Comparison

kineticSynth vs VADrum2

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

Head to head
About

kineticSynth

Transform your phone into a virtual musical instrument that responds to your movements. Explore unique ways to create music with high-fidelity sound and intuitive controls. Perfect for aspiring musicians and sound enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Motion-controlled instrument playback
  • Virtual 37-key synthesizer
  • Drum pad simulation
  • Bass drone control
  • Hi-fidelity 44kHz sound
  • Instrument tutorial videos
Features
Read full description

Use the phone as a virtual musical instrument, producing sounds depending on how you move it in the air. Every instrument has a help video demonstrating how the instrument is “played”. Hitting and sustaining the keys of a 37-keys keyboard synthesizer, or hitting drums as if with a drumstick, or controlling the buzz of a bass drone, it’s a completely new musical experience that feels natural like a real musical instrument! All in 44kHz hi-fidelity sound. Everyone can now sweep that filter like a pro electronic producer!

About

VADrum2

Create electronic music with a virtual analog drum machine. Features a synthesizer with 27 voices, built-in effects, and a powerful sequencer. Save projects to iCloud and use it as a standalone app or an Audio Unit Extension.

Highlights
  • 27 virtual analog and sample playback drum voices
  • Integrated delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, EQ, and compressor
  • 16-bar pattern sequencer with parameter automation
  • Stand-alone app and AUv3 extension support
  • Ableton Link and Bluetooth MIDI compatibility
  • iCloud Drive project saving
  • Universal Purchase for iOS and macOS
Features
Read full description

VADrum2 is a virtual analog drum machine for iPhone, iPad and Mac. VADrum2 consists of drum synthesizer, effects and a sequencer. The drum synthesizer includes 27 drum voices, which are 23 virtual analog modules and 4 sample playback modules and they are inspired by the iconic analog drum machines of the 1980’s. The Effects includes delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq, and compressor. The sequencer offers ability to program 16 bar pattern per clip and parameter automation. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive. VADrum2 works as a stand alone or as an Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI and MIDI IN/OUT. Main Features Drum Synthesizer - 27 drum synthesizer modules (24 virtual analog and 4 sample playback) Sequencer - 16 bar patterns per clip. Total 16 clips. - Parameter automation. Audio Export - Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) - Support iCloud Drive. - Support Universal Purchase (Works on iOS devices and macOS devices) - Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. - Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) System Requirements - AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. - AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) is supported by Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS, and Apple Logic on Mac. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension (AUv3).

Screenshots

kineticSynth3 screens
VADrum24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: kineticSynth at Free against VADrum2's $14.99. kineticSynth also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). VADrum2's advantage is ratings volume (16 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

kineticSynth is free to download; VADrum2 costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

kineticSynth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VADrum2 has 16 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

kineticSynth ships an update every 3 weeks, VADrum2 every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
kineticSynth versus VADrum2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterkineticSynthVADrum2
PriceFree — better$14.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.5 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews—85.7% of reviews
Number of ratings216 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.5
Further details — not scored
Size121 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStefan NikolovRyo Togawa

Customer experience

kineticSynth

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VADrum2

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

kineticSynth

No in-app purchases

None

VADrum2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is kineticSynth free?
kineticSynth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VADrum2 free?
VADrum2 costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, kineticSynth or VADrum2?
kineticSynth is rated higher. kineticSynth averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while VADrum2 averages 4.5 from 16 ratings.
Do kineticSynth or VADrum2 have ads?
Neither kineticSynth nor VADrum2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, kineticSynth or VADrum2?
kineticSynth ships an update every 3 weeks, and VADrum2 every 5 months. Most recently, kineticSynth was updated on June 1, 2026 and VADrum2 on September 20, 2026.

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