# AudioKit Digital D1 Synth vs Scaler 3

The clearest difference is price: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth at Free against Scaler 3's $12.99. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 57%) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 171). Scaler 3's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is free to download; Scaler 3 costs $12.99 up front. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Scaler 3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for AudioKit Digital D1 Synth against 4.7 for Scaler 3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth has 2.1K ratings behind it against 171, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's written reviews are positive against 57% of Scaler 3's.

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth ships an update every 3 weeks, Scaler 3 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AudioKit Digital D1 Synth | Scaler 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $12.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-digital-d1-synth/id1436905540/reviews)** | [4.7 (171 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scaler-3/id6749147552/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 171 |
| Positive reviews | **76.1% of reviews** | 56.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Size | 636 MB | 1.1 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) | [Scaler Music](https://appshunter.io/developer/1603180477) |

## 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


### Scaler 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scaler-3/id6749147552)

This music theory workstation helps you discover chords, explore harmony, and build complete musical ideas. It offers a redesigned workflow, expanded creative potential, and powerful new capabilities for songwriting and music production.

**Highlights:** Discover music's key with MIDI and audio detection, Access over 1,000 chord sets, keys, and modes, Build intelligent chord progressions with automatic voice-leading, Structure full musical ideas with Scenes and Arrange Page, Transform chords into melodies, basslines, and phrases, Explore harmony with Circle of Fifths and modulation tools, Host AUv3 plugins and interoperate with desktop versions

**Features:** 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 Scaler 3 free?

Scaler 3 costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth or Scaler 3?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is rated higher. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Scaler 3 averages 4.7 from 171 ratings.

### Do AudioKit Digital D1 Synth or Scaler 3 have ads?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth shows ads; Scaler 3 does not.

### Which is updated more often, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth or Scaler 3?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth ships an update every 3 weeks, and Scaler 3 fortnightly. Most recently, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth was updated on November 2, 2026 and Scaler 3 on November 5, 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.*