# Echo String™ Lite vs AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Echo String™ Lite at none against AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's 6. Echo String™ Lite also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (2K vs 2). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Echo String™ Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

Echo String™ Lite holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth has 2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Echo String™ Lite's written reviews are positive against 76% of AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's.

Echo String™ Lite ships an update every 7 months, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Echo String™ Lite | AudioKit Digital D1 Synth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echo-string-lite/id424405657/reviews)** | [4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-digital-d1-synth/id1436905540/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | **88.9% of reviews** | 76.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 3 MB | 636 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.1** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Supertintin Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/345365970) | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) |

## What reviewers say

### Echo String™ Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echo-string-lite/id424405657)

Create music easily with this innovative harp app. It features three partitions of strings with chord mask settings, allowing you to glide and produce melodies. Record your performances and play them back at original or dual speed.

**Highlights:** 3 partition strings, Chord Mask settings, Record and playback functionality, Two playback speeds, Visual effects, Supports AudioBus and Inter-App Audio, WiFi MIDI Out & MIDI Out

**In-app purchases:** none


### AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-digital-d1-synth/id1436905540)

This app is a virtual analog and PCM synthesizer for iPad, inspired by the digital synthesizers of the 80s and 90s. It offers a vast library of presets, advanced synthesis features, and built-in effects for creating rich, retro-inspired sounds.

**Highlights:** 64-voice hybrid digital poly synthesis, 1GB+ of original samples, Stand-alone, IAA, and AUv3 support, Vintage-style arp/step sequencer, 3 LFOs with fun routings, Dual independent per-layer filters, Built-in FX suite

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| D1 PCM Expansion-01 | Free | one-time |
| Platinum Expansion PCM EXP-01 | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Excellent sound quality
- 🎹 Versatile and inspiring presets
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💰 Great value for the price
- 🔥 Cutting-edge digital synthesis

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Lack of Audio Unit (AUv3) support
- 🤔 Some presets not easily usable
- 🕰️ Slow loading times in certain DAWs

**Reported bugs**

- Presets not loading correctly
- MIDI note dropouts and latency
- Crashes when used with certain DAWs
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add Audio Unit (AUv3) support
- Improve MIDI integration and responsiveness
- Implement a built-in recording/sampling feature
- Expand preset library with more genres and styles
- Add more sound design controls and modulation options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Echo String™ Lite free?

Echo String™ Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AudioKit Digital D1 Synth free?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Echo String™ Lite or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth?

Echo String™ Lite is rated higher. Echo String™ Lite averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while AudioKit Digital D1 Synth averages 4.8 from 2K ratings.

### Do Echo String™ Lite or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth have ads?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth shows ads; Echo String™ Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, Echo String™ Lite or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth?

Echo String™ Lite ships an update every 7 months, and AudioKit Digital D1 Synth every 3 weeks. Most recently, Echo String™ Lite was updated on September 8, 2026 and AudioKit Digital D1 Synth on September 25, 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.*