Comparison

Mantis vs WoodTroller

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Mantis1 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Mantis costs $14.99 and WoodTroller $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mantis ships an update every 9 months, WoodTroller fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mantis versus WoodTroller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMantisWoodTroller
Price$14.99$9.99 — better
Rating5.0 (8 ratings) — better4.8 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudioThing Ltd.Woodman's Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio

Customer experience

Mantis

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

WoodTroller

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Mantis

No in-app purchases

None

WoodTroller

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mantis free?
Mantis costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is WoodTroller free?
WoodTroller costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mantis or WoodTroller?
Mantis is rated higher. Mantis averages 5.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while WoodTroller averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.
Do Mantis or WoodTroller have ads?
Neither Mantis nor WoodTroller shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mantis or WoodTroller?
Mantis ships an update every 9 months, and WoodTroller fortnightly. Most recently, Mantis was updated on September 10, 2026 and WoodTroller on September 8, 2026.

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