iKoto vs S
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iKoto
Experience the traditional Japanese Koto (harp) on your iPhone. This app allows you to play oriental melodies, record your performances, and utilize features like tone scale changes and pitch bends. Enjoy a selection of sample music and export your recordings.
- Virtual Koto instrument
- Recording function
- Tone scale changes
- Pitch-bend function
- WAV file export via WiFi
- Preset tone scales
- Sample music included
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iKoto is an application for playing Koto（Japanese Harp） on iPhone. Koto is a Japanese traditional stringed musical instrument that can produce oriental tone. Recording, playing, and demonstration functions are installed. There are tone scale change and pitch-bend functions. If you like Harp, you will like Koto too. Enjoy Japanese traditional sound. The following three pieces of sample music are installed. -Sakura -Rokudan -Fur Elise Recording data can be stored up to three. iKoto has a function to output recording-data into PC as WAV-file via WiFi. The following eleven tones scale are preset. Hira,Kumoi,Hon-Kumoi,Han-Kumoi,Kata-Kumoi Nakazora,Iwato,Akebono,Nogi,Gaku,Hanagumo *Be sure your iPhone is not in silent mode*
S
This semi-modular synthesizer app for iPad offers a hands-on sound design experience with a single-screen interface for intuitive patching. It delivers a warm, vintage sound inspired by 1970s synthesizers, featuring dual oscillators, resonant filters, and multiple modulation sources.
- Single-screen interface
- Fast, hands-on patching
- Vintage 1970s synth sound
- Dual oscillators
- Resonant ladder filter
- Multiple modulation sources
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S-Modular is a semi-modular synthesiser for iPad, designed for fast, hands-on patching without clutter. Everything is presented on a single screen, making sound design immediate and intuitive. Simply drag from one jack to another to create connections. S-Modular delivers a distinctive vintage sound inspired by classic 1970s synthesis — warm, rich, and full of character. Features Dual oscillators 24 dB/oct ladder filter Resonant high-pass and low-pass filters Two LFOs Four-step CV sequencer Four-track mixer Audio and CV splitter Two AHR envelope generators Delay effect
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: iKoto at 86% against S's 31%. iKoto also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.6) and monetization model (free vs paid). S's advantage is chart position (#184 vs unranked). On price, 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
iKoto costs $2.99 and S $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
iKoto holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of iKoto's written reviews are positive against 31% of S's.
iKoto ships an update every 2 months, S every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iKoto | S |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (8 ratings) — better | 2.6 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 85.6% of reviews — better | 31.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 11 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #184 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GClue, Inc. | Paul Betowski |
Customer experience
iKoto
S
Bugs and requests
iKoto
Reported bugs
10 issues- App crashes on startup or immediately after opening
- Sound output fails without clear cause
- Tuning selection screen displays blank/white text
- Unable to change tuning modes
- App crashes when entering settings or changing notes
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- Crashes when transferring songs
- Crashes during recorded music playback
- Display not optimized for newer screen sizes
- Crashes at low battery levels
- Incompatibility with latest iOS versions
Requested features
14 requests- Custom tuning/string adjustment capability
- Support for modern music scales and genres
- More pre-recorded demo songs
- Ability to save unlimited recordings
- MIDI file import/export functionality
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- Continuous loop playback for accompaniment
- Pitch bend control via accelerometer
- Additional Japanese instruments (Biwa, Shamisen, Shakuhachi)
- Ambient background sounds (water, wind, birds)
- Longer note sustain when holding strings
- Variable string plucking force control
- Auto-generated peaceful melodies
- Octave change controls
- Ability to save compositions with titles
S
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iKoto
No in-app purchases
S
No in-app purchases
