Washboard vs sumFX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Washboard
Transform your device into a virtual washboard with customizable sounds and decorations. Play along with your music or connect to an amp for live performances. It also functions as a MIDI controller for music production.
- Virtual metal washboard instrument
- Add-on instruments like horns and woodblocks
- Customizable decorations
- Play along with music
- Connect to external amplifiers
- MIDI controller functionality
Read full descriptionHide full description
Turn your mobile device into a musical washboard! You can play the classic metal washboard as is, or customize it by adding instruments like horns and woodblocks in any combination. You can even add decorations like a flower, a sticker or party lights. Play along with your iPod music, or plug into an amp and join a jug band! Some reviews say the app doesn't sound like a washboard, but it does use audio samples taken from a real washboard. The samples come from a metal board played with 1" zinc washers -- this gives a sound harder than thimbles but softer than spoons -- and include a tap, scrub and wood sound. The add-on instruments also use real audio samples. Instruments include: - Small cowbell - Large cowbell - Small horn - Large horn - Tambourine - Cymbal - Small woodblock - Large woodblock - Service bell - Vibraslap - Toy chicken Decorations (no sound) include: - Toy dinosaur - Flower - Bow tie - Hula girl - Woody Guthrie sticker - Party lights If you have any MIDI equipment, you can also use Washboard as a MIDI controller. Map each instrument in the app to a note number in your sound module, then tap the board or attached instruments to send note-on commands. The MIDI commands are sent on channel 10 for easy access to most percussion modules. Before buying this app, I recommend watching the demo video at washboardapp.com to see how it works. If you need help after your purchase, please contact me before writing a bad review. I have no way to respond or help you if you publish your complaints in a review, but I respond promptly to all emails.
sumFX
This app is a versatile audio effects processor for musicians. It offers a modular design with multiple high-quality FX modules and customizable slots, allowing for quick creation of unique sounds. Focus on your music with intuitive controls and visual feedback.
- Modular multi-FX processor
- 8 high-quality FX modules
- 8 FX slots with Wet/Dry control
- 2 LFOs per slot
- 50+ cross-platform presets
- Pre/post waveform view
Read full descriptionHide full description
sumFX is a modular multi-FX processor for Mac/PC and iOS. Designed with simplicity in mind, to help keep you focused on the music and the sum of your efforts. Packed with 8 high quality FX modules and an available 8 slots, each loaded with Wet/Dry control, Global Wet/Dry, and 2 LFOs per slot, creating new unique sounds is quick and easy. 50+ cross-platform slot & chain presets are included to get you to any sound you need quickly and we’ve packed in an easy to use pre/post waveform view to help keep you focused on the result of your FX. Modules: -syncDynamics - Multimode dynamic FX with BPM sync attack/release (Noise Gate, Expander, Compressor, Limiter) -stereoFilter - Stereo filter with link or individual channel controls (LPF12, HPF12, BPF12, LPF24, HPF24, BPF24, Notch, & Formant options). -variMod - Multimode modulation FX with stereo offset (Chorus, Flanger, Vibrato, Phaser, Tremolo, & Auto Pan) -EQuator - Full high quality EQ module (3 Parametric Bands, High/Low Shelf, & HPF/LPF). -frostReverb - Multi-Mode (Original, Plate, Spring, Room) Stereo Reverb. -bucketDelay - Stereo Analog Style Delay with individual channel control. -variPitch - Stereo Pitch Shifter with 3X Modes (Doubler, Harmonizer, & Full Control) -powerPhase - Multimode Saturation, Utility Gain In/Out, Mono Maker, Channel msDelay, & Phase inverter.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Washboard at 5.0 against sumFX's 4.4. Washboard also leads on price ($1.99 vs $9.99) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). sumFX's advantage is ratings volume (12 vs 1) and review sentiment (55% vs 43%). 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
Washboard costs $1.99 and sumFX $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Washboard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: sumFX has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 43% of Washboard's written reviews are positive against 55% of sumFX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Washboard ships an update every 3 months, sumFX every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Washboard | sumFX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.4 (12 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | 54.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 12 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arlo Leach | OSC Audio |
Customer experience
Washboard
sumFX
In-app purchases
Washboard
No in-app purchases
sumFX
No in-app purchases









