Comparison

tardigrain vs SpaceFields

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

SpaceFields

Create evolving rhythmic soundscapes from any audio source. This app uses a loop-based system with dual loops, pitch shifting, and effects to generate ambient textures and rhythmic structures. Experiment with complex sound design using intuitive controls and randomization.

Highlights
  • Loop-based sound mangling
  • Dual loop recorder
  • Pitch shifting and effects
  • Convolution reverb with deep spaces
  • Rhythmic structure generation
  • Automation generators with randomization
  • Live and sample processing modes
Features
Read full description

Loop-based mangler effect to create slowly changing rhythmic sound structures in deep reverb space from any external sources or samples. Great for experimenting and designing ambient and noise backgrounds with rhythmic elements. The principle of the application is quite simple. It is based on a loop recorder with two loops. When one loop is recorded, the second is played back. When the loop recording stops, there is a smooth transition between them. Three separate outputs can playback the recorded loop with different pitches (speeds), each with its own effects and two automation generators. The mix of these outputs is fed to the convolution reverb. The reverb is packed with a set of long and deep sound spaces that create a blurry and ambient sound. But the main feature of this application is its well designed parameters that make it easy to experiment with a huge number of sound options using any source material from live instruments to synthesized sound. With just two parameters you can add complex rhythmic structures based on Euclidean rhythms, and easy-to-use automation generators with a randomize option to add variations to the sound, allowing you to modify parameters like an LFO or based on a given rhythm. The convolution reverb has advanced options with which you can change and extend the original reverb spaces. Even using the randomization options, in almost every case, you will get interesting and various soundscapes and textures. With these options it is very easy to create the basis for new unique presets. It only takes a little tweaking of some parameters to get impressive results. The loop recorder can be started and stopped manually or by input signal, can use fixed length or overwrite the loop while recording, and has the option for crossfade between the end and the beginning of the loop. All this makes it convenient for live use as well as when processing recorded material. As an extended option, you can use a special mode in which the application works as a direct effect, without the loop recorder. The special mode sampler is designed for quickly load samples and easy control of the application when used it live. This panel contains the input and output controls, essential controls of the loop recorder, and a large area with a recording counter, which is also used to start/stop the recorder. You can assign up to nine samples for fast loading into the loop, as well as save a recorded loop as a sample and to an external file. SpaceFields is a universal application for iOS and macOS. It can work on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac / MacBook with M1 chip (and later). SpaceFields works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, with supports Audiobus host app. On MacOS, SpaceFields can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. All application features are available on iOS and macOS, including MIDI support (with a MIDI learn option), audio unit parameters and importing samples from any directory on device. SpaceFields has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site. Demos and previews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL1Dis3u0AQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpkWkc5I0uE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74LyfDM2dQM You can find more information on SpaceFields and other creative audio apps at: https://motion-soundscape.blogspot.com

Screenshots

tardigrain4 screens
SpaceFields4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: tardigrain at $5.99 against SpaceFields's $10.99. tardigrain also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.4). SpaceFields's advantage is review sentiment (90% vs 76%). On rating, 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

tardigrain costs $5.99 and SpaceFields $10.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for tardigrain against 4.7 for SpaceFields. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 96 and 47 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of tardigrain's written reviews are positive against 90% of SpaceFields's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
tardigrain versus SpaceFields: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametertardigrainSpaceFields
Price$5.99 — better$10.99
Rating4.6 (96 ratings)4.7 (47 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.9% of reviews90.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings96 — better47
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.4
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB132 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErik SigthIgor Vasiliev

Customer experience

tardigrain

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

SpaceFields

All ratings47 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.1%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive90.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.5%

In-app purchases

None

tardigrain

No in-app purchases

None

SpaceFields

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is tardigrain free?
tardigrain costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SpaceFields free?
SpaceFields costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, tardigrain or SpaceFields?
SpaceFields is rated higher. tardigrain averages 4.6 out of 5 from 96 ratings, while SpaceFields averages 4.7 from 47 ratings.
Do tardigrain or SpaceFields have ads?
Neither tardigrain nor SpaceFields shows ads.
Which is updated more often, tardigrain or SpaceFields?
tardigrain ships an update every 2 months, and SpaceFields every 2 months. Most recently, tardigrain was updated on October 11, 2026 and SpaceFields on October 9, 2026.

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