Comparison

Radio Unit vs Hilda Synthesizer

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

Head to head
About

Radio Unit

Stream over 35,000 internet radio stations with this app. Enhance your audio experience by using it as an AUv3 plugin with other compatible music apps. Discover new music and save your favorites.

Highlights
  • Access 35,000+ radio stations
  • Enhance audio with AUv3 plugins
  • Intuitive interface
  • Song discovery and saving
  • Favorites sync across devices
  • MIDI control for AUv3 plugin
Read full description

Discover a world of music with Radio Unit, a sleek and powerful Internet radio player with a built-in Audio Unit (AUv3) plugin.  Elevate your listening experience by enhancing streaming audio in real time using your favorite third-party audio processing plugins (not included) within AUv3-compatible hosts like Drambo or GarageBand. Features: • Intuitive Interface: Enjoy a clean, user-friendly design for effortless navigation. • Song Discovery: Tap to add the currently playing song to your favorites, then open it in the Apple Music app or search for it on Google. • Massive Station Library: Access over 35,000 radio stations—search by name, browse by genre or location, and sort by popularity. • Favorites Sync: Save stations and songs to your favorites list, seamlessly synced across your devices. • AUv3 Integration: Use Radio Unit as a standalone app or as an AUv3 plugin in hosts like Drambo, GarageBand, and more, with support for multiple plugin instances. • MIDI Mapping: Control buttons can be triggered by MIDI Note events (C3 to F3). (AUv3 only) • Battery Efficient: Stream music without draining your device. The app requires internet connection.

About

Hilda Synthesizer

This app offers a complex oscillator monosynth with a blend of west-coast and east-coast synthesis techniques. It features a wave folder, lowpass gate, 12-mode filter, and VCA circuit, all meticulously circuit-modelled for authentic analog or digital sound. It functions as a playable synth, MIDI sequencer, and audio effect.

Highlights
  • Complex Oscillator Monosynth
  • Wave folder and lowpass gate
  • 12-mode filter
  • Circuit-modelled analog sound
  • Built-in 16-step MIDI Sequencer
  • Audio effect for external audio
  • AUv3 compatibility
Features
Read full description

Hilda is a Complex Oscillator Monosynth, inspired by the most interesting aspects of both west-coast and east-coast synthesis techniques. You'll find a wave folder, lowpass gate, and audio-rate modulations, but also a 12-mode filter and traditional VCA circuit. All parts of the instrument are carefully circuit-modelled to sound as analog (or digital, where applicable) as possible. It's like a best-of-all-worlds semi modular synth, but without the patch cables. The unique mix of different synthesis components adds up to a unique sounding electronic instrument, which can be used as a playable synthesizer, a MIDI sequencer and an audio effect for external audio - or any combination of those three. - Full Audio Unit compatibility (AUv3 instrument, audio effect and MIDI processor modes supported) - Universal design (iPhone and iPad; iPad Air 2 or higher recommended) - Built-in analog style 16 Step MIDI Sequencer with custom scales - 12 mode filter, based on the Oberheim Xpander design - Drone mode lets you [partially] bypass the VCA/LPG and just go with the flow - DIY Lo-Fi digital delay circuit emulation - Live pads with effects that can be triggered via the UI (or via exposed AU Parameters) - All synth settings exposed a AU Parameters (for automation and MIDI learning in your host of choice) - MIDI Processor plugin mode disables synth to save CPU - Carefully handcrafted by yours truly, to capture the essence of my love for tinkering and experimenting with sound :-) Find the user manual on ruismaker.com

Screenshots

Radio Unit2 screens
Hilda Synthesizer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Radio Unit at $6.99 against Hilda Synthesizer's $12.99. Hilda Synthesizer's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

Radio Unit costs $6.99 and Hilda Synthesizer $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hilda Synthesizer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 58 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Radio Unit's written reviews are positive against 90% of Hilda Synthesizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Radio Unit ships an update every 2 months, Hilda Synthesizer every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Radio Unit versus Hilda Synthesizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRadio UnitHilda Synthesizer
Price$6.99 — better$12.99
Rating4.6 (60 ratings)4.9 (58 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.5% of reviews90.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings60 — better58
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.612 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBeepStreetBram Bos

Customer experience

Radio Unit

All ratings59 ratings
Positive89.8%
Neutral3.4%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive81.5%
Neutral9.3%
Negative9.3%

Hilda Synthesizer

All ratings58 ratings
Positive98.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

Bugs and requests

Radio Unit

Reported bugs

17 issues
  • Cannot remove recognized songs
  • Cannot remove favorite saved songs (Mac)
  • Last update ruined experience with loading times and connection issues
  • Sadé channel frequently disconnects
  • Some stations don’t connect at all
Show 12 more
  • Cannot see song title/artist
  • Seamless integration with GarageBand and Logic Pro doesn't work
  • Cannot change station with MIDI, LFOs etc. after update
  • Cubasis 3 can’t find app
  • BBC streams no longer play
  • Cannot edit user slots after adding of link
  • Links not working
  • Cannot add user slots ('see the developer to unlock slots')
  • Adding stations near impossible
  • Failed URL slot flashes red and is inaccessible
  • Cannot paste other URLs
  • Cannot record and sample the feed into DAW

Requested features

13 requests
  • Option to remove or filter hostile nations
  • Add more stations (Golha radio, IRIB radio)
  • Ability to organize, tag, and edit stream specifications
  • Ability to use with CarPlay
  • Pitch slider within the app to slow down radio in real time
Show 8 more
  • More user presets/slots
  • iCloud sync for recently played stations and discovered pieces
  • Ability to change station with MIDI, LFOs etc. (post-update issue)
  • More exposed parameters for tweaking
  • Greater resources for slots (folders/sections)
  • Import/export presets list
  • Assign MIDI CC to volume knob and channel switch buttons
  • Support for streams in OGG container format

Hilda Synthesizer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Radio Unit

No in-app purchases

None

Hilda Synthesizer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Radio Unit free?
Radio Unit costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hilda Synthesizer free?
Hilda Synthesizer costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Radio Unit or Hilda Synthesizer?
Hilda Synthesizer is rated higher. Radio Unit averages 4.6 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Hilda Synthesizer averages 4.9 from 58 ratings.
Do Radio Unit or Hilda Synthesizer have ads?
Neither Radio Unit nor Hilda Synthesizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Radio Unit or Hilda Synthesizer?
Radio Unit ships an update every 2 months, and Hilda Synthesizer every 9 days. Most recently, Radio Unit was updated on November 3, 2026 and Hilda Synthesizer on November 3, 2026.

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