# Synth Modes vs BPM Detector

The clearest difference is price: BPM Detector at Free against Synth Modes's $3.99. BPM Detector also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 4 weeks) and rating (4.3 vs 4.0). Synth Modes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

BPM Detector is free to download; Synth Modes costs $3.99 up front. BPM Detector sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Synth Modes asks for nothing beyond the download.

BPM Detector holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BPM Detector has 266 ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Synth Modes's written reviews are positive against 61% of BPM Detector's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Synth Modes ships an update every 4 weeks, BPM Detector every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Synth Modes | BPM Detector |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synth-modes/id1445358435/reviews) | **[4.3 (266 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bpm-detector-live-tempo/id1566588809/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 52 | **266** |
| Positive reviews | **63.8% of reviews** | 60.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#187** | — |
| Size | 20 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Burns](https://appshunter.io/developer/522224284) | [Quentin Hayot](https://appshunter.io/developer/362648866) |

## What reviewers say

### Synth Modes

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

**Currently charting:** #187 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


### BPM Detector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bpm-detector-live-tempo/id1566588809)

This application automatically detects the tempo (BPM) of any music or rhythm in real-time using your device's microphone. It offers features like song identification, detection history, and a visual BPM graph for precise timing analysis.

**Highlights:** Automatic BPM detection, Real-time tempo analysis, Shazam song identification, BPM detection history, Fullscreen BPM display, BPM variation graph

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BPM Detector Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| BPM Detector Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| BPM Detector Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| BPM Detector Pro Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| BPM Detector Pro Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| BPM Detector Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| BPM Detector Pro 4 Friends | Free | one-time |
| BPM Detector Pro Unlimited | $3.99 | one-time |
| BPM Detector Pro Unlimited | $4.99 | one-time |
| BPM Detector Pro Unlimited | $7.99 | one-time |
| BPM Detector Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| BPM Detector Pro Unlimited | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and practical
- 🚀 Fast BPM calculation
- 🎶 Shazam integration is a plus
- 💯 Accurate and reliable detection
- ✨ Slick and well-designed interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Excessive and intrusive ads
- ⚠️ Inaccurate BPM readings sometimes
- 🤔 Some users feel misled about functionality
- 📱 Not ideal for detecting drum BPMs
- 🚫 Music playback cuts out during detection

**Reported bugs**

- Ads cover screen and won't go away
- Ads get stuck and cannot be exited
- Music cuts out during detection
- Inaccurate BPM for certain genres (e.g., drum and bass)
- App gets hot on iPhone Pro

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch integration
- Ableton Link support
- Dark mode
- Metronome function with click sound
- DJ Tap Tempo feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Synth Modes free?

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

### Is BPM Detector free?

BPM Detector is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Synth Modes or BPM Detector?

BPM Detector is rated higher. Synth Modes averages 4.0 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while BPM Detector averages 4.3 from 266 ratings.

### Do Synth Modes or BPM Detector have ads?

BPM Detector shows ads; Synth Modes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Synth Modes or BPM Detector?

Synth Modes ships an update every 4 weeks, and BPM Detector every 3 days. Most recently, Synth Modes was updated on October 24, 2026 and BPM Detector on October 24, 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.*