Comparison

Bebot vs NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

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

Head to head
About

Bebot

This app transforms your device into a musical instrument with an intuitive touch interface and a friendly robot performer. Create and edit unique sounds with a powerful synth engine and apply effects. It's designed for both beginners and experienced musicians, offering features like scale locking for error-free playing and expressive gesture controls.

Highlights
  • Easy-to-use touch control system
  • Powerful synth engine for sound creation and editing
  • Robot performer animates your music
  • Scale locking for error-free playing
  • Polyphonic for chords and harmonies
  • Expressive gesture controls
  • Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Bebot is a musical instrument that anyone can play. Instead of a keyboard, it has an easy-to-use touch control system. And it's all built into a friendly animated robot, who performs your music while you play. Although it looks simple on the outside, inside is a powerful synth engine which lets you create and edit your own sounds and apply effects. The controls are easy to use, making it fun to tinker and experiment with sound. If you just want to get playing, there's also a wide selection of preset sounds. The touch control system lets you lock in a scale so that you'll never play a wrong note, which makes it easy to play, even on your iPhone. It's polyphonic, which means you can use multiple fingers at once to play chords and harmonies. Plus, you can perform sweeping slides and expressive gestures that would be practically impossible on a regular keyboard. While it's designed to be simple and fun, that doesn't mean it's only for beginners. Bebot has been used both on stage and in the studio by accomplished musicians and performers including Dream Theater, How To Destroy Angels and The Flaming Lips. To see and hear Bebot in action, check out the demo videos at normalware.com, including a walkthrough demo by keyboard wizard Jordan Rudess. Now with Audiobus and Inter-App Audio, you can connect Bebot to other apps such as GarageBand to record, multitrack and add effects, making Bebot more versatile and useful than ever. For more information about Audiobus, visit http://audiob.us/

About

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

This virtual analog synthesizer offers a powerful and intuitive sound design experience, inspired by classic hardware. Explore over 40 classic waveforms, a versatile arpeggiator, step sequencer, and lush effects to craft unique electronic music.

Highlights
  • Virtual Analog Synthesizer
  • 40+ Classic Waveforms
  • Arpeggiator
  • Step Sequencer
  • Lush Effects Suite
  • Four-voice Unison
  • AUv3 Plugin Support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Inspired by the classic sounds of the Nord Lead A1** This is not a Rompler. This is a SYNTH.  "I’m impressed. The sounds are FAT, the effects are LUSH, and the interface is a JOY to use."  – Audio News Room "This is not a clone, this is BEYOND the hardware, it's a completely new, fantastic beast" – Jade Starr, How to App "An excellent release...app captures the soul of the Nord Lead A1 Synthesizer"  – Synth Anatomy "An iOS-based homage to a virtual analogue classic!" – Music Radar / Keyboard Magazine Not imitation, it's Innovation! https://audiokitpro.com/redsynth With Nerd Synth, you’ll have access to all 40+ of the classic lead A1 waveforms! Plus, we gave it some RAW MODERN POWER. FULLY LOADED w/ 550+ presets by Analog Matthew, Electronisounds, DMT Cymatics, Moby Pixel, Red Sky Lullaby, and more NOTE: This is a synth, and contains no hardware preset samples. All presets are completely original. One low price includes Lifetime License and all Features Easy to use. Easy to get great tone! NERD SYNTH A2X: • 64-voice, Retro VA-Synth • Include all 40+ of the Nord A1 waveforms • Arpeggiator! Classic Hardware-style Arp, with extra features • Vintage-style Step Sequencer that can be routed to specific layers • A proper filter envelope ADSR! • NEW: 2x Oversampled Oscillators • 3 LFOs. Fun Routings. LFOs can modify other LFOs • Microtonality, World Scales and Western Scales! • TouchPads! 2 fun assignable pads, -= Create NORD-style SUPER SAWS =- ++ Four-voice Unison with the tap of a button ++ 3 different algorithms: Regular, HYPER, and BEAST! "Astoundingly great sounding and intuitive synth app!" – The GarageBand Guide Modeled sound: It's like a time-capsule. Imagine if there were iPads in 2003? Complete with that "cold" VA sound that ruled the dance floors and stages ADDITIONAL FEATURES: • FX: Glorious Reverb, Analog Tape Delay, Distortion, Flanger, Chorus, Crush, and more. • On board "Record" button, no external hardware required • Works with a MIDI Keyboard EXCLUSIVE TO THIS APP: • "SUPER FM" wild pitch drop controls! Modeled after digital VA-Synths, complete with vintage digital aliasing for old-school vibe! • Crazy aggressive RING MODULATION distortion – It's like robots talking, or fighting? You decide! COOL: • iPad version has "stacked" views for maximum onscreen control! Tap the current Nav Button at the top to change the bottom view • This is a Premium App: No iAP, No Ads, No subscriptions! Use as a plug-in in DAWs like GarageBand & Logic for iPad, Cubasis, AUM, and more! NOTE: This is not a hardware clone, it's a completely new synth. If you're looking for a ROMpler like the "Stage" series, this app may not be for you. This is a SYNTH, not a rompler. All the presets here are new and original. Giving you fresh new sounds that are completely tweak-able This is not a 1:1 clone and will not load hardware presets. Please note that this app's sound is closer to the A1, which is a different sound from the NL1/NL2X. ** This app has no affiliation or endorsement by Clavia DMI AB. This app is not a clone of any their synths, including the Nord Lead and Nord Lead A1. While we were inspired by their wonderful and iconic work, this app is not trying to copy those synths. We created something completely new. It's a synth for synth nerds :) LEGAL STUFF: All product names and images, trademarks and artists names are the property of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with the creators of this app, including AudioKit, AudioKit Pro, LLC, and the other contributors. Any use of these names and images does not imply any cooperation or endorsement by Clavia Digital Musical Instruments. Nord Lead, Nord Lead 2X, Nord, and Nord Lead A1 are Clavia trademarks and properties. We appreciate their amazing work in creating such classic and inspiring instruments.

