Comparison

Pad MIDI vs MIDI Designer Pro X

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

Head to head
About

Pad MIDI

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Pad MIDI turns your iPhone/iPad into MIDI pads and keyboard for your synth or DAW * Supports Bluetooth wireless / USB MIDI * Supports native Mac OS Network MIDI (Core MIDI) * 16 assignable / nameable MIDI pads * Full 88 key piano * Selectable MIDI channel and velocity * CC / Program change controllers * MIDI message log / debugger * Requires external synth or plugin to produce sound Learn how to connect here: http://support.thirteen32.com/apps/padmidi/

About

MIDI Designer Pro X

This app is a professional-grade, customizable MIDI controller for music production. It allows users to control any MIDI-enabled hardware or software, with extensive community-created layouts and powerful 'superpowers' for advanced MIDI manipulation. It supports AUv3 plugins and offers robust network, Bluetooth, and USB MIDI communication.

Highlights
  • Control any MIDI-enabled hardware/software
  • AUv3 MIDI Processor Extension
  • Reliable MIDI communication (Network, Bluetooth, USB)
  • Extensive user layout library (350+ layouts)
  • Powerful 'Superpowers' for MIDI manipulation
  • Community support and layout sharing
Features
Read full description

MIDI Designer Pro X (MDPx) is the culmination of over a decade of improvement. We launched MIDI Designer Pro in 2012 and relaunched it in 2016 as MIDI Designer Pro 2. MDP2 was the first and only professional-grade MIDI controller built natively for iOS, earning critical acclaim. Since launch, over 80 updates have greatly expanded its capabilities. Our user-created library now covers 375+ MIDI targets across music hardware and software. In 2024, MDPx took a significant leap forward with the expressive "Spaceship" theme on iPad and Mac and major iPhone usability advances. It now adds AUv3 support in hosts such as AUM, Cubasis, and Logic. A new subscription model — Premium — allows even more users to use the App in their music-making and discover the App Store's best MIDI controller for themselves. CAPABILITIES • Control all MIDI-enabled hardware and software: keyboards, synths, effects, pedals, DAWs, plug-ins, DJ, VJ & lighting rigs, other iOS apps, robots, cruise ships, rail guns, particle accelerators • AUv3 MIDI Processor Extension: Host MDPx inside AUM, Cubasis, Logic, and other AUv3 hosts. • Solid MIDI Communications Infrastructure: Sets the industry standard for reliable and robust MIDI interactions over Network, Bluetooth and USB. • Active Community of Authors: A vibrant ecosystem supporting legacy and current music synthesizers, sound engines, DAWs, and all MIDI-controlled devices. • Extensive User Layout Library: More than 350 layouts for over 80 manufacturers, contributed by the Community. • Comprehensive Support: Whether you're just starting or tackling complex MIDI implementations, with the Community we are here to assist. • MIDI Designer's 'Superpowers': A suite of powerful features exclusive to MIDI Designer that we have developed over the last 10+ years, including: • Ableton Link and Link Control Loopers • Supercontrols and subcontrols as the basis for many features (with no scripting!): • Snap sub to value over time • Sequential subs • Subcontrol chaining • Button groups (radio buttons) with Bounceback™ • Steppers • Live Transpose • Group Presets • Named Ticks • Accelerometer • Simplified Sysex Messages with variables and bit changers • Snap to Value over Time • Global Presets • Pedalboards • Popup Panels (Show/Hide) • Two-up Page Layout for iPad/Mac • Streambyter Plugin by Audeonic for advanced MIDI transformation MDPx is easy to use, infinitely flexible and customizable, and battle-tested in performance. It's the only professional-grade MIDI controller built from the ground up for iOS to control ANYTHING via MIDI. dream | create | play COMMUNITY The MIDI Designer Community has built layouts for popular MIDI targets. Here are just a few: • Ableton Live • Air Music Tech: Xpand!2 • Arturia: Synclavier V, Analog Lab 4 • Audiofier: Riffendium • Chase Bliss: Mood MKII, Reverse Mode C, Thermae • Clavia: NORD LEAD 4 • DSI: Prophet 12 • Elektron: Octatrack MKII • E-MU: Planet Phatt • Eventide: Pitchfactor, Modfactor • Fractal: Axe-FX • Hauptwerk: St. Anne's Symphonic Organ • Kawai: K1, K1r • Korg: Volca Series, 707 • Line 6: POD X3, POD XT, POD HD500, POD Go • Meris: Enzo, Polymoon • M-Audio: Venom • Novation: MiniNova • Moog: Voyager, Animoog, Little Phatty, Slim Phatty, MF-104m Analog Delay • Omnisphere • Pigtronix: Infinity Looper • Roland: Jupiter-Xm, RD-2000, RD-88, FA-06/FA-07/FA-08, VG-99, JX-3P, JX-8P, MKS-30, MKS-50, MKS-80 • Sample Logic: Morphestra 2 • Sonokinetic: Noir • Soundiron: Steel Tones • TC Electronic: Nova Drive NDR-1 • ValhallaDSP: ÜberMod, VintageVerb, FreqEcho, Shimmer, Room • Yamaha: DX7 (TX7), TQ5, SY77 (TG77), DX21, Reface DX, AN200/PLG-100AN/AN1X FIND OUT MORE Web: midiDesigner.com/mdpx Community Layouts: midiDesigner.com/community Manual: midiDesigner.com/manual EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Pad MIDI4 screens
MIDI Designer Pro X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MIDI Designer Pro X at 79% against Pad MIDI's 26%. MIDI Designer Pro X also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (4.6 vs 3.0). Pad MIDI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and chart position (#176 vs unranked). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MIDI Designer Pro X is free to download; Pad MIDI costs $0.99 up front. MIDI Designer Pro X sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Pad MIDI asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MIDI Designer Pro X holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MIDI Designer Pro X has 272 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Pad MIDI's written reviews are positive against 79% of MIDI Designer Pro X's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pad MIDI ships an update every 2 months, MIDI Designer Pro X every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Pad MIDI versus MIDI Designer Pro X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPad MIDIMIDI Designer Pro X
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (1 ratings)4.6 (272 ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.3% of reviews78.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1272 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
Best chart rank#176 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB209 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThirteen32 Pty LtdConfusion Studios LLC

