Comparison

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer vs VAPolyWest

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

Head to head
About

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

Create complex musical sequences with multiple polyrhythmic tracks. Control note, velocity, gate, and MIDI CC parameters with independent step lengths and rates. Route MIDI output to your favorite synths and AUv3 hosts.

Highlights
  • Multitrack polyrhythmic MIDI sequencing
  • Note and MIDI CC tracks
  • Configurable step lengths per mode
  • Independent track rates
  • Assignable MIDI channels
  • Ramp value for CC smoothing
  • AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

PolyBud is a multitrack polyrhythmic AUv3 MIDI sequencer. You can add multiple note or MIDI CC tracks to the each pattern. The note tracks has the note, velocity, gate, ratchet, probability and randomisation modes. You can set different step lengths to the each mode which would introduce polyrhythmic variations immediately. Another great feature is the each track can run in a different rate which is great for creating unique polyrhythmic sequences. Also, you can assign different MIDI channels to the each track so that you can control multiple synths within a single PolyBud pattern. The MIDI CC tracks is great for modulating the synth parameters. You can introduce polyrhythmic modulations by setting the different step lengths and different rates to your MIDI CC tracks. Also, you can set a ramp value for smoothing up the CC value changes per step. If you set the ramp value to 0% then you can have the classic sample and hold modulation. PolyBud is a MIDI app and it don't produce any sound of its own. You need to route PolyBud's MIDI out to your audio apps in order to run PolyBud. For the AUv3 plugin, you need an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Cubase, NanoStudio, ZenBeats, BeatMaker, apeMatrix etc.

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
Currently charting
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

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer4 screens
VAPolyWest4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer at $3.99 against VAPolyWest's $14.99. PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 10 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). VAPolyWest's advantage is chart position (#191 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer costs $3.99 and VAPolyWest $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer against 5.0 for VAPolyWest. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 5 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer's written reviews are positive against 75% of VAPolyWest's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer ships an update every 5 weeks, VAPolyWest every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer versus VAPolyWest: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolyBud Polyrhythmic SequencerVAPolyWest
Price$3.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.9 (9 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#191 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCem OlcayRyo Togawa

Customer experience

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VAPolyWest

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

In-app purchases

None

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

No in-app purchases

None

VAPolyWest

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer free?
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyWest free?
VAPolyWest costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer or VAPolyWest?
VAPolyWest is rated higher. PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while VAPolyWest averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer or VAPolyWest have ads?
Neither PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer nor VAPolyWest shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer or VAPolyWest?
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer ships an update every 5 weeks, and VAPolyWest every 10 months. Most recently, PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer was updated on September 21, 2026 and VAPolyWest on September 20, 2026.

Other comparisons