# Core Synth HD vs Pegboard

The clearest difference is rating: Pegboard at 4.4 against Core Synth HD's 3.4. Pegboard also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (56% vs 31%). Core Synth HD's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Synth HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pegboard sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pegboard holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Core Synth HD's written reviews are positive against 56% of Pegboard's.

Core Synth HD ships an update every 4 months, Pegboard weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Synth HD | Pegboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-synth-hd/id446631941/reviews) | **[4.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pegboard-mobile-synthesizer/id1566248837/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **10** |
| Positive reviews | 30.6% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Core Engine Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/382236096) | [Brandon Murray](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566248839) |

## What reviewers say

### Core Synth HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-synth-hd/id446631941)

Create music with a powerful monophonic synthesizer for iPad. Explore dual oscillators, customizable filters, and an arpeggiator. Save your custom sounds and enhance your live performances with intuitive controls.

**Highlights:** Dual overlapping oscillators, Four wave patterns, Low Pass Filter with ADSR, Volume Envelope Shaper (ADSR), Arpeggiator with multiple modes, Save unlimited patches

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for learning basics
- 🎶 Nice retro sound emulation
- 💰 Great value for free/low cost
- 🎹 All controls visible
- 💡 Simple and clear interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 No sound issues
- 🔇 Sound stopped working
- 🔇 No sound after purchase
- 🔇 No sound on specific iOS versions
- 🐛 Glitching/microclicks

**Reported bugs**

- No sound on iPad Pro
- No sound on iOS 12
- No sound since last update
- Program doesn't start after update
- Ad blocks view

**Requested features**

- Add MIDI support
- Add Audiobus support
- Add recording with copy/paste
- Add sine wave for sub basses
- Add polyphony option


### Pegboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pegboard-mobile-synthesizer/id1566248837)

This app offers an intuitive mobile wavetable synthesizer with a virtual analog filter. It features a harmonic table keyboard layout that highlights scales for easy improvisation and chord playing. The free version provides extensive sound design capabilities, while a pro upgrade unlocks MIDI controller functionality.

**Highlights:** Harmonic table keyboard layout, Scale highlighting for improvisation, Virtual analog filter, 8-voice polyphony, 7 effect modules, 16-row modulation matrix, MIDI over USB (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pegboard Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Core Synth HD free?

Core Synth HD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pegboard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Core Synth HD or Pegboard?

Pegboard is rated higher. Core Synth HD averages 3.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Pegboard averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do Core Synth HD or Pegboard have ads?

Neither Core Synth HD nor Pegboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Core Synth HD or Pegboard?

Core Synth HD ships an update every 4 months, and Pegboard weekly. Most recently, Core Synth HD was updated on October 20, 2026 and Pegboard on October 24, 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.*