Comparison

ShimmerVerb vs Agonizer

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

Head to head
About

ShimmerVerb

This app creates massive, lustrous reverbs with parallel pitch shifters for ethereal, shimmering soundscapes. It offers advanced feedback control and performance-oriented features like a "Ribbon" macro and "HotSwitch" for dynamic sound shaping.

Highlights
  • Massive lustrous reverb with parallel pitch shifters
  • Infinitely feedbackable signal for cascading reverbs
  • Adjustable feedback frequencies via cross-over network
  • Playable "Ribbon" performance macro
  • Instant parameter switching with "HotSwitch"
  • "Freeze" button for smeared textures
  • AUv3 plugin and standalone app
Read full description

ShimmerVerb combines a massively lustrous reverb with parallel pitch shifters to add ethereal layers making any signal, well, "shimmer." Oftentimes, producers would achieve the effect by using Eventide pitch shifting hardware such as the H910, H949, or H3000 or other rack mount units in combination with a reverb. This production technique was popularized by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno on U2's The Unforgettable Fire. Now, this iconic sound has been refined and extended with a modern, unified interface that is great for adding dreamy ambiance to guitars, keys, synths, samples, and vocals. In typical Eventide fashion, features have been added such as the ability to infinitely feedback the signal, resulting in cascading reverbs that smear into oblivion. Feedback can be further fine-tuned by specifying which frequencies are fed back through the low/mid/high cross-over network. ShimmerVerb shines via its playable, performance-based parameters. "The Ribbon" is an easy to program performance macro allowing users to morph between two settings with one control. Desktop users can plug in a MIDI keyboard and gain tactile command over this function via the modulation wheel. Ribbon mappings are great for Feedback swells, moving the Pitch knobs, or changing the Size for a massive detuning result. ShimmerVerb also boasts a HotSwitch for calling up another state of parameters inside the same preset. Use this for changing octaves, turning off/on the pitch shifters, or simply turning the Mix up or down while crafting your performance. Finally, the Freeze button allows you to make smeared textures out of single voices, full pads, or percussive elements resulting in metallic "shimmers." Features: - Unique reverb plug-in with parallel pitch shifters on the reverb tail. - Easily pitch with perfect fourths, fifths, and octaves. - Micropitch tuning available around perfect intervals. - Four octaves of pitch shifting (from two octaves down to two octaves up). - Delay pitched signals up to one second or sync them to your DAW's tempo. - Feedback determines how much delayed signal is fed back into the input of the reverb. - Low, Mid, and High cross-over network determines which frequencies are fed back. - FREEZE holds the current state of the reverb in a smeared texture. - The RIBBON allows for real-time modification of several parameters at once. - HOTSWITCH allows for instant switching between two sets of parameters within one preset. - Available as an Audio Units AUv3 plug-in and Standalone App.

About

Agonizer

This app is a monophonic synthesizer focused on bass sounds, developed with a synth bass expert. It features dual wavetable oscillators, a mangle section, and built-in stereo effects. It supports MPE controllers and various audio/MIDI connectivity options for standalone or app-to-app use.

Highlights
  • Monophonic synth engine for bass
  • Dual wavetable oscillators
  • Built-in stereo effects
  • MPE controller support
  • Standalone and AUv3 operation
  • 140+ factory presets
Features
Read full description

Agonizer is a monophonic synthesizer designed in collaboration with YouTuber and synth bass expert Jakob Haq of haQ attaQ Overview: * Monophonic Synth Engine with focus on Bass * Built-in stereo effects * 140+ fine tuned factory presets designed by Jakob Haq * Supports ROLI Seaboard and other MPE controllers out of the box * Standalone operation with support for USB audio interfaces, wired, network & bluetooth MIDI * Audio Unit v3 Extension * Inter App Audio support * Audiobus support * Ableton Link Synth Voice: * Dual Wavetable Oscillators with 40+ Wavetables, Morphing & X-Mod * Dedicated sub osc & noise source * Mangle Section with pre-filter Drive, Bitcrush, Lift and Push controls * VA Ladder filter * Wobulator (Highly tweak-able Sequenced LFO) * LFO with Key and BPM Sync * Variable Slope AD & ADSR Envelopes * Tube based master drive Effects: * 2x stereo effect units * Vintage Chorus * Digital Delay Presets: * Factory bank including 140+ presets designed by Jakob Haq * Preset Management with Templates & Categories * Shared User Presets between Standalone and AUv3 versions * Preset Export & Import Connectivity: * Standalone * AUv3 Instrument * Inter-App Audio Instrument * Audiobus Instrument Requirements: * iOS12+ * iPad Air 2 or newer

Screenshots

ShimmerVerb3 screens
Agonizer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ShimmerVerb at none against Agonizer's 3. ShimmerVerb also leads on price ($14.99 vs $19.99) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). Agonizer's advantage is ratings volume (203 vs 12) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

ShimmerVerb costs $14.99 and Agonizer $19.99 up front. Agonizer sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ShimmerVerb asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Agonizer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Agonizer has 203 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 78% and 79% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ShimmerVerb ships an update every 6 weeks, Agonizer every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ShimmerVerb versus Agonizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShimmerVerbAgonizer
Price$14.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.6 (12 ratings)4.8 (203 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews78.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12203 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.011.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB362 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEventideKai Aras

Customer experience

ShimmerVerb

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral22.2%
Negative0.0%

Agonizer

All ratings203 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative15.0%

Bugs and requests

ShimmerVerb

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Agonizer

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • Keyboard does not properly handle legato/mono-synth note priority
  • Crashes in Audiobus, AUM, and Cubasis host applications
  • No sound output when used as AUv3 plugin in hosts
  • No sound in GarageBand integration
  • App freezes on splash screen with iOS 18.3
Show 11 more
  • Stuck notes and failed note triggering
  • Scream button malfunction when switching presets
  • Cutoff knob lag in AUv3 scenarios
  • UI jitter and text cutoff on iPhone
  • Favorite preset feature not working on iPhone
  • Program change not working properly in hosts
  • Always opens with init preset in host applications
  • Modulation matrix sensitivity too high (2% movement = large range)
  • Audio output peaks in red with no sound
  • Permanent clipping/damaged audio output
  • Misleading IAP pricing display (showing 'FREE' for paid content)

Requested features

10 requests
  • Polyphony mode or toggle between mono and poly
  • Envelope drawing capability instead of preset selection
  • Menu-based waveform selection instead of cycling
  • Arpeggiator function
  • Preset browser search and favorites filter
Show 5 more
  • Extended automation control for all knobs
  • Keytracking for filter
  • Reverb effect
  • Accelerometer/gyroscopic velocity sensitivity
  • Customizable number of keyboard keys

In-app purchases

None

ShimmerVerb

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Agonizer

One-time3
  • Chrome Oasis Pack$3.99
  • Circuit Bender Pack$3.99
  • Neon Nightmare Pack$4.99

Questions

Is ShimmerVerb free?
ShimmerVerb costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Agonizer free?
Agonizer costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ShimmerVerb or Agonizer?
Agonizer is rated higher. ShimmerVerb averages 4.6 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Agonizer averages 4.8 from 203 ratings.
Do ShimmerVerb or Agonizer have ads?
Neither ShimmerVerb nor Agonizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ShimmerVerb or Agonizer?
ShimmerVerb ships an update every 6 weeks, and Agonizer every 5 months. Most recently, ShimmerVerb was updated on September 21, 2026 and Agonizer on September 22, 2026.

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