# Factory vs Polywave

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Factory at 487 against Polywave's 34. Factory also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Polywave's advantage is device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Factory holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Factory has 487 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Factory's written reviews are positive against 80% of Polywave's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on August 12, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Factory | Polywave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (487 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/factory-modular-synthesizer/id1458743434/reviews)** | [4.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **487** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | **81.4% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 347 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sugar Bytes GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/614418826) | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) |

## What reviewers say

### Factory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/factory-modular-synthesizer/id1458743434)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Factory Full Version | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Polywave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271)

Create unique, evolving sonic experiences with a novel wavetable sequencer inspired by vintage synths. Draw your own waveforms, explore a vast library, and connect to external keyboards or DAWs. Record your creations directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Wavetable sequencer, Custom waveform drawing, Expansive waveform library, 100+ factory presets, MIDI and Audio Unit support, Live recording module, 8-voice polyphony

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Factory free?

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

### Is Polywave free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Factory or Polywave?

Factory is rated higher. Factory averages 4.9 out of 5 from 487 ratings, while Polywave averages 4.7 from 34 ratings.

### Do Factory or Polywave have ads?

Neither Factory nor Polywave shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Factory or Polywave?

Factory ships an update every 4 months, and Polywave every 4 months. Most recently, Factory was updated on August 12, 2026 and Polywave on September 23, 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.*