Comparison

Factory vs SynthShred

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Factory

Create complex and organic sounds with a powerful modular synthesizer. Explore a vast array of synthesis types, a deep modulation matrix, and dynamic signal flow. Easily find and morph between sounds with a built-in browser and crossfader.

Highlights
  • Modular synthesis with extensive modulation matrix
  • Multiple oscillator engines and synthesis types
  • Dynamic signal flow with 3-FX chain
  • Morph crossfader for sound transformation
  • Preset browser with tagging and rating
  • Sequencers, Arpeggiator, and Quantizer
Read full description

Made for complex and organic sounds, Factory sports a big modulation matrix with all kinds of features to create a wildlife of sounds. A vast array of DSP is ready to play: Analog style oscillators and filters, but also different flavors of wavetable synthesis, Wavetable driven Waveguide resonators and a 3-FX-Chain in a dynamic signal flow. With the Morph crossfader, sounds can be changed drastically, but always musically. The Preset Browser with tags and rating makes finding sounds easy and fun. Don´t miss out on super sonic modular mayhem and check Factory today! Key Features: • Poly Synth with Mod-Matrix and Sequencers • 2x10 Oscillator Engines • Sub-Oscillator with Ringmodulation • Noise Generator with 5 colors • 8-voice VA-Sync, Wavetable, Waveguide & Fractal Synthesis • 8x10 Mod Matrix with 36 targets • Morph Fader, 2 States & Copy/Paste • Envelopes and LFOs • Sample & Hold Modul • 4x Sequencers for all kinds of Gates and CV's, incl. 36 motion curves, uni/bipolar. • Arpeggiator, Intonation engine, Scale Quantizer • 11 Filter models & 3x Multi-Effect with drag 'n' drop signal flow • Audio Unit v3 & Standalone • Virtual, Network, External & Bluetooth MIDI • Ableton Link • MIDI Learn & Host Automation • Preset iCloud Sync • Preset Share

About

SynthShred

This app is a virtual musical instrument offering a vast library of sound presets, including pianos, guitars, and synths. It provides customizable guitar tunings and a selection of musical scales with root key adjustments for easier playing. Enjoy expressive sound shaping with built-in effects and multiple playing modes.

Highlights
  • 139 sound presets
  • 29 guitar tuning presets
  • 14 musical scales
  • Diatonic surface option
  • Monophonic and Polyphonic Mode
  • Reverb and Echo effects
Read full description

SynthShred is musical instrument containing 139 sound presets including piano, guitars, ethnic instruments, chromatic percussions, strings, pipes, synth pads, reed instruments, brass, organs, ensemble, bass, synth leads and many more. SynthShred comes with 29 guitar tuning presets including standard guitar, all fourths, drop tunings, open tunings, major minor tunings and many more. SynthShred also contains 14 mostly used musical scales including Major, Minor, Harmonic Minor, Pentatonic and many more. SynthShred provides the ability to change the root key for the the selected scale to be in the key every time. The diatonic surface option will remove the notes from the surface that are not part of the scale. It's easier for the player to be in key. SynthShred features includes: - Expressive physical guitar surface - Monophonic and Polyphonic Mode - Diatonic surface - Adjustable string and fret counts - 139 sound presets - 29 unique guitar tuning presets - 14 commonly used scales - Modulation slider - On screen Reverb and Echo effects controls - Sustain button for acoustic instruments Available for iPhone, iPad and iPods for free. Minimum Requirements: iOS 9.0 or later.

Screenshots

SynthShred4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Factory at 4.9 against SynthShred's 4.4. Factory also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 55%). SynthShred's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Factory sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SynthShred sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Factory holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 488 and 205 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Factory's written reviews are positive against 55% of SynthShred's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Factory ships an update every 4 months, SynthShred every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Factory versus SynthShred: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFactorySynthShred
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (488 ratings) — better4.4 (205 ratings)
Positive reviews81.4% of reviews — better54.7% of reviews
Number of ratings488 — better205
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.69.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size351 MB141 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSugar Bytes GmbHYugal Sharma

Customer experience

Factory

All ratings488 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive81.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative13.4%

SynthShred

All ratings205 ratings
Positive84.4%
Neutral6.8%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive54.7%
Neutral7.5%
Negative37.7%

User reviews

Factory

From 488 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful synth engine
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use interface
  • 🎨 Vast sound design capabilities
  • 💡 Innovative modulation matrix
  • 🎶 Inspiring and unique presets

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
  • 🔌 Compatibility issues with other apps
  • 🖥️ Pixelated interface on high-res displays
  • 🔇 Note-sticking problems

SynthShred

From 205 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Incredible app for musical exploration
  • 🎶 Great tool for learning and making music
  • 👍 Smooth and soft playing
  • 🎵 Best music appreciation
  • 💡 Underrated app with good sounds

Room to improve

  • 👎 No in-app purchases
  • 🔇 Sound muted in the app
  • 💸 Shameful theft/knock-off
  • 🚫 Logic for iPad issue (AUv3 not working)
  • 📉 Limited usefulness without AUv3/IAA

Bugs and requests

Factory

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Presets not loading correctly in DAW projects
  • CC assignment issues causing controls to freeze

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to modulate morph slider
  • Option to modulate effects parameters individually
  • Arpeggiator with retrigger on key press
  • Better integration with GarageBand and other DAWs

SynthShred

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Sound is muted only in this app
  • Doesn't show up as available audio unit in Logic/GarageBand
  • Notes not sliding on the pad, sound individual notes
  • Issue with sustain option: some instrument notes never stop
  • Pop up to go pro comes up every minute
Show 6 more
  • No sound at all
  • Bug where trying an instrument makes the app stop making any sounds
  • Bug where some notes randomly sound modulated with pitch shift / vibrato
  • When a “Try Free” option is chosen for a patch the entire app goes silent
  • Asked for payment again after uninstalling and reinstalling
  • No restore purchase button

Requested features

20 requests
  • Add MIDI support
  • Add AUv3 support
  • Add IAA support
  • Add sliding option
  • Add velocity touch sensitivity
Show 15 more
  • Add pitch bend function
  • Add legato types
  • Add transpose button
  • Add dual tune mode
  • Add record option to wav
  • Add simple metronome with tempo
  • Improve slide feature smoothness
  • Improve mid wheel effect
  • Add chords/notes option
  • Add auto accompaniment & sound mixing
  • Add recording
  • Add manual, tutorial & support
  • Add feature to change note name font
  • Make a simpler version for iOS 8 & later
  • Add fretless patches to pro version

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Factory

One-time1
  • Factory Full Version$24.99
1 purchases

SynthShred

One-time1
  • Full Upgrade to SynthShred Pro$3.99

Questions

Is Factory free?
Factory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SynthShred free?
SynthShred is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Factory or SynthShred?
Factory is rated higher. Factory averages 4.9 out of 5 from 488 ratings, while SynthShred averages 4.4 from 205 ratings.
Do Factory or SynthShred have ads?
Neither Factory nor SynthShred shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Factory or SynthShred?
Factory ships an update every 4 months, and SynthShred every 4 days. Most recently, Factory was updated on October 17, 2026 and SynthShred on October 16, 2026.

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