# Melody Generator vs VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

The clearest difference is price: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave at Free against Melody Generator's $2.99. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave also leads on rating (4.0 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (135 vs 4). Melody Generator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download; Melody Generator costs $2.99 up front. VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Melody Generator asks for nothing beyond the download.

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave has 135 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Melody Generator's written reviews are positive against 51% of VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Melody Generator | VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melody-generator/id1594121547/reviews) | **[4.0 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **135** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **51.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Paid** | Subscription |
| Size | 44 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 14.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chris McCormick](https://appshunter.io/developer/1594121549) | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) |

## What reviewers say

### Melody Generator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melody-generator/id1594121547)

Create royalty-free melodies for your music projects with this procedural generator. It offers AI-generated tunes, 10 instrument options, and the ability to export loops in MIDI or WAV formats for use in various sequencers and samplers.

**Highlights:** AI-generated procedural melodies, Royalty-free commercial use, 10 instrument choices, Export MIDI loops, Export WAV loops

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vhs-synth-80s-synthwave/id1615208667)

This app creates unique synth sounds by recording classic synths to VHS tape and then resampling them. It offers a vast library of presets and effects to achieve lo-fi, retro vibes for various music genres. An AUv3 plugin and standalone app are included.

**Highlights:** VHS-recorded and resampled synths, Over 280+ presets, Standalone app and AUv3 plugin, VCR sound effects, VCR FX section for customization, Free expansion pack included

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Excellent lo-fi and retro 80s sound quality
- 🎹 Extensive library of high-quality presets
- 💰 Affordable pricing (at original purchase)
- 🎨 Intuitive and clean interface design
- 🔊 Versatile sounds for multiple genres

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Aggressive subscription model for previously purchased app
- 🔄 Conversion from AudioKit broke existing projects
- 📊 User data tracking added without clear benefit
- 🚫 Removed access to previously purchased presets/banks
- 😠 Lack of developer communication about changes

**Reported bugs**

- GarageBand compatibility broken after updates
- App not recognized in Logic Pro after updates
- Inconsistent sound quality across different registers
- Patch/preset settings not retained after closing DAW
- Audio Unit Extension crashes in GarageBand

**Requested features**

- Mac OS version for DAW compatibility
- Velocity sensitivity settings for keyboard
- Pitch bend and modulation wheels with actual functionality
- Better keyboard design with proper key sizing
- Improved UI layout to reduce wasted space in AUv3 mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Melody Generator free?

Melody Generator costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave free?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Melody Generator or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave is rated higher. Melody Generator averages 2.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave averages 4.0 from 135 ratings.

### Do Melody Generator or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave have ads?

VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave shows ads; Melody Generator does not.

### Which is updated more often, Melody Generator or VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave?

Melody Generator ships an update every 2 weeks, and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave every 2 weeks. Most recently, Melody Generator was updated on October 24, 2026 and VHS Synth | 80s Synthwave on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*