Customer experience

Pad MIDI

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive26.3%
Neutral9.5%
Negative64.2%

MIDI Designer Pro X

All ratings271 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews165 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative17.0%

Bugs and requests

Pad MIDI

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App stays on loading page
  • App crashes after splash screen
  • App crashes on startup
  • App won't load
  • App won't open
Show 9 more
  • No sound output
  • Ads cannot be escaped
  • Accidentally clicked remove ad, needs refund
  • Ads couldn't be clicked out of
  • Notes don't work
  • Cannot connect to software
  • App crashes when loading
  • App crashes when opening
  • App automatically closes

Requested features

10 requests
  • Multi-touch support
  • Turn phone display off and maintain connectivity
  • Assign velocity to saved pads
  • Numerical velocity input
  • Customizable button colors/styles
Show 5 more
  • XY pad or faders/rotary encoders
  • More pages and knobs
  • Instructional video for setup
  • Support for newer software versions
  • USB connection for reduced latency

MIDI Designer Pro X

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Pad MIDI

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

MIDI Designer Pro X

Subscriptions8
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$1.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$2.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$2.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$4.991 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$14.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$24.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$29.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • MDPx Premium Lifetime$124.99

Questions

Is Pad MIDI free?
Pad MIDI costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MIDI Designer Pro X free?
MIDI Designer Pro X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pad MIDI or MIDI Designer Pro X?
MIDI Designer Pro X is rated higher. Pad MIDI averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while MIDI Designer Pro X averages 4.6 from 272 ratings.
Do Pad MIDI or MIDI Designer Pro X have ads?
Neither Pad MIDI nor MIDI Designer Pro X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pad MIDI or MIDI Designer Pro X?
Pad MIDI ships an update every 2 months, and MIDI Designer Pro X every 5 days. Most recently, Pad MIDI was updated on November 6, 2026 and MIDI Designer Pro X on November 6, 2026.

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