Screenshots

Bebot4 screens
NERD Synth A2x + AUv34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 at fortnightly against Bebot's every 8 months. NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 also leads on ratings volume (1.3K vs 203). Bebot's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.4). On rating, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Bebot costs $1.99 and NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Bebot against 4.9 for NERD Synth A2x + AUv3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 has 1.3K ratings behind it against 203, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of Bebot's written reviews are positive against 90% of NERD Synth A2x + AUv3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bebot ships an update every 8 months, NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Bebot versus NERD Synth A2x + AUv3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBebotNERD Synth A2x + AUv3
Price$1.99 — better$5.99
Rating4.9 (203 ratings)4.9 (1.3K ratings)
Positive reviews95.0% of reviews — better90.4% of reviews
Number of ratings2031.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#140 — better#142
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.4
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB242 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNormalwareAudioKit Pro

Customer experience

Bebot

All ratings203 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral0.5%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews518 reviews
Positive95.0%
Neutral2.1%
Negative2.9%

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

All ratings1,342 ratings
Positive99.1%
Neutral0.6%
Negative0.3%
Written reviews146 reviews
Positive90.4%
Neutral6.8%
Negative2.7%

User reviews

Bebot

From 203 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🤖 Fun and engaging robot interface
  • 🎨 Versatile sound customization
  • 🎹 Polyphonic and expressive synth capabilities
  • 💰 Great value for the price
  • 🎢 Enduring appeal and longevity

Room to improve

  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 🔀 Orientation lock problems on iPad
  • 🔇 Lack of volume control

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • ⭐ Outstanding synth
  • 👍 Very nice and rich sounding
  • 🎨 Great presets and sound design
  • 🔧 Easy to use and intuitive
  • 💻 Works well in AUv3 environments

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Doesn't show up in Logic
  • 🔧 Needs to be more Mac-compatible
  • 🔧 Changing presets can be sluggish
  • 🔧 Missing aftertouch/expression support

Bugs and requests

Bebot

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional note-sticking issues
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Recording and audio export capabilities
  • Metronome and looping functions
  • Additional sound effects and presets
  • MIDI support
  • Ability to load custom samples

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Doesn't fit properly in Logic Pro for iPad
  • Keyboard keys get stuck when using a controller

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Improved Logic Pro integration
  • Ability to change color scheme

In-app purchases

None

Bebot

No in-app purchases

None

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bebot free?
Bebot costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 free?
NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bebot or NERD Synth A2x + AUv3?
Bebot and NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 are both rated 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 203 and 1.3K ratings respectively.
Do Bebot or NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 have ads?
Neither Bebot nor NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bebot or NERD Synth A2x + AUv3?
Bebot ships an update every 8 months, and NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 fortnightly. Most recently, Bebot was updated on October 1, 2026 and NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 on October 2, 2026.
Which is more popular, Bebot or NERD Synth A2x + AUv3?
Bebot currently peaks at #140 in the App Store charts, and NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 at #142. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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