Comparison

Agonizer vs VAPolyQuad

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

Head to head
About

Agonizer

This app is a monophonic synthesizer focused on bass sounds, developed with a synth bass expert. It features dual wavetable oscillators, a mangle section, and built-in stereo effects. It supports MPE controllers and various audio/MIDI connectivity options for standalone or app-to-app use.

Highlights
  • Monophonic synth engine for bass
  • Dual wavetable oscillators
  • Built-in stereo effects
  • MPE controller support
  • Standalone and AUv3 operation
  • 140+ factory presets
Features
Read full description

Agonizer is a monophonic synthesizer designed in collaboration with YouTuber and synth bass expert Jakob Haq of haQ attaQ Overview: * Monophonic Synth Engine with focus on Bass * Built-in stereo effects * 140+ fine tuned factory presets designed by Jakob Haq * Supports ROLI Seaboard and other MPE controllers out of the box * Standalone operation with support for USB audio interfaces, wired, network & bluetooth MIDI * Audio Unit v3 Extension * Inter App Audio support * Audiobus support * Ableton Link Synth Voice: * Dual Wavetable Oscillators with 40+ Wavetables, Morphing & X-Mod * Dedicated sub osc & noise source * Mangle Section with pre-filter Drive, Bitcrush, Lift and Push controls * VA Ladder filter * Wobulator (Highly tweak-able Sequenced LFO) * LFO with Key and BPM Sync * Variable Slope AD & ADSR Envelopes * Tube based master drive Effects: * 2x stereo effect units * Vintage Chorus * Digital Delay Presets: * Factory bank including 140+ presets designed by Jakob Haq * Preset Management with Templates & Categories * Shared User Presets between Standalone and AUv3 versions * Preset Export & Import Connectivity: * Standalone * AUv3 Instrument * Inter-App Audio Instrument * Audiobus Instrument Requirements: * iOS12+ * iPad Air 2 or newer

About

VAPolyQuad

Create rich, analog-style music with this powerful polyphonic synthesizer. Explore a vast array of sound-shaping tools, including multiple oscillators, filters, and effects. Program intricate melodies and rhythms with the built-in sequencer, and seamlessly share projects across your Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer
  • Up to 8 voice polyphony
  • Four oscillators per voice
  • Multiple resonant filters
  • Built-in effects suite
  • 16-bar sequencer with piano roll
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
Features
Read full description

VAPolyQuad is a virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It features 8 voice synthesizer, effects, sequencer and audio visualization tools. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. Single voice of the synthesizer features four oscillators, two mixers, two resonant high pass filters, two resonant low pass filters, two amplifiers, four ADSR envelopes and four LFOs. The oscillators features continuously variable wave shape and wide variety of modulation. The filters are modeled on the Sallen-Key filter circuit and cascaded OTA filter circuit for classic analog sound. The Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. The sequencer features piano roll and parameter automation editor to program 16 bar pattern per clip. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. - Main Features - Virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Four oscillators per voice. Flexible audio signal and control signal routing. Keyboard Control Routing Two type of Lowpass filter, cascaded OTA model and Sallen-key model. Support MIDI 2.0 New User Interface built by SwiftUI for improved performance. Built-in Sequencer. 16 bar patterns per clip. Total 8 clips. Piano Roll and Parameter automation. Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. 370 Factory Presets - System Requirements - A13 Fusion or above is recommended. AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. AudioUnit Extension is supported by Apple Logic and Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension. Sound may be distorted if CPU of the device doesn't have enough power. If it happens reduce number of voices.

Screenshots

Agonizer4 screens
VAPolyQuad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Agonizer at 79% against VAPolyQuad's 0%. Agonizer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 22 months). VAPolyQuad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and price ($14.99 vs $19.99). On ads 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

Agonizer costs $19.99 and VAPolyQuad $14.99 up front. Agonizer sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. VAPolyQuad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Agonizer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Agonizer has 203 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Agonizer's written reviews are positive against 0% of VAPolyQuad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Agonizer ships an update every 5 months, VAPolyQuad every 22 months. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Agonizer versus VAPolyQuad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAgonizerVAPolyQuad
Price$19.99$14.99 — better
Rating4.8 (203 ratings) — better4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings203 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 22 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size362 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai ArasRyo Togawa

Customer experience

Agonizer

All ratings203 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative15.0%

VAPolyQuad

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Agonizer

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • Keyboard does not properly handle legato/mono-synth note priority
  • Crashes in Audiobus, AUM, and Cubasis host applications
  • No sound output when used as AUv3 plugin in hosts
  • No sound in GarageBand integration
  • App freezes on splash screen with iOS 18.3
Show 11 more
  • Stuck notes and failed note triggering
  • Scream button malfunction when switching presets
  • Cutoff knob lag in AUv3 scenarios
  • UI jitter and text cutoff on iPhone
  • Favorite preset feature not working on iPhone
  • Program change not working properly in hosts
  • Always opens with init preset in host applications
  • Modulation matrix sensitivity too high (2% movement = large range)
  • Audio output peaks in red with no sound
  • Permanent clipping/damaged audio output
  • Misleading IAP pricing display (showing 'FREE' for paid content)

Requested features

10 requests
  • Polyphony mode or toggle between mono and poly
  • Envelope drawing capability instead of preset selection
  • Menu-based waveform selection instead of cycling
  • Arpeggiator function
  • Preset browser search and favorites filter
Show 5 more
  • Extended automation control for all knobs
  • Keytracking for filter
  • Reverb effect
  • Accelerometer/gyroscopic velocity sensitivity
  • Customizable number of keyboard keys

VAPolyQuad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Agonizer

One-time3
  • Chrome Oasis Pack$3.99
  • Circuit Bender Pack$3.99
  • Neon Nightmare Pack$4.99
None

VAPolyQuad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Agonizer free?
Agonizer costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyQuad free?
VAPolyQuad costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Agonizer or VAPolyQuad?
Agonizer is rated higher. Agonizer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 203 ratings, while VAPolyQuad averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Agonizer or VAPolyQuad have ads?
Neither Agonizer nor VAPolyQuad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Agonizer or VAPolyQuad?
Agonizer ships an update every 5 months, and VAPolyQuad every 22 months. Most recently, Agonizer was updated on September 22, 2026 and VAPolyQuad on September 22, 2026.

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