthesiser for iPad, designed for fast, hands-on patching without clutter. Everything is presented on a single screen, making sound design immediate and intuitive. Simply drag from one jack to another to create connections. S-Modular delivers a distinctive vintage sound inspired by classic 1970s synthesis — warm, rich, and full of character. Features Dual oscillators 24 dB/oct ladder filter Resonant high-pass and low-pass filters Two LFOs Four-step CV sequencer Four-track mixer Audio and CV splitter Two AHR envelope generators Delay effect

About

Reel Recorder

Features
Read full description

Reel Recorder brings the tactile experience of a vintage tape recorder to your iPhone. SPIN THE REEL Drag the reel with your finger to scrub through recordings — forward and reverse. The audio plays at your finger's speed, just like real tape. RECORD & PLAY One-tap recording with real-time level metering. Play back with variable-speed FF/REW slider. DESIGNED LIKE HARDWARE Brushed aluminum body, OLED display, physical-style buttons with haptic feedback. Every detail crafted to feel like a real device. FREE & PRO The free version may show a small banner below the recorder after applicable advertising consent. Pro removes ads and adds unlimited recordings, FF/REW up to 8x speed, custom skip intervals, and 24-bit / 48kHz high-quality audio.

Screenshots

S2 screens
Reel Recorder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Reel Recorder at Free against S's $2.99. Reel Recorder also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). S's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown).

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Reel Recorder is free to download; S costs $2.99 up front. Reel Recorder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. S asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

S ships an update every 7 months, Reel Recorder every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
S versus Reel Recorder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSReel Recorder
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating2.6 (11 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews31.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPaul Betowskiseunghyun cho

In-app purchases

None

S

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Reel Recorder

One-time1
  • Reel Recorder Pro$2.99

Questions

Is S free?
S costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reel Recorder free?
Reel Recorder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do S or Reel Recorder have ads?
Reel Recorder shows ads; S does not.
Which is updated more often, S or Reel Recorder?
S ships an update every 7 months, and Reel Recorder every 2 weeks. Most recently, S was updated on October 24, 2026 and Reel Recorder on October 22, 2026.

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