Comparison

S vs FW Radar

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

FW Radar

Features
Read full description

FW Radar keeps track of firmware for your studio gear, so you don't have to. It follows firmware releases for more than 1,700 hardware products, from synths and drum machines to eurorack modules, audio interfaces and effects. When something in your rig gets an update, you hear about it. Your rig Add the gear you own and see where each device stands: the latest firmware, the version you have installed, the full version history with changelogs, manuals and used prices from Reverb. Notifications Turn on notifications and you get a push as soon as a new firmware shows up for one of your devices. Tap it and you land on the product page. Telegram and email alerts are there too, if you prefer. Public rigs Look at the setups other electronic musicians share, and publish your own with photos if you like. The catalog More than 1,700 products from over 300 brands, checked around the clock. If your device is missing, request it from the app and it gets added. On iPhone, iPad and Mac. Free, no subscription. Sign in with Apple or Google. FW Radar does not host firmware files: every download link goes to the manufacturer's official page. This application uses the Reverb API but is not endorsed, created by or certified by Reverb.com, LLC.

Screenshots

S2 screens
FW Radar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: FW Radar at Free against S's $2.99. FW Radar also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

FW Radar is free to download; S costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

S ships an update every 7 months, FW Radar every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
S versus FW Radar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSFW Radar
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating2.6 (11 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews35.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPaul BetowskiVincenzo Risi

In-app purchases

None

S

No in-app purchases

None

FW Radar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is S free?
S costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FW Radar free?
FW Radar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do S or FW Radar have ads?
Neither S nor FW Radar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, S or FW Radar?
S ships an update every 7 months, and FW Radar every 3 weeks. Most recently, S was updated on November 13, 2026 and FW Radar on November 10, 2026.

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