Comparison

Trope vs Relic Waves

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

Head to head
About

Trope

Create evolving soundscapes by tracing abstract shapes on your screen. This app offers a darker, more introspective and atmospheric musical experience, ideal for generative music exploration. Recommended for use with headphones or external speakers.

Highlights
  • Generative soundscape creation
  • Interactive touch interface
  • Evolving musical textures
  • Introspective and atmospheric tone
  • Abstract shape tracing
Features
Read full description

Trope, designed by ambient pioneer Brian Eno and musician / software designer Peter Chilvers, expands further on the ideas introduced by Bloom, their acclaimed iPhone application.  Darker in tone, Trope immerses users in endlessly evolving soundscapes created by tracing abstract shapes onto the screen, varying the tone with each movement. Recommended for headphones and external speakers. "Trope is a different emotional experience from Bloom - more introspective, more atmospheric. It shows that generative music, as one of the newest forms of sonema, can draw on a broad palette of moods." - Brian Eno

About

Relic Waves

Generate unique Lo-Fi sounds, pads, and effects using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sonic possibilities with intuitive controls and real-time recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking experimental audio.

Highlights
  • Billions of unique Lo-Fi sounds
  • Random sound generation with search
  • Multiple keyboard input options
  • Real-time audio recording to WAV
  • Export to WAV, SunVox, and clipboard
  • MIDI control and processing
  • iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)
Features
Read full description

Relic Waves is a generator of Lo-Fi noises, pads and effects based on unique synthesis algorithms from NightRadio. More than 4 billion samples from the depths of the Mathematical Universe! Features: * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; each set of 12 sounds corresponds to a code of 8 characters; * three types of keyboards for live performing: on-screen buttons, PC keyboard, MIDI input; * several processing parameters + control via MIDI; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual samples - they will not change during the search for new sets; * iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.

Screenshots

Trope4 screens
Relic Waves1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Relic Waves at 100% against Trope's 64%. Relic Waves also leads on update cadence (every 11 months vs every 34 months) and 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

Trope costs $3.99 and Relic Waves $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Relic Waves holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 42 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Trope's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trope ships an update every 34 months, Relic Waves every 11 months. Both last shipped on September 27, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Trope versus Relic Waves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTropeRelic Waves
Price$3.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.8 (38 ratings)5.0 (42 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3842 — better
Update frequencyEvery 34 monthsEvery 11 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOpal LimitedAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

Trope

All ratings38 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral5.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews146 reviews
Positive63.7%
Neutral11.6%
Negative24.7%

Relic Waves

All ratings42 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Trope

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Does not run in background/sleep mode
  • App speeds up sleep timer
  • Errors about iOS 11 incompatibility
  • Cannot listen and create after update
  • Screen looks awful (outdated UI)
Show 7 more
  • App doesn't work/programmed feel
  • Music doesn't stop when app is closed
  • Sleep timer not working correctly in iOS6
  • Glitchy sound/static at note start
  • ノイズが入る (Noise occurs)
  • 音が割れる (Sound distortion/crackling)
  • Bug that changes line type back to default after erasing

Requested features

11 requests
  • Ability to save compositions
  • Option to turn off random background noises
  • More control over sound parameters (attack, duration)
  • User sound input option
  • Recording function
Show 6 more
  • More variety in sounds and moods
  • Mac app store version
  • Streaming to AirPort Express
  • Improve responsiveness to touches
  • Option to remove random tones
  • Background tasking/multitasking improvements

Relic Waves

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Trope

No in-app purchases

None

Relic Waves

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Trope free?
Trope costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Relic Waves free?
Relic Waves costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Trope or Relic Waves?
Relic Waves is rated higher. Trope averages 4.8 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Relic Waves averages 5.0 from 42 ratings.
Do Trope or Relic Waves have ads?
Neither Trope nor Relic Waves shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Trope or Relic Waves?
Trope ships an update every 34 months, and Relic Waves every 11 months. Most recently, Trope was updated on September 27, 2026 and Relic Waves on September 27, 2026.

Other comparisons