Comparison

Synth vs SAGA Synth | 16

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

Head to head
About

Synth

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
Read full description

Synth is an incredible polyphonic synthesizer for your iPad. Create your own sounds with the microphone, and relive all of your Casio SK1 dreams. Synth was used by Gorillaz in recording their album, “The Fall.” Synth’s parameter editor provides professional control and sound design via an in-app purchase. Connect Synth to drum machines, sequencers, and more in Tabletop for iPad. Tabletop is an expandable studio with over a dozen included musical devices. Tabletop is a modular environment where you can mix and match different devices. Select from over 40 devices including samplers, mixers, effects, sequencers and more. Buy only the gear you need from an expanding catalog. Need help? Email support@retronyms.com and we’ll answer your questions. Main Features: - Mod wheel - Pitch-bend wheel - Adjustable delay - Adjustable distortion

About

SAGA Synth | 16

This app provides a 16-bit retro video game synthesizer with over 350 presets. It allows for the creation of expressive pads, sound effects, drums, and leads, and can be used as a standalone app or an AUv3 plugin. Record and export your creations as WAV files.

Highlights
  • 16-bit retro video game synth
  • Over 350+ presets
  • Standalone app & AUv3 plugin
  • Step sequencer
  • Audio recording and export
  • MIDI keyboard support
  • Ableton Link
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

"SAGA SYNTH IS THE MOST FUN MUSIC APP ON THE PLANET!" – The GarageBand Guide SAGA Synth is a super-fun retro 16-bit video game synth More than chiptunes, you can use this synth for amazing and expressive pads, sound fx, drums, leads, and more! Make your music stand out with real 16-bit retro video game power. Created from 5 different vintage hardware YM2616 sound chips for the greatest collection of 16-bit sounds ever produced. We put lots of love into making this app. Ready Player One? Press a Key to take your music to the next level! REQUIRES iOS 14 and ABOVE! Thank you. :) Includes over 350+ Presets by MobyPixel, Electronisounds, Red Sky Lullaby, Gavinski, The GarageBand Guide, DJ Puzzle, The Audio Dabbler, Sound of Izrael, Marc Hupkens, AnalogMatthew, Brian Funk, Shazaam the Producer and more. Features custom-created sounds for this app, made from vintage retro gaming hardware. Learn More & Watch Videos: audiokitpro.com/sagasynth SAGA SYNTH is available only on iOS and iPadOS. FEATURES: • Standalone app & iOS AUv3 Plugin • Over 350+ presets to inspire you • Fun free-running step sequencer • Exclusive sound sources made for this app • New, more stable AudioKit code • 16-bit Synth, Drum, and Sound FX sounds included • Over 600+ Mb of sounds compressed to under 150 Mb • Audio recording, record your sounds then export wav files! No other apps needed • Use as an iOS Plug-in in hosts like GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, Beatmaker 3, and more • Use with MIDI keyboard or iOS MIDI host • Ableton Link SAGA Synth is the first of the next generation of AudioKit Pro apps, written from the ground up with a focus on playability and amazing sound. We've added rock-solid sequencer timing, improved AUv3 support, easy standalone recording, and much more. It's created with lots of love. + iPhone & iPad versions included for one low price ++ BONUS: Includes sounds from the best-selling Ableton 16-Bit Video Game sound packs by Brian Funk. For the first time on iOS! More Info: www.audiokitpro.com/sagasynth ### AudioKit is an open-source project intended to bring joy and music to people, and enlighten people on how to build custom instruments and iOS apps. All product names, images, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners, including SEGA Corporation, Yamaha Corporation, Twisted Electrons, MEGAfm, Genesis, MegaDrive, and others, which are in no way associated or affiliated with the creators of this app, including AudioKit, Brian Funk, AudioKit Pro, LLC, and the other contributors. Product names are used solely for the purpose of identifying specific products related to hardware, synthesizers, sampling, sound design, and music-making. Use of these names and images does not imply any cooperation or endorsement, including SEGA Corporation, Yamaha Corporation, Twisted Electrons, MEGAfm, Genesis, MegaDrive, and others. We thank them for their incredible hardware and instruments.

Screenshots

SAGA Synth | 164 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SAGA Synth | 16 at 4.9 against Synth's 3.1. SAGA Synth | 16 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months). Synth's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.4). On ads 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

Synth costs $0.99 and SAGA Synth | 16 $3.99 up front. Synth sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. SAGA Synth | 16 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SAGA Synth | 16 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAGA Synth | 16 has 435 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Synth's written reviews are positive against 89% of SAGA Synth | 16's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Synth ships an update every 6 months, SAGA Synth | 16 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
Synth versus SAGA Synth | 16: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSynthSAGA Synth | 16
Price$0.99 — better$3.99
Rating3.1 (20 ratings)4.9 (435 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.6% of reviews89.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20435 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#153 — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.4
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB121 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRetronyms IncAudioKit Pro

Customer experience

Synth

All ratings20 ratings
Positive55.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative35.0%
Written reviews250 reviews
Positive71.6%
Neutral7.6%
Negative20.8%

SAGA Synth | 16

All ratings435 ratings
Positive98.9%
Neutral0.9%
Negative0.2%
Written reviews73 reviews
Positive89.0%
Neutral1.4%
Negative9.6%

User reviews

Synth

From 20 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

SAGA Synth | 16

From 435 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎶 Awesome retro sounds
  • 👍 Great creation methods
  • 🎨 Versatile and fun
  • 🎨 More than just game sounds
  • 👍 Tons of presets

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Midi not working properly
  • 🐛 Sequencer issues with recording
  • 🐛 Keyboard issues and bugs
  • 🐛 Crashes and stability problems
  • 🤔 Not true 16-bit emulation

Bugs and requests

Synth

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Pitch bend control reverts back to default
  • Occasional crashes or freezes

Requested features

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

SAGA Synth | 16

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes when too many favorites
  • Overlapping UI elements on phones

Requested features

3 requests
  • Export to Famitone music file
  • macOS version
  • Improved quantization

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Synth

One-time2
  • Patch Editor$0.99
  • Synth Skin Pack$4.99
None

SAGA Synth | 16

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Synth free?
Synth costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SAGA Synth | 16 free?
SAGA Synth | 16 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Synth or SAGA Synth | 16?
SAGA Synth | 16 is rated higher. Synth averages 3.1 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while SAGA Synth | 16 averages 4.9 from 435 ratings.
Do Synth or SAGA Synth | 16 have ads?
Neither Synth nor SAGA Synth | 16 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Synth or SAGA Synth | 16?
Synth ships an update every 6 months, and SAGA Synth | 16 monthly. Most recently, Synth was updated on October 4, 2026 and SAGA Synth | 16 on October 11, 2026.

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