Comparison

VS vs Neon

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

Head to head
About

VS

Generate dynamic, audio-reactive visuals for your music projects. This app offers extensive customization with layers, shaders, images, and video, allowing you to perform visuals live or record them for your tracks. Integrate seamlessly with DAWs and external displays.

Highlights
  • 8 polyphonic visual layers
  • Shader, image, and video materials
  • Modulation matrix
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Live performance output
  • Built-in video recorder
  • Custom shader editor
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

VS provides a creative way to generate beautiful graphical representations of your music projects. Driven by both audio and MIDI data, VS is the visual equivalent of a traditional synthesizer. VS takes the concept of music visualisation to a whole new level of customisation and expression, putting you in control and giving you the power to perform however you want. VS is powered by 8 flexible layers which can use shaders, images or videos, allowing you to create generative graphics that you can interact with and layer on top of each other to create complex evolving visuals. With customizable parameters, a modulation matrix and an array of blend modes, use your audio and/or MIDI to trigger and manipulate your layers accordingly with your music. You can even import and create your own shaders to give your visuals a more personal feeling. As the name suggests, VS - Visual Synthesizer can be played live like an audio synthesizer; use your MIDI keyboard to make each layer come alive with the concept of ‘polyphonic visual voices’. As well as a standalone app, VS includes an AUv3 plugin version, so you can run it directly inside your favourite iOS DAW programs like AUM, Drambo, BAM, Cubasis, Loopy Pro, Groove Rider 2, Logic Pro etc. You can now give your existing projects a visual touch of creativity. Simply route the MIDI and audio of your tracks and watch the magic happen. You can connect your mobile device to an external screen or projector for a live visual performance. If you prefer to create a video for your music, the built-in recorder lets you capture both visuals and audio. Record in landscape or portrait mode, with multiple output resolutions available. We partnered with new media artist ‘Perplex On’ to bring you a factory preset bank full of amazing interactive visuals you can start using right away to create dazzling animations and make your music move in a whole new medium. With an ever growing collection of expansions, you can further augment your visual arsenal with preset packs created by handpicked new media art talents. Features: - 8 Polyphonic visual layers (with blend modes) - 4 voices per layer - 32 built-in material effects - Layer material can be a shader, image or a video - Background layer with solid color/image/video - 4 LFO’s with SIN, SQR, TRI, SAW, S&H and filtered S&H - 2 EG’s with ADSR controls - 4 Dual-mode Audio Modulators (envelope and frequency band detection) - Modulation matrix - Full Screen mode - HDMI output for external screen/projector - NDI output - Built-in audio player with MIDI support - Built-in video recorder - Built-in material code editor for custom material creation - Exclusive factory presets by Perplex On

About

Neon

This app is a powerful MIDI step sequencer offering extensive generative features. It allows for complex sequence chaining and external state switching via MIDI. It functions as a standalone application or an AUv3 plugin.

Highlights
  • Generative capabilities
  • Modifier system
  • Metasequencer for pattern chaining
  • MIDI Program Change support
  • Standalone and AUv3 plugin
  • Built-in scales and order modes
Read full description

Neon is a step sequencer with expansive generative capabilities. Features: • runs as standalone or auv3 plugin • sophisticated Modifier system adds numerous generative possibilities • built-in Metasequencer lets you chain patterns to build complex sequences • switch States from an external source using MIDI Program Changes • responsive UI that adapts to different window sizes • wide selection of built-in scales and order modes  Please note: Neon is strictly a MIDI sequencer and does not produce any sound on its own.

Screenshots

VS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Neon at $4.99 against VS's $24.99. Neon also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). VS's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months) and chart position (#155 vs unranked). On review sentiment and iOS requirement 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

VS costs $24.99 and Neon $4.99 up front. VS sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Neon asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Neon holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 125 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of VS's written reviews are positive against 88% of Neon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VS ships an update every 6 weeks, Neon every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
VS versus Neon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVSNeon
Price$24.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.6 (125 ratings)4.8 (30 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.4% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings125 — better30
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNo—
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#155 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — better—
Requires iOS16.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size787 MB12 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperImaginando LdaAaron Meyers

Customer experience

VS

All ratings125 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral1.6%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive80.4%
Neutral3.9%
Negative15.7%

Neon

Written reviews24 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral4.2%
Negative8.3%

Bugs and requests

VS

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • No elegant way to get live synchronized video out
  • Popout to external displays only in standalone app, which can’t run in background
  • Video record export issue: videos are 30+ minutes when recorded for shorter duration
  • NDI stream not working
  • App crashes frequently
Show 10 more
  • Cannot cope with 'large' MP3 files (around 10MB)
  • No way to seek to anywhere but the beginning of audio files
  • Does not support .aiff files (only .aif)
  • Missing Bluetooth MIDI support
  • App is not smooth and freezes
  • No MP3 support
  • Jaggy and slow performance with video file background and one material layer
  • Unresponsive interface and frame rate drops with HD video
  • In-app help does not work
  • AUv3 mode displays AUM stuff and app menus, destroying aesthetics

Requested features

20 requests
  • Integrate an audio tool for Spotify/other audio sources
  • Allow using any graphic or photo content as a layer
  • Hope for Metal rendering for super performance shaders
  • More ways to interact between layers (displacement, feedback)
  • Post-processing effects (luma key, feedback, kaleidoscope, mirror)
Show 15 more
  • Option to load videos and images in layers other than B layer
  • More flexible/bigger choice of MIDI controllable artifacts
  • Use MIDI to trigger pre-programmed words
  • Ability to change font size in materials code editor
  • Pause and resume feature for audio playback
  • Ability to set play cursor anywhere in the middle of the file
  • iCloud file sharing
  • HDMI output for live use
  • Save audio file with the patch in standalone mode
  • Deeper mutating possibilities for items
  • Other textural possibilities with imported images
  • More mod sources for audio reactivity, device tilt, camera brightness, gestures
  • Option to create own materials from scratch (shader coding)
  • Cover the whole display in AUv3 mode (e.g., two-finger double tap)
  • Add shaders to the library

Neon

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

VS

One-time6
  • Retina Refill Preset Pack$17.99
  • Textural Memories Preset Pack$17.99
  • Cyber Spells Preset Pack$17.99
Show 3 more
  • Retro Riot Preset Pack$17.99
  • Raw Reflections Preset Pack$17.99
  • Noir Cuts Preset Packs$17.99
None

Neon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VS free?
VS costs $24.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Neon free?
Neon costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VS or Neon?
Neon is rated higher. VS averages 4.6 out of 5 from 125 ratings, while Neon averages 4.8 from 30 ratings.
Which is updated more often, VS or Neon?
VS ships an update every 6 weeks, and Neon every 6 months. Most recently, VS was updated on October 27, 2026 and Neon on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons