Comparison

Factory vs Phase Monkey

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

Phase Monkey

Explore a versatile digital synthesizer inspired by 1980s phase distortion technology. Create a wide range of sounds from warm pads to aggressive basses with its unique engine and eight-stage envelopes. Optimized for touch interaction, it also supports MIDI controllers and runs across Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Phase distortion synth engine
  • Eight-stage envelopes
  • Touch-first interface
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Universal Apple purchase
  • MIDI controller support
  • iCloud preset syncing
Read full description

Phase Monkey is a polyphonic synthesizer inspired by the classic phase distortion synthesizers of the mid-1980s. However, instead of being a direct copy, Phase Monkey presents a fresh take on the classic sound engine, including the rare eight-stage envelopes. The result is a surprisingly versatile digital instrument that can produce anything from warm pads to shimmering leads to snarling basses. Whatever you do, don’t have fun with it! Features: - Focused, fun, and characterful synth engine - Touch-first design, almost the entire screen is part of a control - Runs standalone or as AUv3 plug-in (in compatible host) - Universal purchase on Apple platforms: runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Presets synced across your devices via iCloud - Hook up a MIDI controller to play with a keyboard (optional) Details: - Eight classic phase distortion waveforms - Dedicated modulation oscillator for ring or noise modulation - Three rare eight-stage envelopes - Complex modulation of pitch and timbre possible via envelopes - LFO with five waveforms for classic modulation sounds - Master controls: portamento, random voice pan, onboard chorus, gain - Key behavior modes: poly, monophonic retrig, monophonic legato - Additional MIDI modulation sources: mod wheel, pitch bend, velocity, aftertouch (channel), key follow - Includes 40 highly usable factory presets to get you started making music Check out our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sketchaudio Read the manuals: https://sketchaudio.com/manuals/

Screenshots

Phase Monkey3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Factory at Free against Phase Monkey's $5.99. Factory also leads on ratings volume (487 vs 17) and review sentiment (81% vs 71%). Phase Monkey's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). On rating and ads 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

Factory is free to download; Phase Monkey costs $5.99 up front. Factory sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Phase Monkey asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Factory against 4.8 for Phase Monkey. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Factory has 487 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of Factory's written reviews are positive against 71% of Phase Monkey's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Factory ships an update every 4 months, Phase Monkey weekly. The most recent releases landed on August 12, 2026 and July 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Factory versus Phase Monkey: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFactoryPhase Monkey
PriceFree — better$5.99
Rating4.9 (487 ratings) — better4.8 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews81.4% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings487 — better17
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size347 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSugar Bytes GmbHSketch Audio, LLC

Customer experience

Factory

All ratings487 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive81.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative13.4%

Phase Monkey

All ratings17 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

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

Phase Monkey

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Factory

One-time1
  • Factory Full Version$24.99
None

Phase Monkey

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Factory free?
Factory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Phase Monkey free?
Phase Monkey costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Factory or Phase Monkey?
Factory is rated higher. Factory averages 4.9 out of 5 from 487 ratings, while Phase Monkey averages 4.8 from 17 ratings.
Do Factory or Phase Monkey have ads?
Neither Factory nor Phase Monkey shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Factory or Phase Monkey?
Factory ships an update every 4 months, and Phase Monkey weekly. Most recently, Factory was updated on August 12, 2026 and Phase Monkey on July 16, 2026.

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