Fractal Bits vs SAGA Synth | 16
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Fractal Bits
Generate an infinite variety of drum sounds using fractal algorithms. Save and share your unique sound sets via text codes. Perform live with multiple keyboard options and record your creations in real-time.
- Infinite unique drum sounds
- Save/share sound sets via text codes
- Multiple live drumming keyboards
- MIDI control and mapping
- Real-time WAV audio recording
- Wi-Fi export/import
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Fractal Bits is a drum synth with over four billion unique sounds created by fractal algorithms. Each set of 12 drums corresponds to a code of 8 characters (you can save/copy/paste it as plain text). Features: * Audio Unit Extension (AUv3), Audiobus; * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; * three types of keyboards for live drumming: on-screen buttons, PC keyboard, MIDI input; * several processing parameters + control via MIDI; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual drums - they will not change during the search for new sets; * Wi-Fi export/import. Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.
SAGA Synth | 16
This app provides a 16-bit retro video game synthesizer with over 350 presets. It allows for the creation of expressive pads, sound effects, drums, and leads, and can be used as a standalone app or an AUv3 plugin. Record and export your creations as WAV files.
- 16-bit retro video game synth
- Over 350+ presets
- Standalone app & AUv3 plugin
- Step sequencer
- Audio recording and export
- MIDI keyboard support
- Ableton Link
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"SAGA SYNTH IS THE MOST FUN MUSIC APP ON THE PLANET!" – The GarageBand Guide SAGA Synth is a super-fun retro 16-bit video game synth More than chiptunes, you can use this synth for amazing and expressive pads, sound fx, drums, leads, and more! Make your music stand out with real 16-bit retro video game power. Created from 5 different vintage hardware YM2616 sound chips for the greatest collection of 16-bit sounds ever produced. We put lots of love into making this app. Ready Player One? Press a Key to take your music to the next level! REQUIRES iOS 14 and ABOVE! Thank you. :) Includes over 350+ Presets by MobyPixel, Electronisounds, Red Sky Lullaby, Gavinski, The GarageBand Guide, DJ Puzzle, The Audio Dabbler, Sound of Izrael, Marc Hupkens, AnalogMatthew, Brian Funk, Shazaam the Producer and more. Features custom-created sounds for this app, made from vintage retro gaming hardware. Learn More & Watch Videos: audiokitpro.com/sagasynth SAGA SYNTH is available only on iOS and iPadOS. FEATURES: • Standalone app & iOS AUv3 Plugin • Over 350+ presets to inspire you • Fun free-running step sequencer • Exclusive sound sources made for this app • New, more stable AudioKit code • 16-bit Synth, Drum, and Sound FX sounds included • Over 600+ Mb of sounds compressed to under 150 Mb • Audio recording, record your sounds then export wav files! No other apps needed • Use as an iOS Plug-in in hosts like GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, Beatmaker 3, and more • Use with MIDI keyboard or iOS MIDI host • Ableton Link SAGA Synth is the first of the next generation of AudioKit Pro apps, written from the ground up with a focus on playability and amazing sound. We've added rock-solid sequencer timing, improved AUv3 support, easy standalone recording, and much more. It's created with lots of love. + iPhone & iPad versions included for one low price ++ BONUS: Includes sounds from the best-selling Ableton 16-Bit Video Game sound packs by Brian Funk. For the first time on iOS! More Info: www.audiokitpro.com/sagasynth ### AudioKit is an open-source project intended to bring joy and music to people, and enlighten people on how to build custom instruments and iOS apps. All product names, images, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners, including SEGA Corporation, Yamaha Corporation, Twisted Electrons, MEGAfm, Genesis, MegaDrive, and others, which are in no way associated or affiliated with the creators of this app, including AudioKit, Brian Funk, AudioKit Pro, LLC, and the other contributors. Product names are used solely for the purpose of identifying specific products related to hardware, synthesizers, sampling, sound design, and music-making. Use of these names and images does not imply any cooperation or endorsement, including SEGA Corporation, Yamaha Corporation, Twisted Electrons, MEGAfm, Genesis, MegaDrive, and others. We thank them for their incredible hardware and instruments.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: SAGA Synth | 16 at monthly against Fractal Bits's every 5 months. SAGA Synth | 16 also leads on ratings volume (443 vs 82). Fractal Bits's advantage is chart position (#147 vs unranked) and price ($1.99 vs $3.99). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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
Fractal Bits costs $1.99 and SAGA Synth | 16 $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Fractal Bits against 4.9 for SAGA Synth | 16. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAGA Synth | 16 has 443 ratings behind it against 82, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Fractal Bits's written reviews are positive against 89% of SAGA Synth | 16's.
Fractal Bits ships an update every 5 months, SAGA Synth | 16 monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Fractal Bits | SAGA Synth | 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (82 ratings) | 4.9 (443 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 90.7% of reviews — better | 89.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 82 | 443 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #147 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 14.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 121 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Zolotov | AudioKit Pro |
Customer experience
Fractal Bits
SAGA Synth | 16
Bugs and requests
Fractal Bits
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
SAGA Synth | 16
Reported bugs
2 issues- Crashes when too many favorites
- Overlapping UI elements on phones
Requested features
3 requests- Export to Famitone music file
- macOS version
- Improved quantization
In-app purchases
Fractal Bits
No in-app purchases
SAGA Synth | 16
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Fractal Bits free?
Is SAGA Synth | 16 free?
Which has better reviews, Fractal Bits or SAGA Synth | 16?
Do Fractal Bits or SAGA Synth | 16 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Fractal Bits or SAGA Synth | 16?
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