Comparison

tardigrain vs Fractal Bits

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

Head to head
About

tardigrain

Create unique sounds by breaking down samples into small fragments and playing them back non-linearly. Explore granular synthesis with adjustable grain size, direction, and step size. Enhance your audio with built-in effects, filters, and modulation options.

Highlights
  • Granular synthesis engine
  • Adjustable grain parameters
  • Built-in effects (reverb, wave shaper, crush)
  • Resonant filter
  • MIDI and MPE modulation
  • Sequencer/arpeggiator
  • LFO modulation
Features
Read full description

Tardigrain is a granular synthesiser for iOS that runs standalone or as an AU plugin. Sounds are created by taking smaller fragments of a sample and playing them back in a non linear fashion, with settings for grain size, direction, step size and more. Process the sound further through effects like reverb, wave shaper and sample crush. Tardigrain supports connections with AudioCopy, AudioBus, Inter App Audio and AUv3. Plus all audio parameters can be modulated by MIDI, as AU parameters and by aftertouch on the build in keyboard. Now also a selected set of parameters can be modulated by LFOs och notes triggered by a new sequencer/arpeggiator. +++ Record your own samples or import using AudioCopy/drag'n drop +++ Chromatic granualar playpack +++ Effects (Wave shaper, Reverb, Sample crusher, Pitch and stereo spread) +++ Resonant filter (low, band and high pass) +++ Keyboard and MPE modulation of any audio parameters +++ Note trigger sequencer/arpeggiator +++ 4 LFO sources for modulating a selected set of parameters +++ Multiple factory presets to get you started +++ Save and load your own settings and samples +++ Inter App Audio, AudioBus and AUv3 +++ Core MIDI, Inter App Audio MIDI and AUv3 MIDI

About

Fractal Bits

Generate an infinite variety of drum sounds using fractal algorithms. Save and share your unique sound sets via text codes. Perform live with multiple keyboard options and record your creations in real-time.

Highlights
  • Infinite unique drum sounds
  • Save/share sound sets via text codes
  • Multiple live drumming keyboards
  • MIDI control and mapping
  • Real-time WAV audio recording
  • Wi-Fi export/import
Features
Read full description

Fractal Bits is a drum synth with over four billion unique sounds created by fractal algorithms. Each set of 12 drums corresponds to a code of 8 characters (you can save/copy/paste it as plain text). Features: * Audio Unit Extension (AUv3), Audiobus; * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; * three types of keyboards for live drumming: on-screen buttons, PC keyboard, MIDI input; * several processing parameters + control via MIDI; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual drums - they will not change during the search for new sets; * Wi-Fi export/import. Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.

Screenshots

tardigrain4 screens
Fractal Bits2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Fractal Bits at 4.9 against tardigrain's 4.6. Fractal Bits also leads on price ($1.99 vs $5.99) and review sentiment (91% vs 76%). tardigrain's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

tardigrain costs $5.99 and Fractal Bits $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fractal Bits holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 99 and 82 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of tardigrain's written reviews are positive against 91% of Fractal Bits's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

tardigrain ships an update every 2 months, Fractal Bits every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
tardigrain versus Fractal Bits: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametertardigrainFractal Bits
Price$5.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.6 (99 ratings)4.9 (82 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.9% of reviews90.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings99 — better82
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErik SigthAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

tardigrain

All ratings96 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.3%
Written reviews87 reviews
Positive75.9%
Neutral9.2%
Negative14.9%

Fractal Bits

All ratings80 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral7.0%
Negative2.3%

In-app purchases

None

tardigrain

No in-app purchases

None

Fractal Bits

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is tardigrain free?
tardigrain costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Fractal Bits free?
Fractal Bits costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, tardigrain or Fractal Bits?
Fractal Bits is rated higher. tardigrain averages 4.6 out of 5 from 99 ratings, while Fractal Bits averages 4.9 from 82 ratings.
Do tardigrain or Fractal Bits have ads?
Neither tardigrain nor Fractal Bits shows ads.
Which is updated more often, tardigrain or Fractal Bits?
tardigrain ships an update every 2 months, and Fractal Bits every 5 months. Most recently, tardigrain was updated on November 11, 2026 and Fractal Bits on November 11, 2026.

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