TOPLAPapp vs Relic Flow
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TOPLAPapp
This app offers a unique sonic puzzle experience using a virtual machine for sound synthesis. Users control the machine by placing command letters and adjusting parameter sliders to generate experimental, often noisy, electronic music.
- Virtual machine for sound synthesis
- Instruction-based sound generation
- Parameter sliders for sound control
- Grid-based command placement
- Experimental sonic art focus
- Live coding principles
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TOPLAPapp is a sonic puzzle based around a virtual machine for sound synthesis. This machine accepts a few valid instructions represented by the letters T, O, P, L, A, and p, and you control it by placing each command letter within a grid, along with setting some associated parameter sliders. The machine rushes through the instruction set to create output sounds, which are usually of a somewhat noisy character, hopefully interestingly so. The historical antecedents include instruction synthesis as pioneered at the Institute of Sonology in the 1970s, and the live coding movement, of modifying a running program as it acts. This app is intended for those interested in more experimental sonic art: don't download unless you are open to stranger computer music sounds ((http://www.toplap.org).
Relic Flow
Generate unique Lo-Fi rhythms, noise patterns, and drum loops using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sound samples with intuitive controls and real-time audio recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking endless creative possibilities.
- Lo-Fi rhythm and drum loop generation
- Billions of unique sound samples
- Real-time audio recording to WAV
- Multiple input methods (on-screen, PC keyboard, MIDI)
- Export to WAV, SunVox, and text clipboard
- iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
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Relic Flow is a generator of Lo-Fi rhythms, noise patterns and drum loops 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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TOPLAPapp at Free against Relic Flow's $1.99. TOPLAPapp also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 12.0). Relic Flow's advantage is update cadence (every 17 months vs every 49 months) and chart position (#175 vs unranked). 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
TOPLAPapp is free to download; Relic Flow costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for TOPLAPapp against 4.9 for Relic Flow. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Relic Flow has 28 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of TOPLAPapp's written reviews are positive against 93% of Relic Flow's.
TOPLAPapp ships an update every 49 months, Relic Flow every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TOPLAPapp | Relic Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (5 ratings) | 4.9 (28 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 95.5% of reviews — better | 93.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 28 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 49 months | Every 17 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #175 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 0 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Joshua Parmenter | Alexander Zolotov |
Customer experience
TOPLAPapp
Relic Flow
In-app purchases
TOPLAPapp
No in-app purchases
Relic Flow
No in-app purchases









