Comparison

MusiKraken vs Special Needs

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

Head to head
About

MusiKraken

Transform your mobile device into a powerful, customizable MIDI controller. Utilize built-in sensors and connected hardware to create unique musical expressions and control instruments or software. Supports advanced MIDI features and audio unit plugins.

Highlights
  • Modular MIDI controller editor
  • Device sensor inputs (touch, motion, camera, mic)
  • Connect external devices (game controllers, Apple Watch)
  • MIDI effects and routing
  • Audio Unit (AUv3) plugin hosting
  • MIDI 2.0 support
  • OSC data output
Features
Read full description

MusiKraken is a modular MIDI Controller Construction Kit, empowering you to fully harness the capabilities of your mobile device's hardware. Winner of a 2022 MIDI Innovation Award! Make music using device sensors like Touch, Motion Sensors, Camera (face, hand, body and color tracking, including TrueDepth and LiDAR support) and Microphone, or connected devices like Game Controllers, Apple Watch or AirPods. Choose from several types of modules in the editor and connect the ports to create your own personal MIDI controller setup. Route the MIDI signals through effect modules to control multiple instruments simultaneously or invent creative new MIDI controller combinations. MusiKraken supports sending and receiving MIDI data over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or via Core MIDI (for example by using Inter-Device Audio and MIDI (IDAM)). And it can host Audio Unit (AUv3) instrument plugins. Or send the sensor data via OSC. MusiKraken is also one of the first apps to officially support MIDI 2.0! You already own a very powerful device with all kinds of sensors and connection possibilities. With this app you can use these sensors as inputs, combine them with all kinds of MIDI effects and send the resulting MIDI events to your computer, synthesizer, any other MIDI-capable app or Audio Unit to to create your own, expressive MIDI controller setup. Your device for example has a multitouch screen. Use this with the Keyboard module to slide on the keys to control multiple musical parameters simultaneously. Using MPE, MIDI 2.0 or the Chord Splitter also allows you to control these parameters separately per key. Newer devices also support tracking the finger radius (or pressure on older devices), which adds another dimension of control. Multitouch is also used by the Chords Pad to play the chords of a selected scale, or the Touchpad, which allows you control values via touch gestures. Another unique input sensor is the camera: MusiKraken supports tracking your hands in front of the camera, your body pose, your face or objects with specific colors. This way you can for example use your iOS device as a Theremin, jump or dance around in front of the camera to generate notes or control audio parameters, use your mouth to control the sound of a virtual trumpet, or any other combination. If your device has a TrueDepth or LiDAR sensor, you can also use the distances as input values. Your device also has motion sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope and Magnetometer. They can be either used separately, or combined to get the current rotation of the device in three dimensions. Use this to generate sounds or control parameters while shaking or tilting your device. Your device also has a microphone, and MusiKraken can detect the pitch or amplitude of the signal. Your iOS device also allows you to connect to external devices. MusiKraken for example supports Game Controllers (trigger events on button or thumbstick changes, motion sensors, haptics and light on supported Game Controllers), Apple Watch (motion sensors, digital crown, touch, heart rate) or the motion sensors within AirPods. The real power comes once you start combining the sensors with the effect modules. There are effects that can be used to change or filter the MIDI events. Some effects allow you to combine multiple input sources into new output values. Or splits chords into separate notes so that they can be sent to different channels. Important: Please note that some of the modules only work on iOS devices with specific hardware: ARKit Face Tracking and the TrueDepth module need a TrueDepth front camera, and Hand and Body Pose Tracking needs at least iOS 14, and might be too slow on older devices. HealthKit is used in the app to access Apple Watch data like heart beat or motion sensors. The app only uses sensor data to generate MIDI events.

About

Special Needs

Features
Read full description

Special Needs: Therapeutic Content for Children with ASD is a mobile application aimed at providing a natural developmental and therapeutic environment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We are currently seeking families who would like to participate in the pilot program and help shape this innovative solution. The app offers diverse content, including music, audio stories, and more, designed to facilitate the development of young minds while providing potential therapeutic benefits. Music, known for its therapeutic properties, is an integral part of the app. You will find a rich selection of calming melodies, rhythmic songs, and soothing sounds, carefully chosen to help children with ASD relax, regulate their emotions, and enhance their sensory experiences. The audio stories section presents captivating narratives that offer entertainment while encouraging language development, imagination, and social interaction. We highly value your feedback! We are continuously working to improve the content, interface, and functionality of the app. Your input will help us create a customizable and intuitive environment that allows parents and caregivers to tailor the content to their child's specific preferences and needs. Together, we can ensure excellent educational and developmental materials and a pleasant and stress-free experience for both children and adults. Furthermore, the app incorporates progress tracking features, enabling parents and caregivers to monitor their child's engagement and development over time. This feature provides valuable insights into your child's preferences and progress, supporting a more personalized and effective therapeutic approach. "Special Needs: Therapeutic Content for Children with ASD" is a valuable tool that supports parents, caregivers, and therapists in their efforts to provide comprehensive support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Privacy Policy: https://pomelody.com/privacy-policy Terms of use: https://pomelody.com/terms

Screenshots

MusiKraken3 screens
Special Needs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Special Needs at Free against MusiKraken's $9.99. Special Needs also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). MusiKraken's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On update cadence, 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

Special Needs is free to download; MusiKraken costs $9.99 up front. Special Needs sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. MusiKraken asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MusiKraken ships an update every 4 weeks, Special Needs monthly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MusiKraken versus Special Needs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusiKrakenSpecial Needs
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (24 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews97.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings24 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size110 MB102 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSnarpPomelody sp. z o.o.

In-app purchases

None

MusiKraken

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Special Needs

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$69.991 Year

Questions

Is MusiKraken free?
MusiKraken costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Special Needs free?
Special Needs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MusiKraken or Special Needs have ads?
Neither MusiKraken nor Special Needs shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MusiKraken or Special Needs?
MusiKraken ships an update every 4 weeks, and Special Needs monthly. Most recently, MusiKraken was updated on November 3, 2026 and Special Needs on November 3, 2026.

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