Comparison

TriKey vs Xequence AU | Keys

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

Head to head
About

TriKey

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TriKey is a composer's keyboard Control other iPad synths or external MIDI hardware! Features: - 3 configurable Keyboards with the ability to control CC Messages by moving your fingers up / down - Global Key and Scales prevent you from ever playing a wrong note - Save and toggle Chords - Advanced CC Options for each keyboard - Save / Load your own presets - Individual MIDI Ports & Channels for each Keyboard

About

Xequence AU | Keys

This app functions as a versatile MIDI keyboard controller within AUv3 hosts, offering expressive playing modes and customizable controllers. It's designed for music production enthusiasts to enhance their workflow with a responsive and resource-efficient interface.

Highlights
  • Scale-aware single or dual keyboard
  • Adjustable key width and glide mode
  • Velocity emulation
  • Configurable MIDI CC touch ribbons
  • Special controller modes (MPE-like)
  • AU presets and state saving
Features
Read full description

IMPORTANT: This app is targeted at music production enthusiasts and requires an AUv3 Audio Unit Host to run! It does not do ANYTHING on its own! Xequence AU | Keys is a comprehensive and expressive keyboard controller for use inside AU (Audio Unit) hosts like AUM, Cubasis, apeMatrix, etc. It features the same, widely acclaimed keyboard that users of Xequence, our advanced MIDI workstation, have grown to love. HIGHLIGHTS: - Fully scale-aware, very playable single or dual keyboard - Extremely fast and light on resources - Over 70 scales in 10 categories included - Freely adjustable key width - "Glide" mode for triggering keys by sliding between them - Velocity emulation (via vertical position on key) - Automatically adapts to nearly any plugin window size or aspect ratio - Unlimited instances - Full support for AU presets (and state saving / restoration) in the host - Configurable keyboard color and MIDI channel CONTROLLERS: - Any number of MIDI CCs (controllers) can be freely configured and shown as touch ribbons next to the keyboard - A number of standard controller numbers (such as 74 = Cutoff, 7 = Volume etc.) are included and can be set with a single tap SPECIAL CONTROLLER MODES: The following special modes can be set per controller and give an "MPE-like" feel while being compatible with non-MPE synths: - DEVICE ROTATION - controller moves according to device rotation - GATE - controller can be set to a default position, and then tapped anywhere to toggle it to that position and back (think "Trance gates" when used with eg. CC 7 / Volume) - KEY POSITION - controller moves when touching a keyboard key, depending on vertical position - KEY SLIDE - controller moves along when one or more fingers are moved vertically while holding any number of keys - The above modes can also be combined - Note that this is NOT MPE - controllers are always sent for all notes at once, not per individual note! Please report any issues via our website, we provide quick and comprehensive support!

Screenshots

Xequence AU | Keys4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Xequence AU | Keys at $2.99 against TriKey's $9.99. Xequence AU | Keys also leads on device support (3 vs 1). TriKey's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.2). On ads and in-app purchases 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

TriKey costs $9.99 and Xequence AU | Keys $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TriKey ships an update every 2 months, Xequence AU | Keys every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
TriKey versus Xequence AU | Keys: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTriKeyXequence AU | Keys
Price$9.99$2.99 — better
Rating—4.9 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—83.3% of reviews
Number of ratings—19 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.2
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcos KohlerAlexander Ewering

In-app purchases

None

TriKey

No in-app purchases

None

Xequence AU | Keys

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TriKey free?
TriKey costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Xequence AU | Keys free?
Xequence AU | Keys costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do TriKey or Xequence AU | Keys have ads?
Neither TriKey nor Xequence AU | Keys shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TriKey or Xequence AU | Keys?
TriKey ships an update every 2 months, and Xequence AU | Keys every 8 months. Most recently, TriKey was updated on October 26, 2026 and Xequence AU | Keys on November 2, 2026.

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