MIDIKeys vs Midi Controller
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MIDIKeys
This app acts as a virtual MIDI keyboard controller, allowing you to send MIDI messages to synthesizer apps and hardware. It offers customizable velocity, octave transposition, and tilt controls for expression.
- Virtual MIDI keyboard
- Send MIDI messages
- Octave transposition
- Adjustable velocity
- Tilt expression control
- Customizable MIDI channel
Read full descriptionHide full description
MIDIKeys is a MIDI keyboard controller that can be used to send MIDI messages to synthesizer apps and hardware MIDI synthesizers. MIDIKeys doesn't produce any sound on its own, it is for playing hardware or software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via MIDI hardware interfaces connected to the iPhone dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments like IK Multimedia SampleTank® for iOS or ThumbJam running in the background on your iPhone. The entire range may be transposed up or down (up to a three octave limit) by touching the 8va -/+ buttons on the main screen. Touching the display for the transpose value between the octave shift buttons resets the transpose to C3 (60). Both fixed or variable note MIDI Note On event velocity based on touch position within the key are available as options on the settings page. While playing, you may also optionally send real-time volume, expression, modulation, or wind controller MIDI messages by tilting the iPhone/iPod Touch to the right or left. Set the transmit channel using the MIDI Channel slider. Any channel from 1-16 may be selected. Channel 1 is the default. Choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, MIDIKeys will show up as an input option labeled "MIDIKeys" in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MIDIBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default. Note-on events may be sent with either a fixed or variable velocity based on where you touch on the key. Set the maximum velocity using the Velocity slider. Any value from 0-127 may be selected. Default value is 100. Select between fixed or variable velocity mapped to the touch position using the selector. When the velocity is mapped to touch, the minimum velocity is approximately 10% of the value set on the Velocity slider and the max is 100% of the value. Touching lower or higher on the key (area below the black keys only for the white keys) results in lower or higher velocity values sent in the MIDI Note On event for the key. Black key highest velocity starts at the bottom of the key and gets lower as you touch higher. MIDIKeys can send Volume, Expression, Modulation, or Breath Control message by tilting the device to the right or left. Select a controller on the Tilt Controller selector. Default is no controller messages. When a controller is enabled, tilting the device to the right or left will send the selected controller messages to the external device. Values increase as the device is tilted farther to the right. You may set the tilt sensitivity using the Tilt Sensitivity slider. The range is from 1 to 4, with higher values being more sensitive. Default value is 1.5. If you ever have "stuck" notes, you may touch the "Shhh" icon on the main screen to send a MIDI "All Notes Off" message and stop the sounds. All settings are saved when exiting MIDIKeys and restored the next time it is run.
Midi Controller
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a versatile MIDI controller. Send notes, control changes, and program changes wirelessly or via USB to any compatible DAW or hardware. Customize your workspace with unlimited, dynamic controls.
- USB, WLAN, and Bluetooth connectivity
- Customizable buttons, pads, and sliders
- Send Notes, CC, and Program Change values
- Works with macOS and CoreMidi compatible hardware
- No additional software required
- Dynamic control creation
Read full descriptionHide full description
MidiController turns your iPhone/iPad into a complete MIDI controller, that works over USB, WLAN or Bluetooth. No additional software needed! Send all possible Notes, Continuous Controller / Control Change and Program Change values to the connected device. Build your workspace from the ground up with unlimited, custom Pushes/Buttons and Sliders. All Pushes/Buttons and Sliders are completely customisable - customize every value of every control possible and how the control behaves. You can even create dynamic controls (e.g. Program Change values that count up or down). • Works with every macOS: From 10.5 (Leopard) up to the newest 10.15 (Catalina) • Works on every iPhone and iPad • Also works with external hardware (e.g. synths,...) that supports Apple (CoreMidi) • If your hardware/PC does not support CoreMidi, you can use an iPhone/iPad compatible MIDI-Interface as bridge to make MidiController work with ALL MIDI devices Works with every application that supports MIDI-Input. Example DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation): * Logic X Pro * Ableton Live * Avid Pro Tools * Propellerhead Reason * Steinberg Cubase * Cockos Reaper * and many more (in principle every application that supports midi input) ** NOTES ** • MidiController does not play any sound itself, it only sends out MIDI-Information to connected devices. • MidiController is primary created to work with macOS-Devices. If you want to use MidiController with hardware that does not support Apple CoreMidi, you might need an iPhone/iPad compatible MIDI-Interface as bridge. A MIDI interface typically connects to your iOS per lightning port and provides standard MIDI DIN ports to connect to your hardware. There are also bluetooth MIDI interfaces that connect wirelessly. • MidiController does not receive any MIDI-Information, it generates and sends them itself depending on the user-input. ______________________________________________ APP USAGE INFO & MIDI CONTROLLER SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Should you choose to upgrade to a midi controller subscription, payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, and cancellation of the current active subscription period is not allowed. Auto-renewal may be turned off in your Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. You can also manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. LICENSED APPLICATION END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Midi Controller Terms of Service: https://learned-romano-d09.notion.site/Terms-Conditions-9fc801bf71f94e4cae7b31b72c7e13e3 Midi Controller Privacy Policy: https://learned-romano-d09.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-ee4011f149ac417bbedbfea3f0250a96
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Midi Controller at 4.1 against MIDIKeys's 3.4. MIDIKeys's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (70% vs 41%). On price, ratings volume, ads 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
Both are free to download. Midi Controller sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. MIDIKeys asks for nothing beyond the download.
Midi Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 42 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of MIDIKeys's written reviews are positive against 41% of Midi Controller's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
MIDIKeys ships an update every 6 weeks, Midi Controller every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDIKeys | Midi Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (16 ratings) | 4.1 (42 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews — better | 40.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 | 42 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Eskin | Mizo LLC |
Customer experience
MIDIKeys
Midi Controller
In-app purchases
MIDIKeys
No in-app purchases
Midi Controller
- Monthly: MIDI Controller7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Lifetime: MIDI Controller$29.99
Questions
Is MIDIKeys free?
Is Midi Controller free?
Which has better reviews, MIDIKeys or Midi Controller?
Do MIDIKeys or Midi Controller have ads?
Which is updated more often, MIDIKeys or Midi Controller?
Other comparisons















