Comparison

AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer vs MixSurface

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

Head to head
About

AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer

This is a free, open-source professional synthesizer app for iOS devices. It offers over 300 presets, MIDI support, a sequencer, and vintage-inspired filters. Learn music production basics and create your own sounds.

Highlights
  • Over 300+ Presets
  • MIDI Support
  • Vintage-Style Sequencer
  • Analog Filters
  • Expressive Arpeggiators
  • Open-Source
Features
Read full description

“A big step forward for mobile music” - CDM (Create Digital Music) "Groundbreaking iOS synth app" - Cult of Mac "Must-download for every iPad owner" - MacBreak *** "2018 App of the Year, Runner up" – Stuff.tv *** *** “Best iOS Music Apps of 2018” – Cult of Mac *** *** “Best of 2018: iOS Apps for Musicians” – Ask.Audio *** "AudioKit Synth One is a free feature-packed synth for your iPad, including 300+ presets created by professional sound designers behind M83, Tycho, and Rihanna" - Engadget *** “Best Music Apps of 2018” – Music Radar *** LEARN OUR INCREDIBLE STORY: Audiokitpro.com/synth *** Optimized for newer iPads & iPhones for best performance. Note: Requires iPhone 6 or higher screen size. App will not work on older iPhone 5/SE/Touch devices "A Stunning Endeavor... Sounds Amazing!" - Francis Preve, Electronic Musician Magazine “Amazing & Brilliant… Sounds fantastic!” – The Sound Test Room "A great example of human endeavor" - Gaz Williams, Sonic State "Sounds amazing... the start of something huge." - Ask.Audio AudioKit Synth One is the first completely free & open-source professional iOS Synthesizer app in history. No Ads. No IAP. It will always be free. "Powerful... Awesome" - Synthtopia.com "An amazing synth app for your iPad that’s as close to sorcery as it gets" - GarageBand Guide "Must Have iOS Synthesizer" - Synth Anatomy "Synth One is a robust piece of free software" - The Verge "It WOWS you... immediately fun to start tweaking!" - discchord "A damn fine synth" - Computer Music Magazine "Open-source and seriously powerful" - Future Music Magazine "A labour of love that everyone can enjoy" - Music Radar "Extremely exciting passion project" - Music Tech Magazine "Make your own imposing synthesizer sounds and teach yourself the basics of music production" - Lifehacker Learn more: audiokitpro.com/synth Created by over 100+ volunteers around the world (including sound designers for M83, Rihanna, Kanye West, Neon Trees, Mike Posner, Tycho, and more), this app includes MIDI support (play it with a MIDI keyboard or controller), sequencer, vintage-inspired analog filters, expressive arpeggiators, warm analog delays, and, over 300+ presets to get you started! Email us your music & bugs: hello@audiokitpro.com SYNTH ONE FEATURES: This synthesizer is completely free, fully functional, and ad-free. There are no IAP or anything to buy -- It’s the ultimate free iPad music instrument app! • Hybrid Analog/FM Poly Synthesizer • Over 300+ Presets crafted by famous sound designers • Audiobus 3 & Inter-app Audio (IAA) • Ableton Link • Five Oscillators (2 DCO, FM, Sub, Noise) • 2 LFOs with over a dozen routing possibilities • Vintage-Style 16-Step Sequencer • Classic poly arpeggiator • MIDI in (Control with a MIDI Keyboard or AudioBus/IAA) • Touchable ADSR Envelopes for Amp & Filter • FM Oscillator w/ Mod • Mono glide and legato • Dedicated Sine/Square -12/24 Sub Osc • 4-Pole Vintage Low-Pass Filter • High-Pass/Band Pass Filters • Beautiful Costello Reverb • Multi-tap (ping-pong) delay • TouchPads • Preset & Bank Import/Export & More… BONUS: Full Source code is now available! AudiokitPro.com/Synth Plus, it’s completely open-source. Use the code to learn how to build your own synth app or modify the app yourself! OFFICIAL VIDEO: https://youtu.be/hwDNgCYowYs "Amazing noises that will make your ears squee with glee" - Stuff Magazine "Pick of the Week" - MacBreak On the roadmap: • MPE Support (Play w/ a Roli Seaboard) • AUv3 Plug-in support

