Comparison

TOPLAPapp vs Relic Flow

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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).

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

TOPLAPapp2 screens
Relic Flow2 screens

Verdict

The call

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 ratings volume (26 vs 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

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for TOPLAPapp against 4.8 for Relic Flow. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Relic Flow has 26 ratings behind it against 4, 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TOPLAPapp ships an update every 49 months, Relic Flow every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
TOPLAPapp versus Relic Flow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTOPLAPappRelic Flow
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.8 (4 ratings)4.8 (26 ratings)
Positive reviews95.5% of reviews — better93.3% of reviews
Number of ratings426 — better
Update frequencyEvery 49 monthsEvery 17 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua ParmenterAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

TOPLAPapp

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive95.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.5%

Relic Flow

All ratings26 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%

In-app purchases

None

TOPLAPapp

No in-app purchases

None

Relic Flow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TOPLAPapp free?
TOPLAPapp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Relic Flow free?
Relic Flow costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TOPLAPapp or Relic Flow?
TOPLAPapp and Relic Flow are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 26 ratings respectively.
Do TOPLAPapp or Relic Flow have ads?
Neither TOPLAPapp nor Relic Flow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TOPLAPapp or Relic Flow?
TOPLAPapp ships an update every 49 months, and Relic Flow every 17 months. Most recently, TOPLAPapp was updated on September 24, 2026 and Relic Flow on October 13, 2026.

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