# Tabletop vs Syntorial

The clearest difference is rating: Syntorial at 4.9 against Tabletop's 3.3. Syntorial also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 54%) and ratings volume (273 vs 85). Tabletop's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 5 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tabletop sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Syntorial sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Syntorial holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85 and 273 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Tabletop's written reviews are positive against 95% of Syntorial's.

Tabletop ships an update every 3 months, Syntorial every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tabletop | Syntorial |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (85 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tabletop/id436080882/reviews) | **[4.9 (273 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/syntorial/id956861240/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 85 | **273** |
| Positive reviews | 53.9% of reviews | **95.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.4 GB | 213 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Retronyms Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/307726643) | [Audible Genius](https://appshunter.io/developer/956861239) |

## What reviewers say

### Tabletop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tabletop/id436080882)

Create music with a modular studio environment. Mix and match over 40 virtual instruments, effects, and sequencers to compose songs, beats, and mashups. Expand your sound palette by purchasing additional devices.

**Highlights:** Modular music creation environment, Over 40 virtual instruments and effects, Mix and match devices, Create beats, songs, and mashups, Piano roll timeline editor, MIDI support, Share music to SoundCloud

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EKKO | $1.99 | one-time |
| WHIRL | $2.99 | one-time |
| Verve | $2.99 | one-time |
| XFADE | $2.99 | one-time |
| TT-303 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Cueboard | $2.99 | one-time |
| GLITCHBOARD | $3.99 | one-time |
| Deadbeat | $3.99 | one-time |
| X0X Drum Deranger | $7.99 | one-time |
| RS4000 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle E | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful features
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Innovative modular design
- 🎨 Versatile music creation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔋 High CPU usage
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔇 Poor sound quality

**Reported bugs**

- Synth parameters not saving properly
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Unreliable audio export

**Requested features**

- MIDI support
- Improved sequencing capabilities
- More free sound modules
- Waveform editing and sample management


### Syntorial

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/syntorial/id956861240)

Learn to program synthesizer patches by ear with interactive challenges and video demonstrations. This app focuses on practical sound design, teaching you how each control affects sound and how to recreate sounds you hear.

**Highlights:** Interactive programming challenges, Video demonstrations, Built-in soft synth, Ear training for sound recognition, Practical application of synth controls, Quizzes for retention

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade To Full Version | $129.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tabletop free?

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

### Is Syntorial free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Tabletop or Syntorial?

Syntorial is rated higher. Tabletop averages 3.3 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while Syntorial averages 4.9 from 273 ratings.

### Do Tabletop or Syntorial have ads?

Neither Tabletop nor Syntorial shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tabletop or Syntorial?

Tabletop ships an update every 3 months, and Syntorial every 5 months. Most recently, Tabletop was updated on October 11, 2026 and Syntorial on October 7, 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.*