Mantis vs WoodTroller
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Mantis
This audio plugin emulates a vintage 70s analog delay/echo unit, offering a warm, authentic sound. It features four echo taps, swell selectors, and a unique modulation section for chorus-like effects.
- Emulates rare 70s BBD delay/echo
- Warm analog sound
- Four echo taps
- Four swell selectors
- Rotafaze modulation section
- Mimics tape echo wow/flutter
- Chorus-delay effect
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Mantis is a plugin that emulates a rare BBD (bucket-brigade device) delay/echo unit of the 70s, faithfully recreating its warm and analog sound. Available as AUv3 and Standalone. As the original unit, Mantis features an echo section with four taps and four swell selectors. It also features the rotafaze section, a modulation that can mimic the wow/flutter of a tape echo or turn the unit into a unique chorus-delay.
WoodTroller
This app functions as a multi-touch bar MIDI controller for MPE and MIDI V2. It offers customizable rotary controls and buttons to manage various parameters and send MIDI commands, with iCloud syncing for presets.
- MPE touch bar with individual pitch shift, pressure, and CC74 control
- 8 customizable rotary controls for sending multiple CC messages
- 8 programmable buttons for sending various MIDI commands
- User-definable rotary and button names, colors, and ranges
- Preset storage and automatic syncing via iCloud
- Stand-alone app and AUv3 plugin support
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WoodTroller is NOT an app to annoy people. It’s an MPE and midi V2 multi touch bar keyboard and midi controller : The MPE touch bar supports multiple notes with individual pitch shift (horizontal movement), pressure and cc74 (vertical movement). WoodTroller has 8 general purpose rotary controls : - Each can send 6 different CC messages to different channels. - Each of the 6 command values can be mapped differently to the full rotary range. - So 1 rotary can control several parameters on the same or on different instruments. - Rotary names, colour, unit, range can all be user set. WoodTroller also has 8 general purpose on-off or push buttons : - Each button can send up to 8 different midi commands (CC, PC, NoteOn, …) to different channels. - This allows to quickly switch multiple midi instruments or devices to another program or to other settings. - Each midi command’s data value can be auto incremented/decremented. - All button names, colour, type can be user set. All settings can be stored in presets in iCloud which yield automatic preset syncing between several WoodTrollers on different devices. WoodTroller is available as stand-alone app and as AUv3 plugin.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: WoodTroller at fortnightly against Mantis's every 9 months. WoodTroller also leads on price ($9.99 vs $14.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). Mantis's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On ratings volume, 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
Mantis costs $14.99 and WoodTroller $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Mantis holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 6 respectively.
Mantis ships an update every 9 months, WoodTroller fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Mantis | WoodTroller |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $9.99 — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better | 4.8 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AudioThing Ltd. | Woodman's Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio |
Customer experience
Mantis
WoodTroller
In-app purchases
Mantis
No in-app purchases
WoodTroller
No in-app purchases









