# Pad MIDI vs LK

The clearest difference is price: LK at Free against Pad MIDI's $0.99. LK also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.0) and review sentiment (64% vs 26%). Pad MIDI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

LK is free to download; Pad MIDI costs $0.99 up front. LK sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Pad MIDI asks for nothing beyond the download.

LK holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LK has 708 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 64% of LK's.

Pad MIDI ships an update every 2 months, LK fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pad MIDI | LK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pad-midi/id412795962/reviews) | **[4.3 (708 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lk-ableton-and-midi-controller/id944972221/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **708** |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | **64.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 28 MB | 123 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) | [Imaginando Lda](https://appshunter.io/developer/895445015) |

## 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


### LK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lk-ableton-and-midi-controller/id944972221)

This application acts as a remote control for Ableton Live and MIDI devices, enhancing electronic music production and live performance. It offers deep integration with Ableton Live and extensive MIDI capabilities for controlling software and hardware. The app is modular, with features available as separate in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Ableton Live integration, MIDI device control, Clip launching and sequencing, Device parameter control, Virtual MIDI and AUv3 support, Modular in-app purchases

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Chorder | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock MIDI Pads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock MIDI Controller | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock X/Y Pad | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Keyboard | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Step Sequencer | $7.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Matrix | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Modules Bundle | $39.90 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works perfectly
- 🎹 Great for Ableton Live
- 🎨 Powerful features
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 💯 Excellent app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔌 Connection issues and unreliable wireless
- 💰 Expensive with separate module purchases
- 🤔 Confusing setup and documentation
- 🔋 High battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Clip renaming tool not working
- Occasional MIDI note sticking
- UI disappearing and requiring restart
- Wireless connection randomly dropping
- Exclusive track arming mode issues

**Requested features**

- Add MIDI CC mapping and automation
- Implement vertical view for session mode
- Allow saving and loading of custom settings
- Improve MIDI note and velocity handling
- Add MIDI transformers and generators


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pad MIDI free?

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

### Is LK free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pad MIDI or LK?

LK is rated higher. Pad MIDI averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while LK averages 4.3 from 708 ratings.

### Do Pad MIDI or LK have ads?

Neither Pad MIDI nor LK shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pad MIDI or LK?

Pad MIDI ships an update every 2 months, and LK fortnightly. Most recently, Pad MIDI was updated on October 10, 2026 and LK on October 18, 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.*