# Synth vs XPad

The clearest difference is price: XPad at Free against Synth's $0.99. XPad also leads on rating (3.8 vs 3.1) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 6 months). Synth's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 50%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

XPad is free to download; Synth costs $0.99 up front. Synth sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and XPad sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

XPad holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 24 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Synth's written reviews are positive against 50% of XPad's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Synth ships an update every 6 months, XPad every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Synth | XPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.1 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synth/id364905862/reviews) | **[3.8 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xpad/id1338505908/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 20 | **24** |
| Positive reviews | **71.6% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 21 MB | 1.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Retronyms Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/307726643) | [Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte](https://appshunter.io/developer/428367741) |

## What reviewers say

### Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synth/id364905862)

This app is a polyphonic synthesizer for iPad, allowing users to create unique sounds. It offers professional control and sound design capabilities, and can be integrated with other music production tools.

**Highlights:** Polyphonic synthesis, Microphone sound creation, Parameter editor (in-app purchase), Tabletop integration, Mod wheel, Pitch-bend wheel, Adjustable delay and distortion

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patch Editor | $0.99 | one-time |
| Synth Skin Pack | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great synth with lots of settings and options
- 🎨 Awesome retro/vintage sounds
- 💡 Useful for creating sound effects
- 🎹 Simple and easy to use keyboard

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 No MIDI support
- 🔌 Not compatible with other apps like Tabletop
- 🔒 Lacks advanced features like ADSR, filters, LFO
- 🔇 No recording or export functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Pitch bend control reverts back to default
- Occasional crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Add MIDI support
- Integrate with Tabletop and other music apps
- Implement ADSR, filters, LFO, and other synthesis controls
- Add recording and export capabilities


### XPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xpad/id1338505908)

This app provides professional pad sounds for keyboardists, aiming to replicate warm analog synth tones with advanced digital features. It offers intuitive glissando control, real-time sound morphing, and extensive MIDI compatibility for a dynamic playing experience.

**Highlights:** Modern pad sounds, Realistic glissando control, Tone Width morphing, Sensible sound controls, MIDI remote control, Extensive sound library search

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weirdo Sound Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pluck Sound Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| Metal Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Bass Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Choir Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Altro Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Organ Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Percussive Sound Set | $3.99 | one-time |
| Silicon Sound Set | $4.99 | one-time |
| Vintage Sound Set | $4.99 | one-time |
| Atmo Sound Set | $5.99 | one-time |
| Space Sound Set | $5.99 | one-time |
| Nature Sound Set | $5.99 | one-time |
| Sequence Sound Set | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Synth free?

Synth costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is XPad free?

XPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Synth or XPad?

XPad is rated higher. Synth averages 3.1 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while XPad averages 3.8 from 24 ratings.

### Do Synth or XPad have ads?

Neither Synth nor XPad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Synth or XPad?

Synth ships an update every 6 months, and XPad every 4 weeks. Most recently, Synth was updated on October 4, 2026 and XPad on September 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*