# tardigrain vs Mononoke

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mononoke at every 6 days against tardigrain's every 2 months. Mononoke also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 76%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). tardigrain's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $8.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

tardigrain costs $5.99 and Mononoke $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Mononoke holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 98 and 103 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of tardigrain's written reviews are positive against 92% of Mononoke's.

tardigrain ships an update every 2 months, Mononoke every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | tardigrain | Mononoke |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$5.99** | $8.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (98 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tardigrain/id1344470087/reviews) | **[4.8 (103 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mononoke/id1492577124/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 98 | **103** |
| Positive reviews | 75.9% of reviews | **92.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#178** | #186 |
| Size | 60 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Erik Sigth](https://appshunter.io/developer/385275335) | [Bram Bos](https://appshunter.io/developer/325340444) |

## What reviewers say

### tardigrain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tardigrain/id1344470087)

**Currently charting:** #178 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mononoke

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mononoke/id1492577124)

**Currently charting:** #186 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This app is an unconventional synthesizer designed for creating evolving soundscapes and musical textures. It features feedback routing between voices and two independent engines, allowing for complex and expressive sonic manipulation. Performance pads enable live modulation and MPE/MIDI output for recording.

**Highlights:** Feedback routing between voices, Two independent synthesizer engines, 8 performance pads for live modulation, MPE and MIDI input/output (AUv3), Expressive soundscape composition, Scalable universal design

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Unique sound design
- 🎹 Incredible sound quality
- 🎶 Excellent MPE playability
- 🎨 Intuitive and great interface
- 💡 Innovative and unique instrument

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 No record function in standalone
- 🎛️ Lacks a dedicated volume knob
- 🎛️ Limited control voltage structures
- ⚠️ Requires an open mind, not traditional synth
- 🤔 Bit of a learning curve

**Reported bugs**

- Notes hang when pressing more than one on MIDI controller
- No aftertouch
- Crashes frequently
- Sound cuts off after a few minutes
- App not appearing as Inter-App or AUv3

**Requested features**

- More pads or a play surface page
- Add on top of current features
- More tone shaping controls
- Built-in delay with modulation
- Random button for pads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is tardigrain free?

tardigrain costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mononoke free?

Mononoke costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, tardigrain or Mononoke?

Mononoke is rated higher. tardigrain averages 4.6 out of 5 from 98 ratings, while Mononoke averages 4.8 from 103 ratings.

### Do tardigrain or Mononoke have ads?

Neither tardigrain nor Mononoke shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, tardigrain or Mononoke?

tardigrain ships an update every 2 months, and Mononoke every 6 days. Most recently, tardigrain was updated on October 24, 2026 and Mononoke on October 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, tardigrain or Mononoke?

tardigrain currently peaks at #178 in the App Store charts, and Mononoke at #186. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*