Comparison

Pulsar vs Mr. LoFi

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

Head to head
About

Pulsar

This music app provides a virtual drum machine with 8 pads for improvising and playing along to built-in rhythm presets. It features real-time rhythm switching, tempo control, and various effects. It also supports Ableton Link and MIDI for seamless integration with other music software and hardware.

Highlights
  • 8-pad drum machine
  • Built-in rhythm presets
  • Real-time rhythm switching
  • Tempo and accent control
  • Drive, reverb, and filter effects
  • Ableton Link synchronization
  • MIDI In/Out support
  • AUv3 compatibility
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Make beats anywhere with Pulsar-ES, an authentic preset drum machine expanded into a mobile groovebox for iPhone and iPad. Inspired by the rare Soviet/Ukrainian PULSAR hardware, Pulsar-ES keeps the original industrial rhythm-box character while adding the missing modern features producers expect: MIDI editing, deeper FX, Ableton Link sync, AUv3 workflow, and mobile project control. Play ideas fast on the 4x2 drum pad grid, then turn them into full patterns with the MIDI Clip Editor. Draw, move, and resize notes directly on the grid so your rhythm stays editable after the first take. Shape your sound with a hands-on FX rack built for quick decisions: - Filter with low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, and notch modes - Reverb with room, hall, and plate spaces - Overdrive with overdrive, distortion, fuzz, and tube modes - Delay with digital, tape, and ping-pong modes - Chorus and compressor for extra movement and control Pulsar-ES also supports Ableton Link sync, project save/load, rhythm presets, and a portrait layout designed for making music on the go. Start a beat, edit every note, shape it with FX, and keep your ideas moving.

About

Mr. LoFi

Infuse your audio projects with authentic vintage character using this powerful audio processor. Dial in classic lo-fi textures from cassette tapes, VHS, vinyl, and early digital gear with a simple knob, or fine-tune with advanced controls. Explore four distinct speaker emulations for a complete retro sound experience.

Highlights
  • Single-knob macro control for instant lo-fi effects
  • Four distinct playback modes (Cassette, VHS, Vinyl, Vintage Digital)
  • Four classic speaker emulations
  • Advanced controls for noise, warble, and artifacts
  • Simulates vintage hardware sound
Read full description

**Mr. Lo-Fi: The Ultimate Vintage Vibe** Step back in time and infuse your audio with the unmistakable character of yesterday. Introducing Mr. Lo-Fi, the definitive audio processor for adding authentic vintage charm to your music and sound projects. With its deceptively simple single-knob design, you can instantly dial in classic lo-fi textures, from the warm wobble of cassette tapes to the crunchy artifacts of early digital gear. **The Big Knob** At the heart of Mr. Lo-Fi is the Macro Control Knob. One turn is all it takes to transform your pristine audio into a nostalgic masterpiece. But don't let the simplicity fool you – beneath the surface lies a powerful engine meticulously crafted to simulate the soul of vintage hardware. **Four Iconic Eras at Your Fingertips** Explore a universe of lo-fi sound with four distinct playback modes: * **Cassette:** Relive the glory days of analog mixtapes with warm saturation, tape hiss, and subtle pitch variations. * **VHS:** Add the unique, wobbly audio character of classic videotapes to your tracks. * **Vinyl:** Recreate the timeless sound of records, complete with authentic crackles, pops, and the gentle hum of a turntable. * **Vintage Digital:** Journey back to the dawn of digital audio with bit-crushed textures, sample rate reduction, and the signature sound of early microprocessors. **Speaker Emulations** Audition your lo-fi creations through four classic speaker modes: * **Studio:** A clean, flat reference for accurate monitoring. * **Hi-Fi:** The sound of a classic 80s/90s home stereo system. * **Boombox:** The punchy, mid-focused sound of a portable cassette player. * **Television:** The characteristic audio of a vintage CRT television set. **Fine-Tune Your Vibe** Ready to go deeper? Sculpt your sound with precision using our advanced controls: * **Noise:** Dial in the perfect amount of hiss, hum, and crackle. * **Warble:** Control the pitch instability for everything from subtle flutter to extreme tape chew. * **H-Control:** A unique creative parameter that shapes different artifacts depending on the selected mode – from crossover distortion and tape dropouts to digital jitter. Whether you're a music producer chasing that chill lo-fi hip-hop sound, a film composer adding period-accurate audio, or a sound designer creating unique textures, Mr. Lo-Fi is your secret weapon for instant vibe.

Screenshots

Pulsar4 screens
Mr. LoFi1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pulsar at 67% against Mr. LoFi's 0%. Pulsar also leads on price ($4.99 vs $9.99) and chart position (#188 vs unranked). Mr. LoFi's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and iOS requirement (11.4 vs 13.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Pulsar costs $4.99 and Mr. LoFi $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mr. LoFi holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pulsar has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Pulsar's written reviews are positive against 0% of Mr. LoFi's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pulsar ships an update every 3 weeks, Mr. LoFi monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Pulsar versus Mr. LoFi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPulsarMr. LoFi
Price$4.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.3 (7 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings7 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#188 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB120 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDmytro KiroKai Aras

Customer experience

Pulsar

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%

Mr. LoFi

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pulsar

No in-app purchases

None

Mr. LoFi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pulsar free?
Pulsar costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mr. LoFi free?
Mr. LoFi costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pulsar or Mr. LoFi?
Mr. LoFi is rated higher. Pulsar averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Mr. LoFi averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Pulsar or Mr. LoFi have ads?
Neither Pulsar nor Mr. LoFi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pulsar or Mr. LoFi?
Pulsar ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mr. LoFi monthly. Most recently, Pulsar was updated on September 18, 2026 and Mr. LoFi on September 24, 2026.

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