Comparison

Fnorder vs LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer

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

Head to head
About

Fnorder

Receive encoded messages and instructions from secret masters. Use it for decision-making or to entertain friends. Includes beautiful illuminated wallpapers.

Highlights
  • Encoded messages from secret masters
  • Decision-making assistance
  • Entertain friends
  • Illuminated wallpapers
  • Original design
Features
Read full description

The Fnorder brings you messages from the Illuminati . . . encoded information and instructions from the Secret Masters, for your eyes only. This is all for real! Honest! Use it to boggle your friends . . . or ask it for help when you need to make a decision. Think of it as the I Ching for paranoids. It also includes a variety of beautiful Illuminated wallpapers which you can use for your iPhone or iPad. The Fnorder is free, and was created for you by Steve Jackson Games in the service of Eris (Hail Eris! All hail Discordia!) We publish books, games, and magazines for game fans. Visit us on the web at www.sjgames.com. Original Fnorder design by Steve Jackson and Creede Lambard. iOS app developed by Kira Matrejek.

About

LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer

Transform your iPhone into a dynamic audio visualizer that reacts to your music. Enjoy a variety of retro-inspired displays, from spectrum bars to analog meters, all driven by your device's microphone. No subscriptions or data tracking, just pure audio-visual enjoyment.

Highlights
  • Microphone-driven sound visualizer
  • Seven live display options
  • Customizable colors and sensitivity
  • Retro stereo and car audio themes
  • Portrait and landscape modes
  • Keep screen awake option
Features
Read full description

Make the music visible, and turn your iPhone or iPad into the retro audio display your stereo deserves. LaZ Visual Audio Equalizer is now LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer. The name has changed; the free v2.0 upgrade brings more ways to see your music. LaZ Viz listens through your device's microphone and turns the sound around you into dancing spectrum lights, moving needles, glowing waves and whole worlds that come alive with the music. Version 2.0 brings rebuilt audio analysis, refreshed VU and McVU meters, native iPad layouts and layouts designed for iPhone Duo from day one. Made for Duo: Open, fold and rotate with layouts that follow the space available. VU meters can occupy separate fold regions. Phosphor keeps its round scope and controls within reach. Partially fold Duo in Jeep Beach for a dedicated JUMP panel alongside the scene. Meet the new screens: • Dairy Freefall: six evolving looks, including Light Tunnel, electric arcs, neon ropes, kaleidoscope, double helix and a pulsing logo vortex. Import your own logo from Photos or Files, choose its color mode and adjust transparency. • Aftershock: a neon spectrum landscape beneath a synthwave sunset. • Oceanic: rolling water, reflected light and interactive splashes. • Jeep Beach: a pixel-art beach ride that bounces along with the music, framed by a nostalgic bedroom TV. Tune in, hit the beach and add a little extra jump. • Block Monster: glossy stacks, falling peak caps and a city loft setting. • Phosphor on iPad and iPhone Duo: a green-glowing oscilloscope with adjustable intensity, focus, gain and timebase. • 2002: a second interactive car stereo, with four live displays, dolphin and racing animations, a folding faceplate, an ejectable CD and haptics on supported devices. The originals are still here: Classic Viz, Blue Da Ba Dee, Custom Viz, VU, McVU, Vox and the interactive 1995 stereo with eight presets, working controls, a moving CD, haptics on supported devices and hidden surprises. CHONK-O-VIZ turns the classic spectrum grids into oversized blocks. Custom Viz lets you choose the bottom, middle, top and falling peak colors. The 1995 screen keeps its original LaZ EQ branding as a tribute to the fallen. Make it feel right: In portrait, open Settings to adjust Sensitivity, VU Drama, Jiggle and your colors. Try experimental Jeep Mode to tame wind, road noise, fans and other low rumble. Swipe between screens, use the portrait picker to jump to a favorite, and tap to embiggen. Keep the screen awake for long listening sessions. Made for the music around you: Put it beside a turntable, stream to a nearby AirPlay or Bluetooth speaker, or bring it to concerts, festivals, parties, DJ sets, garages and car meets. Microphone access is required for live sound response. LaZ Viz visualizes audio rather than changing it. It cannot read protected audio inside other apps, and it does not work with CarPlay or music played through your device's own speakers. It is an entertainment app, not a professional analyzer or calibration tool. Your microphone audio stays on your device. It is processed live, never recorded, saved or uploaded. The orange microphone dot is expected while the meters are active; capture stops when the app closes or enters the background. Optional major-update reminders are local and can be turned off anytime. Delivery depends on iOS background availability. Already own version 1? Version 2.0 is a free upgrade. No subscription. No signup. No tracking. Just music you can see.

Screenshots

Fnorder3 screens
LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Fnorder at Free against LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer's $4.99. Fnorder also leads on ratings volume (995 vs 9) and iOS requirement (10.3 vs 17.0). LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 2.6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 113 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

Fnorder is free to download; LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fnorder has 995 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Fnorder's written reviews are positive against 100% of LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fnorder ships an update every 113 months, LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Fnorder versus LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFnorderLaZ Viz Audio Visualizer
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating2.6 (995 ratings)5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings995 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 113 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.3 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB95 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperSteve Jackson GamesMerit Advertising Corporation

Customer experience

Fnorder

All ratings995 ratings
Positive30.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative55.1%
Written reviews83 reviews
Positive71.1%
Neutral9.6%
Negative19.3%

LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Fnorder

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
  • Occasional crashes or freezes

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to save or share generated phrases
  • More customization options
  • Integration with other apps or services
  • Expanded content or themes

LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Fnorder

No in-app purchases

None

LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Fnorder free?
Fnorder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer free?
LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Fnorder or LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer?
LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer is rated higher. Fnorder averages 2.6 out of 5 from 995 ratings, while LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.
Do Fnorder or LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer have ads?
Neither Fnorder nor LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fnorder or LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer?
Fnorder ships an update every 113 months, and LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer every 2 weeks. Most recently, Fnorder was updated on October 31, 2026 and LaZ Viz Audio Visualizer on October 25, 2026.

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