# Mellowsound vs VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

The clearest difference is monetization model: Mellowsound at free with in-app purchases against VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's subscription. Mellowsound also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.3 vs 4.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mellowsound sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mellowsound holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 237 and 135 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Mellowsound's written reviews are positive against 52% of VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's.

Mellowsound ships an update every 4 weeks, VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mellowsound | VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (237 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mellowsound-vintage-sampler/id1313209081/reviews)** | [4.0 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **237** | 135 |
| Positive reviews | **60.5% of reviews** | 51.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 899 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.5** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) |

## What reviewers say

### Mellowsound

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mellowsound-vintage-sampler/id1313209081)

Experience the iconic sounds of a 1960s keyboard sampler with this app. It offers professional audio quality, allowing you to play vintage orchestra sounds on your device. Customize your sound with various effects and recording options.

**Highlights:** Authentic Mellotron emulation, Professional 16-bit/44.1Khz audio, Photo-realistic user interface, Blend mode for two instruments, MIDI and Audio Unit support, In-app purchases for more instruments and FX

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chamberlin Instruments Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Full Version | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎹 Authentic Mellotron sounds
- 🔊 Great sound quality
- 🎨 Nice visual design
- 💸 Good value for money
- 🔌 Integrates well with other apps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Limited free version
- 🔒 Paywall for full functionality
- 🎹 Keyboard range limited to 3 octaves
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Incompatibility with some iOS versions and devices
- Issues with Inter-App Audio and AUv3 functionality
- Keyboard not responsive or disappearing

**Requested features**

- Ability to blend/layer multiple instruments
- Expanded sound library with more Mellotron presets
- Sustain pedal support
- MIDI channel selection
- Improved performance in DAWs


### VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667)

This app creates unique synth sounds by recording classic synths to VHS tape and then resampling them. It offers a vast library of presets and effects to achieve lo-fi, retro vibes for various music genres. An AUv3 plugin and standalone app are included.

**Highlights:** VHS-recorded and resampled synths, Over 280+ presets, Standalone app and AUv3 plugin, VCR sound effects, VCR FX section for customization, Free expansion pack included

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Excellent lo-fi and retro 80s sound quality
- 🎹 Extensive library of high-quality presets
- 💰 Affordable pricing (at original purchase)
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface design
- 🔊 Versatile sounds for multiple genres

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Aggressive subscription model for previously purchased app
- 🔄 Conversion from AudioKit broke existing projects
- 📊 User data tracking added without clear benefit
- 🚫 Removed access to previously purchased presets/banks
- 😠 Lack of developer communication about changes

**Reported bugs**

- GarageBand compatibility broken after updates
- App not recognized in Logic Pro after updates
- Inconsistent sound quality across different registers
- Patch/preset settings not retained after closing DAW
- Audio Unit Extension crashes in GarageBand

**Requested features**

- Mac OS version for DAW compatibility
- Velocity sensitivity settings for keyboard
- Pitch bend and modulation wheels with actual functionality
- Better keyboard design with proper key sizing
- Improved UI layout to reduce wasted space in AUv3 mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mellowsound free?

Mellowsound is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave free?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mellowsound or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

Mellowsound is rated higher. Mellowsound averages 4.3 out of 5 from 237 ratings, while VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave averages 4.0 from 135 ratings.

### Do Mellowsound or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave have ads?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave shows ads; Mellowsound does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mellowsound or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

Mellowsound ships an update every 4 weeks, and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. Most recently, Mellowsound was updated on November 4, 2026 and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave on November 3, 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.*