# Factory vs Phase Monkey

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Factory | Phase Monkey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (487 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/factory-modular-synthesizer/id1458743434/reviews)** | [4.8 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phase-monkey-poly-synth/id6452880369/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **487** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **81.4% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 347 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sugar Bytes GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/614418826) | [Sketch Audio, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699093348) |

## 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


### Phase Monkey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phase-monkey-poly-synth/id6452880369)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*