# AudioLayer vs ButterSynth

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ButterSynth at none against AudioLayer's 1. AudioLayer's advantage is price ($12.99 vs $19.99) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

AudioLayer costs $12.99 and ButterSynth $19.99 up front. AudioLayer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ButterSynth asks for nothing beyond the download.

AudioLayer holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 179 and 63 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of AudioLayer's written reviews are positive against 59% of ButterSynth's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AudioLayer ships an update fortnightly, ButterSynth every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AudioLayer | ButterSynth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$12.99** | $19.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (179 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiolayer/id1381478666/reviews)** | [4.0 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buttersynth/id1497419006/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **179** | 63 |
| Positive reviews | 56.3% of reviews | **59.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 242 MB | 468 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Harry Gohs](https://appshunter.io/developer/382428644) | [Arto Vaarala](https://appshunter.io/developer/890886114) |

## What reviewers say

### AudioLayer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiolayer/id1381478666)

This app is a powerful mobile multi-sampler for music production, offering advanced features for creating and manipulating complex instruments. It integrates seamlessly with iOS production environments and supports iCloud for easy collaboration and storage.

**Highlights:** Streaming Sample Engine (SSE), Hierarchical Layer and Zone editing, Seamless Instrument Switching (SIS), Integrated audio sample recorder, Auto Sampler for hardware synths, AUv3 AudioUnit integration, iCloud storage and collaboration

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SoundFont Import | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎹 Powerful multi-layer sampling capabilities
- 📥 EXS24 and SFZ file import support
- 🎯 Round-robin functionality for realistic instruments
- ⚡ Efficient performance on older devices
- 🎚️ Comprehensive effects rack with quality sound

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes across multiple iOS versions
- ⚠️ Stability issues in AUM and other hosts
- 🔌 High CPU/DSP usage causing performance spikes
- 🔋 Battery drain and device heating
- ❌ Missing undo function

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup (splash screen)
- Reverb and chorus effects cause sound to disappear
- Pitch resets to -24 after stopping Logic Pro playback
- Layer voice polyphony controls not working properly
- SFZ batch import distributes samples incorrectly across layers

**Requested features**

- Time-stretching/pitch-shifting capability
- Program Change MIDI support
- Undo/Redo functionality
- GigaSampler .gig library support
- Soundfont SF2 import (now paid feature)


### ButterSynth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buttersynth/id1497419006)

This powerful synthesizer app offers a hybrid approach, combining wavetable, FM, and sample-based synthesis. Create unique sounds with a vast sonic range, advanced modulation, and a built-in effects rack. It caters to both experienced sound designers and beginners with extensive presets.

**Highlights:** Hybrid 6-oscillator synthesis (wavetable, FM, sample), Built-in wavetable editor, FM engine with 4 operators, Sample and Granulator engines, 32-slot modulation matrix, Internal FX rack with 16 modules, Extensive preset library

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Deep sound design capabilities
- 🎛️ Versatile modulation matrix
- 🔊 Great sound quality
- 💡 Innovative wavetable generator
- 🌟 Serum-like experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📱 Fiddly on small screens
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Disappears in Cubasis
- 🐛 Spikes CPU usage
- 🐛 Crashes on patch change

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing with AUM
- Disappears in Cubasis randomly
- Crashes all the time inside Logic
- Changing a patch spikes CPU to 99%
- Crashes on every patch change

**Requested features**

- MPE popup possible on top of the auv3
- Button to hide built-in keyboard
- Buffer size option
- Additional MIDI mappings (e.g., arpeggiator toggle)
- Sustain pedal support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AudioLayer free?

AudioLayer costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is ButterSynth free?

ButterSynth costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AudioLayer or ButterSynth?

AudioLayer is rated higher. AudioLayer averages 4.4 out of 5 from 179 ratings, while ButterSynth averages 4.0 from 63 ratings.

### Do AudioLayer or ButterSynth have ads?

Neither AudioLayer nor ButterSynth shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AudioLayer or ButterSynth?

AudioLayer ships an update fortnightly, and ButterSynth every 2 months. Most recently, AudioLayer was updated on October 19, 2026 and ButterSynth on October 16, 2026.

---

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