Comparison

guitarscaper vs PO

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

Head to head
About

guitarscaper

This app generates evolving, ambient guitar soundscapes for relaxation, study, or background music. It also functions as a virtual instrument with performance tools and effects, offering two distinct musical moods.

Highlights
  • Generative ambient soundscapes
  • Virtual instrument with keypads
  • Performance loop recorders
  • Built-in reverb and delay effects
  • Auto-accompaniment and note hints
  • Two musical moods (light and sad)
  • Royalty-free use in recordings
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Guitarscaper is a generative music app and virtual instrument that’s easy on the ears and fun to play. Launch the app, and with a single tap of the auto-play button, guitarscaper will create evolving and ambient guitar-based soundscapes that are unique every time. While all of the guitarscaper sounds originated from a single electric guitar, many have been extensively processed to create an “impossible guitar” that can morph between orchestral-type swells and ethereal choir-like sounds. Think of it as guitar DNA taken to the next level! Guitarscaper in auto-play mode is the perfect companion for relaxing, studying or providing non-intrusive headphone music at work or on your commute. You can even set a timer so you can fall asleep to its gentle and soothing tones. You can also play guitarscaper as a virtual instrument using the dedicated keypads and performance loop recorders, and tailor the sounds with built-in reverb, delay and “character” effects parameters. And while you’re playing, guitarscaper can lend a hand by adding auto-accompaniment parts and even provides hints for notes it thinks might sound good depending on which notes you play! As a sample-based instrument, guitarscaper currently supports two “moods” – a light mood, based on the E major / pentatonic Yo scale, and a sad mood, based on the Em pentatonic scale. Please note that guitarscaper is not a chromatic or MIDI-compatible instrument, and it is unlikely to become one. You can also record and process the audio output of guitarscaper using any Inter-App Audio host that supports IAA Generators. You are free to use guitarscaper in your own recordings or live events and installations on a royalty-free basis. All I would ask for is a simple credit that includes the name of the app – “guitarscaper”. I hope you will agree the guitarscaper interface, while minimalist and a perhaps a little cryptic initially, will eventually become very easy to use. Please do take the time to read the quick-start guide which can be found on the website. This is also the best place to ask questions, get technical support or report any issues. Happy guitarscaping! *** Please note that this app is now in maintenance / bug fixes only mode as it relies on "deprecated" (by Apple) technology such as IAA. ***

About

PO

Design and edit drum sounds, kits, and patterns for Teenage Engineering's PO-32 Tonic. Transfer your creations to the device via audio. Back up and edit existing sounds, and import/export patches from Microtonic.

Highlights
  • Shape 16 sounds with 21 synth parameters
  • Program 16-step patterns with accents
  • Send kits, sounds, or patterns via audio
  • Back up and decode PO-32 data dumps
  • Import/export Microtonic patches
  • Local library with tags and favorites
Features
Read full description

PO-PatchStudio designs drum sounds, kits and patterns for Teenage Engineering's PO-32 Tonic, then sends them to your Pocket Operator over sound. Free, with no ads and no account. The PO-32 has no USB data connection. It loads new sounds the way an old modem does, by listening through its microphone. So this app does the fiddly part on a proper screen: build a kit, hold your phone next to the PO-32 and press play. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Shape all 16 sounds with the full set of 21 synth parameters, plus both ends of the morph - Program 16-step patterns on the pads, with accents, and hear them before you send - Send a whole kit, a single sound or a pattern to the PO-32 over audio - Back up your PO-32: record its data dump through the microphone and the app decodes it into a kit you can edit - Import Microtonic .mtdrum and .mtpreset patches, including files from older versions of Microtonic, and export your sounds back out - Keep kits, sounds and patterns in a local library with tags and favourites WORKS WITH - PO-32 Tonic - Also sends drum sounds to the PO-35 Speak's built-in Tonic channel HOW TRANSFER WORKS Put the PO-32 in receive mode (press acc + sound), turn your phone's volume up and play the transfer into the PO-32's mic. To back up, start recording in the app, then hold write and press sound on the PO-32. Previews come from an open-source recreation of the PO-32's synth, so they sound close to the hardware but not identical. Once a sound is on the PO-32, it plays through the device's own engine. A NOTE FROM ME I'm a solo developer and a PO-32 owner. PO-PatchStudio stands on the open-source libpo32 library by Eric Lewis and years of reverse-engineering by the Pocket Operator community, which is why it's free. If something is missing or broken, tell me. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Teenage Engineering AB or NuEdge Development AB. Pocket Operator, PO-32 and Tonic are trademarks of Teenage Engineering AB. Microtonic is a trademark of NuEdge Development AB.

Screenshots

guitarscaper1 screens
PO4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PO at Free against guitarscaper's $1.99. PO also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 43 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). guitarscaper's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (21 vs 1). On review sentiment, ads and device support 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

PO is free to download; guitarscaper costs $1.99 up front. PO sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. guitarscaper asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PO holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: guitarscaper has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

guitarscaper ships an update every 43 months, PO every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
guitarscaper versus PO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterguitarscaperPO
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (21 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings21 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 43 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#197 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size220 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRob JacksonPhoton Consulting Limited

Customer experience

guitarscaper

All ratings21 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PO

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

guitarscaper

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

PO

One-time3
  • Tip: Thanks$5.00
  • Tip: Big Thanks$10.00
  • Tip: Huge Thanks$20.00

Questions

Is guitarscaper free?
guitarscaper costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PO free?
PO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, guitarscaper or PO?
PO is rated higher. guitarscaper averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while PO averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do guitarscaper or PO have ads?
Neither guitarscaper nor PO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, guitarscaper or PO?
guitarscaper ships an update every 43 months, and PO every 2 days. Most recently, guitarscaper was updated on October 26, 2026 and PO on October 25, 2026.

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