Comparison

Agonizer vs VAPolyWest

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
Currently charting
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

VAPolyWest

This app is a polyphonic synthesizer inspired by 1960s California west coast synthesis. It features wave folding, lowpass gates, and step sequencers for generative music creation. It functions as a standalone app or an AudioUnit Extension across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Highlights
  • Virtual analog west coast style polyphonic synthesizer
  • Wave folder and lowpass gate
  • Step sequencer and envelope generators
  • Up to 8 voice polyphony
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
  • MIDI 2.0 support
  • Audio export options
Features
Read full description

VAPolyWest is inspired by synthesizers developed in California in the 1960’s. VAPolyWest features wave folder and lowpass gate, which are key components of the west coast synthesis. VAPolyWest also features 5 step sequencer and envelope generators which are designed to create generative music. VAPolyWest works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. - Main Features - Virtual analog west coast style polyphonic synthesizer. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Wave folder and lowpass gate for West Coast Synthesis. Step sequencer and envelopes designed for generative music. Support MIDI 2.0 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. - 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
VAPolyWest4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VAPolyWest at none against Agonizer's 3. VAPolyWest also leads on price ($3.99 vs $7.99). Agonizer's advantage is ratings volume (203 vs 5) and chart position (#120 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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 $7.99 and VAPolyWest $3.99 up front. Agonizer sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. VAPolyWest asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VAPolyWest holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. 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 complicate that: 78% of Agonizer's written reviews are positive against 75% of VAPolyWest's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Agonizer ships an update every 5 months, VAPolyWest every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Agonizer versus VAPolyWest: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAgonizerVAPolyWest
Price$7.99$3.99 — better
Rating4.8 (203 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings203 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#120 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size362 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai ArasRyo Togawa

Customer experience

Agonizer

All ratings203 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive78.0%
Neutral6.1%
Negative15.9%

VAPolyWest

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

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

VAPolyWest

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Agonizer

One-time3
  • Neon Nightmare Pack$1.99
  • Chrome Oasis Pack$1.99
  • Circuit Bender Pack$1.99
None

VAPolyWest

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Agonizer free?
Agonizer costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyWest free?
VAPolyWest costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Agonizer or VAPolyWest?
VAPolyWest is rated higher. Agonizer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 203 ratings, while VAPolyWest averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Agonizer or VAPolyWest have ads?
Neither Agonizer nor VAPolyWest shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Agonizer or VAPolyWest?
Agonizer ships an update every 5 months, and VAPolyWest every 10 months. Most recently, Agonizer was updated on November 3, 2026 and VAPolyWest on October 30, 2026.

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