Comparison

MIDI FX vs midiOS

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

Head to head
About

MIDI FX

This app allows you to control and process MIDI signals for music creation. It offers features like harmonization, transposition, and sequencing, enabling you to control external or virtual synthesizers and create complex musical arrangements.

Highlights
  • MIDI signal processing
  • Harmonize and Transpose
  • Sequencer for synths
  • Delay and Looper
  • Filter notes by velocity
  • Internal instruments
Features
Read full description

Buy once and get the iOS and Mac apps (with Family Sharing) Control your MIDI signals and process them in any combination of ways: Harmonize, Transpose, Arpeggiate, etc... Or use the Sequencer to play any external or virtual synth. Use a MIDI interface to unlock the power of the app to control multiple synths with one keyboard, play one note and generate chords, basslines, etc... Use the delay/looper or filter notes based on velocity or other parameters to send to different synths/effects. A MIDI workstation in your pocket (or your iPad/Mac) You can also use some internal instruments (drums sampler, piano or synth) if you are away from your MIDI gear, and sequence whole songs inside the app, or use other synth apps as input/output for MIDI FX. Your imagination is the limit!

About

midiOS

Features
Read full description

Before installing, visit midios.app/setup for setup instructions. midiOS is a new kind of instrument. Transform your iPhone into an expressive MIDI instrument with advanced harmony, multidimensional performance control, and deep DAW integration. Play notes, chords, scales, arpeggios, modulation, and complete live performances from the device you already carry. With Offline Play, midiOS becomes a self-contained instrument. Choose from built-in sounds, create an instrument rack, record or import personal samples, and capture performances in Offline LiveGrid—without a Mac, DAW, account, or network connection. Designed for musicians, midiOS opens ready to perform. Tap pads to play notes, chords, and scales. Change keys, modes, voicings, and tonal centers without interrupting your flow. Swipe across pads to explore inversions, chord qualities, suspensions, secondary dominants, chromatic movement, and harmonic variations. Every gesture can become musical. Shape your performance with multi-touch, directional gestures, device motion, aftertouch, pitch movement, XY pads, sliders, knobs, and macros. Optional facial controls let head and expression movements influence harmony, modulation, register, and other performance destinations in real time. Performance Modes transform these inputs into coordinated musical systems. Intelligent voice leading keeps chords connected, expressive harmony controls create fluid transitions, and synchronized arpeggiation follows your DAW’s tempo and phase without restarting the pattern. Built-in modes provide focused setups for piano performance, harmony exploration, musical learning, generative flow, and Ableton control, while Custom Mode lets you create your own instrument. Save complete instruments and performance setups in the Layout Library, then switch between them quickly. Discover and install compatible instruments through the midiOS Marketplace, or transfer your own layouts securely between midiOS and the midiOS Bridge. Using the free midiOS Bridge for Mac, connect over USB or Wi-Fi for a fast, authenticated MIDI connection to your computer. midiOS works with MIDI-compatible software and offers deep Ableton Live integration, including clip and scene launching, transport, session navigation, mixer controls, macros, and real-time visual feedback on your iPhone. Rotate your device to enter LiveGrid and transform your iPhone into a live performance controller. Launch clips and scenes, navigate your session, control transport, and manage your performance from across the stage or studio. Built for live performance, midiOS combines responsive MIDI, intelligent harmony, stable note ownership, fast layout switching, haptic feedback, visual feedback, and automatic reconnection in a workflow designed to keep you focused on making music. Most MIDI apps give you buttons. midiOS gives you an instrument that responds to how you play. Learn more at midios.app.

Screenshots

MIDI FX2 screens
midiOS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDI FX at Free against midiOS's $24.99. MIDI FX also leads on device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.7 vs 26.0). midiOS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). On ads 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

MIDI FX is free to download; midiOS costs $24.99 up front. MIDI FX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. midiOS asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI FX ships an update every 9 days, midiOS every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 4 level
MIDI FX versus midiOS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI FXmidiOS
PriceFree — better$24.99
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.7 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size263 MB341 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJorge Arroyojason merrill

In-app purchases

1 purchases

MIDI FX

One-time1
  • Unlock app$9.99
None

midiOS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI FX free?
MIDI FX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is midiOS free?
midiOS costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do MIDI FX or midiOS have ads?
Neither MIDI FX nor midiOS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI FX or midiOS?
MIDI FX ships an update every 9 days, and midiOS every 3 days. Most recently, MIDI FX was updated on October 6, 2026 and midiOS on October 9, 2026.

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