# Hillman Synth vs Phase Monkey

The clearest difference is update cadence: Phase Monkey at weekly against Hillman Synth's every 17 months. Phase Monkey also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and price ($5.99 vs $10.99). Hillman Synth's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Hillman Synth costs $10.99 and Phase Monkey $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Phase Monkey holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 17 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Hillman Synth's written reviews are positive against 71% of Phase Monkey's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hillman Synth ships an update every 17 months, Phase Monkey weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and July 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hillman Synth | Phase Monkey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $10.99 | **$5.99** |
| Rating | [4.4 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hillman-synth/id1488336769/reviews) | **[4.8 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phase-monkey-poly-synth/id6452880369/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **18** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 7 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Klevgrand Produkter AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1118902192) | [Sketch Audio, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699093348) |

## What reviewers say

### Hillman Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hillman-synth/id1488336769)

This app emulates vintage combo-organs and string machines with analog-inspired sound generation. It offers four selectable waveforms per note, adjustable octaves, and built-in ensemble, phaser, and reverb effects for rich soundscapes.

**Highlights:** Analog-inspired sound generation, 4 selectable waveforms per note, Adjustable octave offset, Ensemble chorus effect, 4-pole phaser effect, Lush reverb effect

**In-app purchases:** none


### Phase Monkey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phase-monkey-poly-synth/id6452880369)

Explore a versatile digital synthesizer inspired by 1980s phase distortion technology. Create a wide range of sounds from warm pads to aggressive basses with its unique engine and eight-stage envelopes. Optimized for touch interaction, it also supports MIDI controllers and runs across Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Phase distortion synth engine, Eight-stage envelopes, Touch-first interface, AUv3 plugin support, Universal Apple purchase, MIDI controller support, iCloud preset syncing

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hillman Synth free?

Hillman Synth costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Phase Monkey free?

Phase Monkey costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hillman Synth or Phase Monkey?

Phase Monkey is rated higher. Hillman Synth averages 4.4 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Phase Monkey averages 4.8 from 17 ratings.

### Do Hillman Synth or Phase Monkey have ads?

Neither Hillman Synth nor Phase Monkey shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hillman Synth or Phase Monkey?

Hillman Synth ships an update every 17 months, and Phase Monkey weekly. Most recently, Hillman Synth was updated on September 23, 2026 and Phase Monkey on July 16, 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.*