About

MixSurface

Features
Read full description

MixSurface is a wireless control surface for the REAPER digital audio workstation. Set it up once and mix, tweak, and perform from your iPhone or iPad. REQUIRES REAPER running on your Mac or PC on the same local network, plus a small free extension. MixSurface is a remote controller, not a copy of REAPER. No REAPER handy? Tap Try Demo on the connect screen and explore the app with a simulated session, no setup required. * FADERS THAT FEEL GREAT Faders, pan, mute, solo and metering, with touch response tuned for real mixing: fast, precise and smooth under your fingers. Bank across every track, or group them into custom layers you switch in a tap. * SENDS ON FADER, INCLUDED FREE Flip the whole mixer into send mode and ride one destination across every channel, the classic console monitor-mix workflow. Pin the buses you reach for most so they are always one tap away. * BUILT-IN EQ ADAPTERS A multi-touch parametric EQ, pre-mapped to popular EQ plugins. Drag bands on the curve, pinch to set Q, and read live values straight from REAPER, with no per-plugin setup. * CUSTOM TEMPLATES Control any plugin with knobs and faders that read and write in real time, including gain-reduction metering for compressors that report it. Use the built-in templates, or map your own in seconds with listen mode: touch a control in REAPER and it binds. * GLOBAL CONTROL SURFACES Build your own pages from plugin controls, transport and one-tap REAPER actions, then make them global so they follow you into every project. * AUTOMATION AND TRACK SETUP Read and write automation from the surface, with each fader showing the automation value rather than just the trim. Name tracks, set colours, choose record inputs and set monitoring without going back to the computer. * KEEP THE VIEWS IN STEP Show only the tracks REAPER is showing, or drive REAPER's mixer from a layer you tap. Run several phones and tablets on one session and they all stay in sync. * FREE, PLUS ONE PURCHASE The mixer, track layers and Sends on Fader are free, forever. One purchase, no subscription, unlocks Channel Details, the multi-touch EQ, plugin control, custom templates and the global Control View. Family Sharing supported. Built for people who run REAPER and want a control surface that just works. Requires REAPER 7 or later on macOS or Windows, the free MixSurface extension, and a shared local network (Wi-Fi or wired). MixSurface connects over your local network only, with no account and no cloud. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Cockos Incorporated. "REAPER" is a trademark of Cockos Incorporated.

Screenshots

AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer4 screens
MixSurface4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer at none against MixSurface's 1. AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). MixSurface's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). On price, 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

Both are free to download. MixSurface sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer ships an update monthly, MixSurface every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer versus MixSurface: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudioKit Synth One SynthesizerMixSurface
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (27K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews94.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings27K — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudioKit ProSoulful Music

Bugs and requests

AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Keyboard issues on iPhone
  • Crashes with Audiobus 3
  • Mod wheel issues

Requested features

12 requests
  • Add AU support
  • Add just intonation feature
  • Add dotted-8th-note delay option
  • Add more sound packs
  • Add drum machine/sequencing capabilities
Show 7 more
  • Add more complex waveforms
  • Add multi-filter support
  • Add more than 2 oscillators
  • Add ability to record MIDI tracks
  • Add support for Bluetooth MIDI controllers
  • Add dark mode option
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard

MixSurface

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MixSurface

One-time1
  • Unlock REAPER Features$29.99

Questions

Is AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer free?
AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MixSurface free?
MixSurface is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer or MixSurface have ads?
Neither AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer nor MixSurface shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer or MixSurface?
AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer ships an update monthly, and MixSurface every 6 days. Most recently, AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer was updated on November 10, 2026 and MixSurface on November 9, 2026.

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