WiDI vs MidiWrist Unleashed
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WiDI
Create custom MIDI control surfaces and an integrated step sequencer to send MIDI events and play sequences. Connect to MIDI instruments and DAWs via network sessions or class-compliant interfaces. Automate control values with advanced modulation options.
- Customizable control surface (buttons, pads, knobs, faders)
- Integrated step sequencer with multiple tracks
- MIDI Network Session support for DAWs
- Auto-discover MIDI CC numbers
- Automate CC values with step modulator
- Support for class-compliant MIDI interfaces
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WiDI is a control surface with an integrated step sequencer in which you create controls such as buttons, pads, knobs and faders to send MIDI events and play sequences. • CONTROL SURFACE AND SEQUENCER: A control is bound to a channel and a specific MIDI Control Change. You can either specify the CC number if you know it, or let the app learn it. Once placed on the surface, use this control to interact with your MIDI device. Alternatively, any CC event sent by your device will be shown live by the control(s) bound to this CC. Pads are special controls: they can either produce MIDI CC events, Notes or Program changes. If bound to a CC, the pad can act as an on/off switch (you specify the values for each state.) If bound to a note, each tap produces the specified MIDI note. This is especially useful to operate MIDI instruments without keyboards such as synthesizer modules or drum machines. A sequence can hold as many tracks as you wish, and send notes to different MIDI channels. Sequences can play in sync or running freely. You may also group sequences together to start or pause them at the same time. • MIDI: To interface WiDI with any MIDI instruments/devices connected to your Mac or PC, connect to a MIDI Network Session on your Mac or your PC. On a Mac, this is natively supported by macOS, and you do not need to install third party software (use Audio MIDI Setup.) On a PC running Windows, you might want to install rtpMIDI. As an alternative to MIDI Network Sessions, you may use the WiDI Desktop Application. It acts as a MIDI bridge between the network and your MIDI hardware. You can install the desktop application on as many computers as you want (it's free!). It's a very lightweight package that doesn't need to perform any installation procedure whatsoever. You may download the WiDI Desktop Application for macOS on the Mac App Store, or go to : https://www.hypertide.com/widi/ for both macOS and Windows archives. Additionally, any class-compliant MIDI interface natively supported by iOS can also be used directly by WiDI without the need of a network connection. • FEATURES: ○ Use any CoreMIDI-supported MIDI interface connected to your device ○ MIDI network session: use WiDI as an external control surface for any DAW such as Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, ... ○ Multiple iPhone and iPad can connect to your computer, allowing different control surfaces simultaneously ○ Integrated step sequencer: create sequences, each one holding as many tracks as needed ○ Sequences can run freely or in sync and start simultaneously if grouped together in fire groups ○ Auto discover MIDI CC : you don't need to know each one to add controls, WiDI learns CC numbers sent by your devices ○ Automate CC : sweep ranges or use the step modulator to design patterns to modulate controls values, supporting various advanced options like step-by-step or smooth variations, bouncing, repeating, changing speed ○ Add as many pads as you want to generate MIDI Notes, Control Changes or Program Changes ○ Flexible control surface : set layout and grid size for both portrait and landscape orientations ○ Re-arranging controls is as simple as drag & drop ○ Fully customizable user interface : themes, colors, display of values and labels, aspect ratios, grid spacing, grid coloring, background, ... ○ Integrated File Manager to load and save your surfaces, which are also accessible in the iOS Files app and your computer's iTunes connection ○ Exchange surfaces between devices with the integrated QR code generator and scanner ○ Or use the share feature, so you may import them on any device. We'd love to hear from you! Should you be in need of support or eager to request a new feature, please contact us at support+widi@hypertide.com
MidiWrist Unleashed
Transform your Apple Watch into a standalone MIDI controller. Directly connect to Bluetooth LE MIDI devices without your iPhone, offering tactile control with haptic feedback and the digital crown. Customize knobs, buttons, and pages for a personalized music production experience.
- Standalone Apple Watch MIDI controller
- Direct Bluetooth LE MIDI connection
- Digital Crown control with haptic feedback
- Configurable knobs, buttons, and pages
- Transport control for DAWs
- Motion data transmission
- Save and manage presets
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MidiWrist Unleashed turns your Apple Watch into a standalone MIDI controller that directly connects to any advertised Bluetooth LE MIDI device, without the need of your iPhone or any other proxy. The tactile feel of the digital crown combined with haptic feedback, gives you control over any MIDI device by touching your wrist, even when you're not looking. MidiWrist Unleashed makes no sound on its own and can't advertise itself as a Bluetooth LE MIDI device. NOTE: The reliability of Bluetooth LE MIDI support in hardware devices varies. MidiWrist Unleashed was tested with iPhone, iPad, Mac and CME WIDI devices. We can't guarantee the connection stability nor MIDI message latency with other devices. IMPORTANT: MidiWrist Unleashed can only connect to Bluetooth MIDI devices, and doesn't support Siri commands. If you need to connect to other MIDI devices or use the Siri features, the original MidiWrist app is still available with those features. Features: • Standalone MIDI controller for your Apple Watch • Fully configurable on your Watch, no external app is required • Any number of knobs can be controlled with the Digital Crown • Macro control over multiple MIDI parameters from the Digital Crown • Remotely Play / Stop / Pause / Record / Rewind / Fast Forward your DAW from your Watch • Knobs can be controlled individually or simultaneously • Knobs can be linked to preserve their offsets • Any number buttons can be toggled by tapping the Watch • Buttons can either be stateful or momentary • Pages can be created with any combination of controls choosing from buttons and knobs • Program changes through the Digital Crown or by tapping the Watch • Transport control over MIDI Machine Control (MMC) or Mackie Control Universal (MCU) • Scrub transport with the Digital Crown • Save / Undo / Redo / Toggle Cycle / Toggle Click / Enter through MCU • XY pad with individual messages for each axis • Motion data (pitch, roll, yaw, acceleration) can be sent in real time • Trigger thresholds for motion data to send discrete messages instead of a continuous stream • Optional haptic feedback • Configurable colors for all knobs, buttons and panels • Configurable labels for knobs, buttons and panel • Configurable MIDI channels and MIDI messages (continuous control, program change, channel pressure, note) • Create any number of the controller pages you need • Delete and rearrange controller pages • Save your configurations to presets for easy retrieval • MIDI learn for easy controller configuration • Delete and rearrange presets • Connect to other Bluetooth MIDI devices • Low latency and fast response
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: WiDI at $1.99 against MidiWrist Unleashed's $14.99. WiDI also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and chart position (#188 vs unranked). MidiWrist Unleashed's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On review sentiment, ratings volume, 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
WiDI costs $1.99 and MidiWrist Unleashed $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
WiDI holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of WiDI's written reviews are positive against 78% of MidiWrist Unleashed's.
WiDI ships an update every 6 weeks, MidiWrist Unleashed every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 18, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WiDI | MidiWrist Unleashed |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (8 ratings) — better | 4.2 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better | 77.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #188 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HYPERTIDE SAS | Uwyn, LLC |
Customer experience
WiDI
MidiWrist Unleashed
In-app purchases
WiDI
No in-app purchases
MidiWrist Unleashed
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is WiDI free?
Is MidiWrist Unleashed free?
Which has better reviews, WiDI or MidiWrist Unleashed?
Do WiDI or MidiWrist Unleashed have ads?
Which is updated more often, WiDI or MidiWrist Unleashed?
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