Comparison

STAELLA vs Synth Modes

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

Head to head
About

STAELLA

Create dynamic, real-time music visualizations with customizable effects. Import audio from various sources, record your creations, and share them on social media. Offers advanced control with MIDI integration and keyboard shortcuts.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio-reactive visuals
  • Customizable effects and colors
  • Import music from playlists, mic, or simulation
  • One-touch video recording
  • MIDI device integration
  • Keyboard shortcuts for control
  • Gesture controls
Features
Read full description

Real-time music visualization. 30 Visuals × 78 Shapes — every play, a different piece. ■ Design the visuals from a free combination 4 categories with 30 Visuals and 78 Shapes, Knobs, Text, backgrounds, 10 Screen Effects and 10 Wallpaper Blends. Layer them into anything from a club-style spectrum to an ambient nebula. Visuals and Shapes switch on the beat of the song. On HDR displays, glows and gradients render with brightness beyond SDR. ■ Preset sharing Save the look you made as a preset and share it with a code or a link. ■ Two recording modes for different intents Recording keeps every knob move and Visual switch you make. Export locks the UI so a stable, hands-off render finishes on its own. Before exporting, you can also edit the show along the flow of the song, like in a video editor. Both hide the UI, support up to 4K with HDR export, and can auto-record a full song in Playlist mode. ■ Four audio sources Files (music on device; iOS also imports from the iTunes library) Microphone (low-latency input) Simulation (visuals keep moving with no source) AUv3 (visualize plugin audio) ▸ Time-synced lyrics Songs available in a supported lyric database can display lyrics in time with the music. Song title and artist name too. You can also show lyrics you typed yourself. ▸ External display output (AirPlay / HDMI adapters) Connect a TV or projector via iOS Screen Mirroring (AirPlay) or an HDMI adapter. The visuals go full screen while the UI stays on your device. ■ Play with whatever's in your hand Touch and flick iPad + Magic Keyboard shortcuts MIDI controllers (long-press any knob to assign, BLE MIDI supported) Gamepad (D-pad, buttons, sticks) ■ Where to use it · VJ sets at clubs, live shows and streams · Music videos and lyric videos for social · Screen visuals for a room or a party ■ Notes · DRM-protected tracks (e.g. Apple Music) can't be played. · For issues or requests, reach out via in-app feedback or support. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Synth Modes

Quickly access cheat sheets for your eurorack synthesizer modules. Search by text or mode type, favorite pages, and generate patch ideas with the built-in generator. Replaces binders of printed PDFs with a faster, easier-to-use digital reference.

Highlights
  • Cheat sheets for 45+ eurorack modules
  • Search by text or mode type
  • Favorite pages for quick access
  • Patch generator for module ideas
  • Supports multiple firmware versions
  • Replaces printed PDF binders
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Cheat sheets for your eurorack synthesizer modules, supporting 45 modules: Endorphin.es: Cockpit2 Godspeed Golden Master Milky Way Running Order Squawk Dirty Total Recall Two of Cups Expert Sleepers: - Disting mk4 - Disting mk3 Instruo - Arbhar Intellijel - Shapeshifter Make Noise: - Morphagene - Tempi Mannequins: - Just Friends - W/ Moog Audio: - Mother 32 Mutable Instruments: - Braids (stock and Renaissance firmware) - Clouds (stock and Parasites firmware) - Frames (stock and Parasites) - Marbles - Peaks (stock and Dead Man's Catch) - Plaits - Rings - Stages - Streams - Warps (stock and Parasites) Ornament & Crime: - Stock firmware - Hemisphere Suite Erica Synths: - Blackhole DSP 2 - Pico DSP - Pico Logic - Pico Seq - Pico Voice TipTop Audio: - ECHOZ - ONE - TG ONE - Z5000 - ZVERB XAOC Devices: - Batumi Search by text or mode type to quickly get the most out of your module. Favorite pages for quicker reference. NEW in 2.0 - Patch Generator! SynthModes can generate patch ideas by picking modes for each of your modules. Tap the "Generate Patch" button at the bottom of the mode list. Pull to refresh Patch Generator. Get rid of your binder of printed PDFs, SynthModes is faster and easier to use. Modes for iOS is not officially endorsed or supported by any modular manufacturer.

Screenshots

STAELLA4 screens
Synth Modes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: STAELLA at Free against Synth Modes's $3.99. STAELLA also leads on ratings volume (1.7K vs 52). Synth Modes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, update cadence 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

STAELLA is free to download; Synth Modes costs $3.99 up front. STAELLA sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Synth Modes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for STAELLA against 4.0 for Synth Modes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STAELLA has 1.7K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 45% of STAELLA's written reviews are positive against 64% of Synth Modes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

STAELLA ships an update every 2 months, Synth Modes every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
STAELLA versus Synth Modes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSTAELLASynth Modes
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating3.9 (1.7K ratings)4.0 (52 ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.8% of reviews63.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better52
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#187 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size256 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DevelopermonocroThomas Burns

Customer experience

STAELLA

All ratings1,689 ratings
Positive71.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative22.4%
Written reviews607 reviews
Positive44.8%
Neutral14.5%
Negative40.7%

Synth Modes

All ratings52 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive63.8%
Neutral20.7%
Negative15.5%

Bugs and requests

STAELLA

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Music playback issues and controls not working
  • Inability to import user's own music files
  • Exported videos have poor quality and audio sync issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for streaming services
  • Improve export and download options
  • Expand customization and control over visuals
  • Implement portrait mode and different aspect ratios
  • Add ability to layer and blend multiple visuals

Synth Modes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

STAELLA

Subscriptions2
  • STAELLA Premium3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • STAELLA Premium$49.991 Year
One-time5
  • Toolkit pro$9.99
  • STELLA$9.99
  • TERRA$9.99
Show 2 more
  • MACHINA$9.99
  • NEX$9.99
None

Synth Modes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is STAELLA free?
STAELLA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Synth Modes free?
Synth Modes costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, STAELLA or Synth Modes?
Synth Modes is rated higher. STAELLA averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Synth Modes averages 4.0 from 52 ratings.
Do STAELLA or Synth Modes have ads?
STAELLA shows ads; Synth Modes does not.
Which is updated more often, STAELLA or Synth Modes?
STAELLA ships an update every 2 months, and Synth Modes every 4 weeks. Most recently, STAELLA was updated on October 24, 2026 and Synth Modes on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons