# AudioKit Digital D1 Synth vs Synth Modes

The clearest difference is price: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth at Free against Synth Modes's $3.99. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (2K vs 52). Synth Modes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is free to download; Synth Modes costs $3.99 up front. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Synth Modes asks for nothing beyond the download.

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth has 2K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's written reviews are positive against 64% of Synth Modes's.

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth ships an update every 3 weeks, Synth Modes every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AudioKit Digital D1 Synth | Synth Modes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-digital-d1-synth/id1436905540/reviews)** | [4.0 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synth-modes/id1445358435/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | 52 |
| Positive reviews | **76.1% of reviews** | 63.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#103** |
| Size | 636 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) | [Thomas Burns](https://appshunter.io/developer/522224284) |

## What reviewers say

### AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-digital-d1-synth/id1436905540)

This app is a virtual analog and PCM synthesizer for iPad, inspired by the digital synthesizers of the 80s and 90s. It offers a vast library of presets, advanced synthesis features, and built-in effects for creating rich, retro-inspired sounds.

**Highlights:** 64-voice hybrid digital poly synthesis, 1GB+ of original samples, Stand-alone, IAA, and AUv3 support, Vintage-style arp/step sequencer, 3 LFOs with fun routings, Dual independent per-layer filters, Built-in FX suite

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| D1 PCM Expansion-01 | Free | one-time |
| Platinum Expansion PCM EXP-01 | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Excellent sound quality
- 🎹 Versatile and inspiring presets
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💰 Great value for the price
- 🔥 Cutting-edge digital synthesis

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Lack of Audio Unit (AUv3) support
- 🤔 Some presets not easily usable
- 🕰️ Slow loading times in certain DAWs

**Reported bugs**

- Presets not loading correctly
- MIDI note dropouts and latency
- Crashes when used with certain DAWs
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add Audio Unit (AUv3) support
- Improve MIDI integration and responsiveness
- Implement a built-in recording/sampling feature
- Expand preset library with more genres and styles
- Add more sound design controls and modulation options


### Synth Modes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synth-modes/id1445358435)

**Currently charting:** #103 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Quickly access cheat sheets for your eurorack synthesizer modules. Search by text or mode type, favorite pages, and generate patch ideas with the built-in generator. Replaces binders of printed PDFs with a faster, easier-to-use digital reference.

**Highlights:** Cheat sheets for 45+ eurorack modules, Search by text or mode type, Favorite pages for quick access, Patch generator for module ideas, Supports multiple firmware versions, Replaces printed PDF binders

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AudioKit Digital D1 Synth free?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Synth Modes free?

Synth Modes costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth or Synth Modes?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is rated higher. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2K ratings, while Synth Modes averages 4.0 from 52 ratings.

### Do AudioKit Digital D1 Synth or Synth Modes have ads?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth shows ads; Synth Modes does not.

### Which is updated more often, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth or Synth Modes?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth ships an update every 3 weeks, and Synth Modes every 4 weeks. Most recently, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth was updated on October 13, 2026 and Synth Modes on October 16, 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.*