# SynthShred vs Polywave

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Polywave at 80% against SynthShred's 50%. Polywave also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4). SynthShred's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (200 vs 34). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SynthShred sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Polywave sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Polywave holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynthShred has 200 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of SynthShred's written reviews are positive against 80% of Polywave's.

SynthShred ships an update every 4 days, Polywave every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SynthShred | Polywave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (200 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthshred/id1475834403/reviews) | **[4.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **200** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 141 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yugal Sharma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475834402) | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) |

## What reviewers say

### SynthShred

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthshred/id1475834403)

This app is a virtual musical instrument offering a vast library of sound presets, including pianos, guitars, and synths. It provides customizable guitar tunings and a selection of musical scales with root key adjustments for easier playing. Enjoy expressive sound shaping with built-in effects and multiple playing modes.

**Highlights:** 139 sound presets, 29 guitar tuning presets, 14 musical scales, Diatonic surface option, Monophonic and Polyphonic Mode, Reverb and Echo effects

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Upgrade to SynthShred Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


### Polywave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271)

Create unique, evolving sonic experiences with a novel wavetable sequencer inspired by vintage synths. Draw your own waveforms, explore a vast library, and connect to external keyboards or DAWs. Record your creations directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Wavetable sequencer, Custom waveform drawing, Expansive waveform library, 100+ factory presets, MIDI and Audio Unit support, Live recording module, 8-voice polyphony

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SynthShred free?

SynthShred is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Polywave free?

Polywave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SynthShred or Polywave?

Polywave is rated higher. SynthShred averages 4.4 out of 5 from 200 ratings, while Polywave averages 4.7 from 34 ratings.

### Do SynthShred or Polywave have ads?

Neither SynthShred nor Polywave shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SynthShred or Polywave?

SynthShred ships an update every 4 days, and Polywave every 3 months. Most recently, SynthShred was updated on September 24, 2026 and Polywave on October 2, 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.*