Comparison

GridInstrument vs Midi Poly Grid

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

Midi Poly Grid

This app functions solely as a MIDI controller, requiring a host application or DAW to produce sound. It offers intuitive pad controls for melodies and finger drumming, with advanced modulation options like MPE and polyphonic aftertouch. Connect virtually or via USB/Bluetooth to other devices and DAWs.

Highlights
  • Size-adjustable grid of pads
  • MPE and polyphonic aftertouch modulation
  • Custom grid creation
  • Virtual MIDI connection
  • Preset saving
  • Multiple layouts and colors
Read full description

# Midi Poly Grid This App is Open Source. Access the code here: https://github.com/anzbert/beat_pads ## Important Disclaimer This App is **ONLY** usable as a Midi Controller. It does **NOT** produce any sound on its own and requires a host application or a second device with a DAW or other sound production app. ## Information Midi Poly Grid is a lightweight Midi Controller app for mobile phones and tablets for melodies and finger drumming at home and on the go. Connections can be made virtually to other apps via platform midi channels, or via USB or Bluetooth Midi to other devices. This app aims to be an easy-to-use pad input device featuring a variety of layouts, intuitive playability and modern modulation options, such as MPE and Polyphonic Aftertouch. It was designed for people that prefer pads to pianos! The focus of this app is not to be a jack-of-all-trades Midi swiss army knife, but instead to be a great at one thing: Intuitive and versatile pad controls. ## Features - A size-adjustable grid of pads for finger drumming and melody input - Various layouts and colors, inspired by the Ableton Push - Presets can be saved with different pad setups - Innovative MPE and polyphonic Aftertouch modulation with graphical feedback - Push Style MPE pitchbend and slide - Send Velocity by Y position on pad, randomly or with a fixed value - Usable as a standard MIDI device with any PC, Mac or other USB or Bluetooth device - Optional controls, such as Pitch Bend, Mod Wheel and Sustain - Highligh a large number of musical scales - Receives Midi Notes, making the pads usable like a Launchpad - Custom grid creation based on the note intervals on the X and Y Axis to create Grids inspired by the Harmonic Table, Wicki Hayden, MidiMech and others - Supports virtual Midi connection to other apps on your device - Built-In support for the popular finger drumming courses from XpressPads.com - And more... ## Feedback and Contributions Anyone is most welcome to contribute, report an issue or start a discussion in the Github repository. Thanks! ## Licence Licenced under GPL3. The code in this project is freely usable in any other open source project. Enjoy! ## iOS Specific Information Can be used with any Mac via USB, Bluetooth Midi or WiFi. Usage with PC is limited to WiFi with free third-party software (rtpMidi), and USB with third-party USB midi connectors, due to Apple's limited implementation of USB Midi on iOS. AUv3 is unfortunately not supported at this time, as it is currently impossible with Flutter. More info about that here: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues/16092

Screenshots

GridInstrument2 screens
Midi Poly Grid4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Midi Poly Grid at 5.0 against GridInstrument's 4.5. Midi Poly Grid also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 83%). GridInstrument's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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 Midi Poly Grid $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Midi Poly Grid holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of GridInstrument's written reviews are positive against 100% of Midi Poly Grid's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GridInstrument ships an update weekly, Midi Poly Grid every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
GridInstrument versus Midi Poly Grid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGridInstrumentMidi Poly Grid
Price$3.99$3.99
Rating4.5 (11 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11 — better8
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDecidedly, LLCAndreas Mueller

Customer experience

GridInstrument

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

Midi Poly Grid

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

GridInstrument

No in-app purchases

None

Midi Poly Grid

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GridInstrument free?
GridInstrument costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Midi Poly Grid free?
Midi Poly Grid costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GridInstrument or Midi Poly Grid?
Midi Poly Grid is rated higher. GridInstrument averages 4.5 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Midi Poly Grid averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do GridInstrument or Midi Poly Grid have ads?
Neither GridInstrument nor Midi Poly Grid shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GridInstrument or Midi Poly Grid?
GridInstrument ships an update weekly, and Midi Poly Grid every 11 days. Most recently, GridInstrument was updated on September 11, 2026 and Midi Poly Grid on September 27, 2026.

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