Factory vs Phase Monkey
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- Phase distortion synth engine
- Eight-stage envelopes
- Touch-first interface
- AUv3 plugin support
- Universal Apple purchase
- MIDI controller support
- iCloud preset syncing
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Factory ships an update every 4 months, Phase Monkey weekly. The most recent releases landed on August 12, 2026 and July 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Factory | Phase Monkey |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $5.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (487 ratings) — better | 4.8 (17 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.4% of reviews — better | 71.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 487 — better | 17 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 347 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sugar Bytes GmbH | Sketch Audio, LLC |
Customer experience
Factory
Phase Monkey
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
Factory
- Factory Full Version$24.99
Phase Monkey
No in-app purchases









