# X/Y PAL vs VS

The clearest difference is price: X/Y PAL at $1.99 against VS's $24.99. X/Y PAL also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.1). VS's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (125 vs 9). On rating, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

X/Y PAL costs $1.99 and VS $24.99 up front. VS sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. X/Y PAL asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for X/Y PAL against 4.6 for VS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VS has 125 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 80% and 80% positive.

X/Y PAL ships an update every 8 months, VS every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | X/Y PAL | VS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $24.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xy-pal/id1469271950/reviews)** | [4.6 (125 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vs-visual-synthesizer/id1560330289/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **125** |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **80.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 7 MB | 787 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [DANIEL BRUEGGE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1528292926) | [Imaginando Lda](https://appshunter.io/developer/895445015) |

## What reviewers say

### X/Y PAL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xy-pal/id1469271950)

This app serves as an X/Y pad MIDI controller, allowing users to manage up to 8 parameters per pad. Customize MIDI channels, control change messages, value ranges, colors, and names for each parameter. Visualize CC value changes with on-screen bars.

**Highlights:** X/Y pad MIDI controller, Control up to 8 parameters per pad, Customizable MIDI channel and CC messages, Configurable CC value range, Parameter naming and coloring, MIDI output device selection, Visualized CC value changes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### VS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vs-visual-synthesizer/id1560330289)

Generate dynamic, audio-reactive visuals for your music projects. This app offers extensive customization with layers, shaders, images, and video, allowing you to perform visuals live or record them for your tracks. Integrate seamlessly with DAWs and external displays.

**Highlights:** 8 polyphonic visual layers, Shader, image, and video materials, Modulation matrix, AUv3 plugin support, Live performance output, Built-in video recorder, Custom shader editor

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Retina Refill Preset Pack | $17.99 | one-time |
| Textural Memories Preset Pack | $17.99 | one-time |
| Cyber Spells Preset Pack | $17.99 | one-time |
| Retro Riot Preset Pack | $17.99 | one-time |
| Raw Reflections Preset Pack | $17.99 | one-time |
| Noir Cuts Preset Packs | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Awesome audiovisual workflow
- 💡 Powerful yet easy to use
- 🎨 Great for getting vibes out
- 🌟 Expands musical aspirations visually
- 🎛️ Easy to work with (Imaginando apps)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 No elegant way for live synchronized video out
- 🔌 Popout to external displays only in standalone app
- 🚫 Standalone app can't run in background
- 🎛️ Doesn't work well plugged into looper or DAW
- ❌ Not fun at all

**Reported bugs**

- No elegant way to get live synchronized video out
- Popout to external displays only in standalone app, which can’t run in background
- Video record export issue: videos are 30+ minutes when recorded for shorter duration
- NDI stream not working
- App crashes frequently

**Requested features**

- Integrate an audio tool for Spotify/other audio sources
- Allow using any graphic or photo content as a layer
- Hope for Metal rendering for super performance shaders
- More ways to interact between layers (displacement, feedback)
- Post-processing effects (luma key, feedback, kaleidoscope, mirror)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X/Y PAL free?

X/Y PAL costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VS free?

VS costs $24.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, X/Y PAL or VS?

X/Y PAL is rated higher. X/Y PAL averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while VS averages 4.6 from 125 ratings.

### Do X/Y PAL or VS have ads?

Neither X/Y PAL nor VS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, X/Y PAL or VS?

X/Y PAL ships an update every 8 months, and VS every 6 weeks. Most recently, X/Y PAL was updated on November 4, 2026 and VS on November 3, 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.*