Comparison

SynthStation vs SpringSound

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

Head to head
About

SynthStation

Transform your mobile device into a portable music studio. Create melodies, bass lines, and drum beats with virtual synthesizers, drum kits, and a built-in sequencer. Offers real-time recording and extensive effects for unlimited sonic creativity.

Highlights
  • Three virtual-analog synthesizers
  • Over 50 drum kits
  • Built-in sequencer
  • Arpeggiator with preset patterns
  • Core MIDI-compatible
  • Real-time recording
  • Effects and filters
Features
Read full description

Low $1.99 price extended! Compatibility: Requires iOS 4.3 to iOS 6.1.3 Features • Three virtual-analog synthesizers, each with three oscillators • More than 50 drum kits, plus a built-in sequencer • Create melodic and accompaniment parts using arpeggiator with preset patterns • Core MIDI-compatible: works with any Core MIDI device as a synth module on your iOS device • Real-time recording • Unlimited creativity with effects and filters • Compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch • Requires iOS 4.3 or later Transform your iPhone into a music production studio. SynthStation transforms your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a portable music production studio for mobile music creation. SynthStation gives you three powerful synthesizers for creating and modifying sonic textures used for melodies, chords, and bass lines. Built around Akai Professional’s history in synthesis and drawing on the newest MINIAK synth, SynthStation sounds great and offers wide-ranging sonic flexibility with its virtual analog synthesis. From the moment you start SynthStation, you'll know your way around. It is jam-packed with tools to help you create music with the convenience of your touch screen and each section works the way you work. With SynthStation, you can create and save sequences and complete songs. The app contains three different three-oscillator synths and a range of drum kits you can sequence and mix right in the SynthStation. For creating melodic and accompaniment parts, the SynthStation contains an arpeggiator with preset patterns, built-in effects and filters, and an XY touch control interface for expressive control of key parameters. PERFORM Play with keys, XY and arpeggiator controls. This is perfect place to make magic happen because it gives you access to all the common controls you’ll need in a performance or creation setting. SYNTH Complete synthesis controls from oscillators to LFOs, envelopes, and more. You can control a wide range of filters to dial in exactly the sound you need. Choose from Sine, Triangle, Square or Sawtooth on your VCO and start creating your own signature sounds from scratch. Filter Cutoff and Resonance are just two taps away. DRUMS In addition to SynthStation's three synthesizers, we've included drum kits and a visual representation of the most iconic beat making tool in the world - MPC pads. Just pick your kit and start tapping beats anywhere, anytime. Includes: Drum Kit – select the drum kit and play it with onscreen pads. Drum Edit – tune, mix, and customize your drums. SEQUENCER Keyboard grid – see your keyboard sequencing and edit notes easily. Drum grid – build and modify drum tracks with a visible sequencer grid. SONG/SEQUENCE Select and save your Song/Sequence projects. You can recall your Songs and work on them later, and even export them for further editing in your desktop audio applications. CONTROL XY – two axes of control for hands-on, real-time control. Just like a joystick, the XY controller can snap back to the zero point. Tempo – control tempo and even tap in the tempo you want. MIXER The Mixer in SynthStation includes touch-controlled faders for each of the three synthesizers and the drum section as well as FX send for each. Mixer – mix all the levels of the parts and effects. Just like a hardware mixer, there are faders, mutes, and effect routing. Effects – select and control FX type and parameters. SynthStation Studio enables you to create and produce music anywhere on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

About

SpringSound

This app is a physical-modeling audio synthesizer that simulates sound through the interaction of springs, masses, and activators. It offers detailed control over various physical parameters and comes with a large library of presets. It can be used as a sound generator or effect, and supports MIDI and expressive controllers.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling sound synthesis
  • Detailed control of physical parameters
  • Large set of sound presets
  • Audio-In effect capability
  • MIDI and MPE support
  • iOS Continuum Remote integration
Features
Read full description

SpringSound is a physical-modeling audio synthesizer that produces sounds by simulating interactions and vibrations of a set of activators and masses connected to springs. The model offers detailed control of an array of features including: gravity, bouncing, fluid and static friction, mechanical limits, non-linear functions, and more. SpringSound is provided with a very large set of sound presets that you can tweak and save. Small video introductions are available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1GF7HkSV9c and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdYuZ07nmRo And an audio demo of some presets: https://soundcloud.com/christophe-duquesne/demopresetspringsound It can be used as a sound generator or as an effect using its Audio-In feature, opening a new world of physical modeled effects. It is fully Audiobus® 2 and inter-app audio compatible, and manage state saving. SpringSound can be controlled by a standard MIDI keyboard and directly from the iOS device screen. It is complete with the new MIDI MPE (expressive MIDI) and therefore can be controlled by most expressive controllers like the Haken Continuum, ROLI Seaboard, Linnstrument, Madrona Labs Soundplane, etc. SpringSound app is designed for optimum use with the Haken Continuum (www.hakenaudio.com) and integrate an IOS Continuum Remote (iPad only) allowing a very comprehensive and accurate remote control of the Continuum from your iPad (access to all parameters except programming the Eagan Matrix). SpringSound has be designed to explore sounds domains you won’t be able to access with other synthesis technics. It expands your sonic palette with a new world of physical sounds. It is a rich musical instrument, a sophisticated sound-design tool and an entertaining sonic playground. SpringSound is the big brother of my former Ackorage-Spring app.

Screenshots

SynthStation4 screens
SpringSound1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SpringSound at 74% against SynthStation's 31%. SpringSound also leads on rating (4.2 vs 2.3). SynthStation's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (178 vs 19). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SynthStation costs $1.99 and SpringSound $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SpringSound holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynthStation has 178 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of SynthStation's written reviews are positive against 74% of SpringSound's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SynthStation ships an update every 3 months, SpringSound every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SynthStation versus SpringSound: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSynthStationSpringSound
Price$1.99 — better$2.99
Rating2.3 (178 ratings)4.2 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.8% of reviews73.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings178 — better19
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS4.3 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAkai ProfessionalChristophe Duquesne

Customer experience

SynthStation

All ratings178 ratings
Positive28.1%
Neutral7.9%
Negative64.0%
Written reviews305 reviews
Positive30.8%
Neutral12.1%
Negative57.0%

SpringSound

All ratings19 ratings
Positive73.7%
Neutral15.8%
Negative10.5%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive73.7%
Neutral21.1%
Negative5.3%

Bugs and requests

SynthStation

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • No sound output
  • Midi connectivity problems
  • Incompatible with latest iOS versions
  • Saved projects not loading properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Audiobus/Inter-App Audio support
  • More synth/drum samples
  • Ability to save custom sounds
  • Improved sequencing capabilities
  • Easier audio export options

SpringSound

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SynthStation

No in-app purchases

None

SpringSound

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SynthStation free?
SynthStation costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SpringSound free?
SpringSound costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SynthStation or SpringSound?
SpringSound is rated higher. SynthStation averages 2.3 out of 5 from 178 ratings, while SpringSound averages 4.2 from 19 ratings.
Do SynthStation or SpringSound have ads?
Neither SynthStation nor SpringSound shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SynthStation or SpringSound?
SynthStation ships an update every 3 months, and SpringSound every 9 months. Most recently, SynthStation was updated on October 21, 2026 and SpringSound on October 12, 2026.

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