# FRMS vs GRM studio

The clearest difference is price: GRM studio at Free against FRMS's $8.99. GRM studio also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 16) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). FRMS's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (282 vs 1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

GRM studio is free to download; FRMS costs $8.99 up front. FRMS sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. GRM studio asks for nothing beyond the download.

FRMS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FRMS has 282 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of FRMS's written reviews are positive against 100% of GRM studio's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

FRMS ships an update every 2 months, GRM studio weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FRMS | GRM studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (282 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frms-granular-synthesizer/id1381392223/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grm-studio/id1448936613/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **282** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 84.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 268 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Imaginando Lda](https://appshunter.io/developer/895445015) | [Institut National de l'Audiovisuel](https://appshunter.io/developer/480730772) |

## What reviewers say

### FRMS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frms-granular-synthesizer/id1381392223)

This app offers a powerful and flexible layering system for creating unique audio experiences. It blends multiple synthesis types, allowing users to craft everything from ambient soundscapes to glitchy textures. Import your own sounds or use the curated library for endless sonic exploration.

**Highlights:** 4 Synthesis Engines per voice, FM Modes & Operator Stacking, Real-Time Granulation, Deep Modulation & Envelope Control, Advanced FX & Polyphony, MPE Compatibility

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fragmented Chants | $5.99 | one-time |
| Euphoria Preset Pack | $6.49 | one-time |
| Ghost Signals Preset Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Supremeja Music Preset Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Sounds Of Saxophone | $8.99 | one-time |
| Glitches From The Heart | $8.99 | one-time |
| Sounds Of Guitar Preset Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Antique Shop Preset Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Sounds Of Clarinet Preset Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Sounds Of Bassoon Preset Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Sounds Of Foley 1 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Scratching The Surface 1 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Sounds Of Saxophone 2 Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Aural Alchemy 2 - Collector Edition | $11.99 | one-time |
| The Book Of Genesis | $11.99 | one-time |
| Aural Alchemy | $11.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Fantastic sound design
- 👍 Intuitive and well-designed interface
- 🎶 Inspiring and creative sound possibilities
- 💻 Works great on iPad and desktop
- 🔑 Excellent preset packs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 CPU-intensive, can cause performance issues
- 🔇 Bluetooth connectivity problems
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and audio glitches in certain DAW environments
- Issues with sample playback and freezing

**Requested features**

- Ability to import larger sample files
- More granular control over modulation parameters
- Undo/redo functionality
- Improved MIDI integration and learn capabilities


### GRM studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grm-studio/id1448936613)

This music creation app offers advanced sound manipulation tools for musicians and sound designers. Explore and edit audio files through direct waveform manipulation and multiple playback processes.

**Highlights:** Real-time sound transformation simulation, Direct waveform exploration, Virtual editing and montage, Multiple playback processes, Granular synthesis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FRMS free?

FRMS costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is GRM studio free?

GRM studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FRMS or GRM studio?

FRMS is rated higher. FRMS averages 4.8 out of 5 from 282 ratings, while GRM studio averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do FRMS or GRM studio have ads?

Neither FRMS nor GRM studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FRMS or GRM studio?

FRMS ships an update every 2 months, and GRM studio weekly. Most recently, FRMS was updated on October 16, 2026 and GRM studio on October 2, 2026.

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