# RE vs VAPolyFM

RE and VAPolyFM both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 66% of RE's written reviews are positive against 17% of VAPolyFM's. RE also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 17 months) and ratings volume (132 vs 6). VAPolyFM's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $4.99). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

RE costs $4.99 and VAPolyFM $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

RE holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RE has 132 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of RE's written reviews are positive against 17% of VAPolyFM's.

RE ships an update every 3 months, VAPolyFM every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RE | VAPolyFM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$3.99** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/re-1-tape-machine/id1407764053/reviews)** | [4.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vapolyfm/id6737108540/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **132** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **65.8% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 17 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 107 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kai Aras](https://appshunter.io/developer/370820899) | [Ryo Togawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474193056) |

## What reviewers say

### RE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/re-1-tape-machine/id1407764053)

This app is a versatile virtual tape machine offering authentic tape echo and chorus effects. It also functions as a sampler, looper, and overdubbing tool, allowing for creative audio manipulation and real-time performance.

**Highlights:** Virtual tape deck with 3 read heads, Authentic tape echo emulation, Tape loop mode with overdubbing, Sample/loop library, Real-time parameter visualization, Wow, Flutter, Color, Hiss & Saturation controls

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Amazing sound quality
- 🎶 Excellent tape echo emulation
- 🎛️ Highly tweakable parameters
- 💡 Innovative features like tape manipulation
- 👍 Great for dub and lo-fi music

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crackling and pops on UI interaction
- 🐛 UI can be heavy on CPU
- 🐛 Inconsistent UI scaling on different devices
- 🐛 Some controls are too small or hard to press
- 🐛 Wave files not working in standalone app

**Reported bugs**

- Crackling noises when adjusting UI
- UI not fitting screen on smaller devices (iPhone, iPod)
- App crashes when loading samples
- Controls not visible or usable on right side of app
- Wave files not working in standalone app

**Requested features**

- Ability to import or record own samples
- Add glitch to beginning or end of loops
- Make the app more lightweight (less CPU intensive)
- Add dark mode option
- Improve documentation


### VAPolyFM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vapolyfm/id6737108540)

Create music with a versatile hybrid synthesizer offering both FM and virtual analog subtractive synthesis. Explore a wide range of effects, a built-in sequencer, and extensive MIDI support. Save and share projects seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

**Highlights:** FM synthesizer with 6 operators, Virtual analog subtractive synthesizer, Built-in effects (delay, chorus, reverb), Sequencer with piano roll editor, AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) support, Ableton Link and MIDI 2.0 support, iCloud Drive project sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RE free?

RE costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VAPolyFM free?

VAPolyFM costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, RE or VAPolyFM?

RE is rated higher. RE averages 4.7 out of 5 from 132 ratings, while VAPolyFM averages 4.5 from 6 ratings.

### Do RE or VAPolyFM have ads?

Neither RE nor VAPolyFM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RE or VAPolyFM?

RE ships an update every 3 months, and VAPolyFM every 17 months. Most recently, RE was updated on October 29, 2026 and VAPolyFM on October 26, 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.*