# Pad MIDI vs Midi Controller

The clearest difference is price: Midi Controller at Free against Pad MIDI's $0.99. Midi Controller also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (42 vs 1). Pad MIDI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Midi Controller is free to download; Pad MIDI costs $0.99 up front. Midi Controller sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Pad MIDI asks for nothing beyond the download.

Midi Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Midi Controller has 42 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Pad MIDI's written reviews are positive against 41% of Midi Controller's.

Pad MIDI ships an update every 2 months, Midi Controller every 7 months. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pad MIDI | Midi Controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pad-midi/id412795962/reviews) | **[4.1 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-controller-remote-and-usb/id1470513354/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **42** |
| Positive reviews | 30.1% of reviews | **40.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 28 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thirteen32 Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1577479080) | [Mizo LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1820590289) |

## What reviewers say

### Pad MIDI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pad-midi/id412795962)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a versatile MIDI controller. It offers wireless and USB connectivity, customizable pads, and a full piano keyboard for your music production needs. Requires external hardware or software to generate sound.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth and USB MIDI support, 16 assignable MIDI pads, Full 88-key piano keyboard, Selectable MIDI channel and velocity, CC and Program Change controllers, MIDI message log/debugger

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works as expected
- 👍 Simple and functional
- 👍 Great MIDI tool
- 👍 Free and functional
- 👍 Useful for triggering effects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 No sound output
- 🐛 Crashes on startup
- 🐛 Does not load
- 🐛 Does not open
- 🐛 Ads are intrusive

**Reported bugs**

- App stays on loading page
- App crashes after splash screen
- App crashes on startup
- App won't load
- App won't open

**Requested features**

- Multi-touch support
- Turn phone display off and maintain connectivity
- Assign velocity to saved pads
- Numerical velocity input
- Customizable button colors/styles


### Midi Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-controller-remote-and-usb/id1470513354)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly: MIDI Controller | $3.99 | per month |
| Lifetime: MIDI Controller | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pad MIDI free?

Pad MIDI costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Midi Controller free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pad MIDI or Midi Controller?

Midi Controller is rated higher. Pad MIDI averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Midi Controller averages 4.1 from 42 ratings.

### Do Pad MIDI or Midi Controller have ads?

Neither Pad MIDI nor Midi Controller shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pad MIDI or Midi Controller?

Pad MIDI ships an update every 2 months, and Midi Controller every 7 months. Most recently, Pad MIDI was updated on September 29, 2026 and Midi Controller on September 29, 2026.

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