SquareSynth 2 vs RetroSFX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SquareSynth 2
Create 8-bit style music with this professional chiptune synthesizer. It offers versatile sound design inspired by classic consoles and integrates with modern music production tools.
- 8-bit style synthesizer
- NES and Commodore 64 inspired
- Audio Unit (AUv3) support
- Audiobus support
- 8 multitimbral channels
- Looping sound recorder with .wav sharing
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SquareSynth is an 8bit style synthesizer. It takes features from the NES console, and the Commodore 64 personal computer. It is a versatile, pro-quality chiptune music maker. Easily integrates with Audio Unit (AUv3) hosts to create a complete song writing solution. If you would like to experiment with lofi sounds and textures with modern features, look no farther. Features: ▷ Audio Unit Version 3 support. ▷ 8 multitimbral channels (5 voices each), accessible via MIDI. ▷ Each voice contains 4 waveforms (Pulse, 4-bit Triangle, Short Noise, Long Noise). ▷ Classic 8bit arcade video game sounds (blorp). ▷ Multi-mode Filter. ▷ Looping sound recorder, with .wav file sharing.
RetroSFX
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RetroSFX is a powerful and easy‑to‑use tool for creating retro‑style sound effects. Whether you’re a game developer, content creator, or simply a fan of classic audio, this app gives you everything you need to generate unique SFX with a single tap.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RetroSFX at $0.99 against SquareSynth 2's $9.99. RetroSFX also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). SquareSynth 2's advantage is device support. On update cadence 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
SquareSynth 2 costs $9.99 and RetroSFX $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | SquareSynth 2 | RetroSFX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (37 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 37 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | — |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 133 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | James Navarro | Ali Taleb |
In-app purchases
SquareSynth 2
No in-app purchases
RetroSFX
No in-app purchases
