Comparison

GridInstrument vs mLFO

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

Head to head
About

GridInstrument

This app transforms your iOS device into a unique musical instrument with a grid-based interface. Explore over 20 musical modes and various grid layouts. It also supports external MIDI controllers like the Launchpad for expanded creative possibilities.

Highlights
  • Grid-based note arrangement
  • Launchpad integration
  • Over 20 musical modes
  • Multiple grid layouts
  • Core MIDI out
  • Audiobus 3 MIDI support
Features
Read full description

GridInstrument lets you play your iOS device like a musical instrument. Instead of a piano keyboard, notes are arranged on a grid. It also lets you hook up your Launchpad device (using the Apple Camera Connection Kit) and play that as well! Features: - Launchpad integration (connect your Launchpad Mini in low-power mode without a hub or any other Launchpad with a powered hub) - Change octaves - Change keys - Change from over 20 musical modes ("Major, Minor, Dorian, Mixolydian, etc.") - Choose between three grid layouts ("Diatonic", "Chromatic/4ths String Layout", "Drum rack"), as well as row note offset/overlap setting - Core MIDI out so that you use GridInstrument to control your other instruments - Audiobus 3 MIDI support - MIDI note input so that you can see notes triggered by other devices on your grid Want to see some other feature implemented? Contact us at the Decidedly website.

About

mLFO

This app provides 16 programmable MIDI LFOs with extensive features for music production. It offers multiple parameters per LFO, independent output, and a wide rate range. It can be used as a standalone app or as an AUv3 plugin within compatible host applications.

Highlights
  • 16 programmable MIDI LFOs
  • Multiple parameters per LFO
  • Independent output and MIDI channel
  • Wide rate range
  • Custom shape creation (free and ADSR)
  • 4 trigger modes including random retrigger
Features
Read full description

*** Note *** Although mLFO can run as a stand-alone app, the recommended way to use it is as an AUv3 plugin from inside a suitable AU Host app, such as AUM, AudioBus, Cubasis etc. mLFO AUv3 is a set of 16 programmable MIDI LFOs with a extensive set of features: - Multiple parameters per LFO, including variability. - Independent output and MIDI channel per LFO. - Wide rate range, from 1/128 to 130442 beats. - 9 factory and 16 user shapes. - Custom shapes: free and ADSR. - 4 trigger modes, including random retrigger (every incoming note triggers a random LFO). - MIDI Thru. mLFO uses parts of the following copyrighted material, the use of which is hereby acknowledged. LICENCES AudioKit The MIT License (MIT) Copyright (c) 2016 Aurelius Prochazka Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Screenshots

GridInstrument2 screens
mLFO4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GridInstrument at weekly against mLFO's every 2 months. GridInstrument also leads on price ($3.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

GridInstrument costs $3.99 and mLFO $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for GridInstrument against 4.5 for mLFO. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 19 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of GridInstrument's written reviews are positive against 80% of mLFO's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GridInstrument ships an update weekly, mLFO every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
GridInstrument versus mLFO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGridInstrumentmLFO
Price$3.99 — better$5.99
Rating4.5 (11 ratings)4.5 (19 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better80.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1119 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDecidedly, LLCAxart Labs OU

Customer experience

GridInstrument

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral12.5%
Negative4.2%

mLFO

All ratings19 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral10.5%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%

In-app purchases

None

GridInstrument

No in-app purchases

None

mLFO

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GridInstrument free?
GridInstrument costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is mLFO free?
mLFO costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GridInstrument or mLFO?
GridInstrument and mLFO are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 11 and 19 ratings respectively.
Do GridInstrument or mLFO have ads?
Neither GridInstrument nor mLFO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GridInstrument or mLFO?
GridInstrument ships an update weekly, and mLFO every 2 months. Most recently, GridInstrument was updated on October 17, 2026 and mLFO on October 11, 2026.

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