# Core Synth Free vs Polywave

The clearest difference is rating: Polywave at 4.7 against Core Synth Free's 2.9. Polywave also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 13 months) and review sentiment (80% vs 64%). Core Synth Free's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Polywave holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 34 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Core Synth Free's written reviews are positive against 80% of Polywave's.

Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, Polywave every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Synth Free | Polywave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-synth-free/id449078353/reviews) | **[4.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **34** |
| Positive reviews | 63.6% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Core Engine Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/382236096) | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) |

## What reviewers say

### Core Synth Free

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-synth-free/id449078353)

Create music with a monophonic synthesizer featuring dual oscillators, adjustable filters, and envelope shaping. Explore various wave patterns and octaves to craft unique sounds for live performance or composition.

**Highlights:** Dual overlapping oscillators, Four wave patterns, Adjustable low pass filter, ADSR envelope shaping, 1 octave keyboard, Save and load patches

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version Upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |


### Polywave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271)

Create unique, evolving sonic experiences with a novel wavetable sequencer inspired by vintage synths. Draw your own waveforms, explore a vast library, and connect to external keyboards or DAWs. Record your creations directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Wavetable sequencer, Custom waveform drawing, Expansive waveform library, 100+ factory presets, MIDI and Audio Unit support, Live recording module, 8-voice polyphony

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $11.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Core Synth Free free?

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

### Is Polywave free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Core Synth Free or Polywave?

Polywave is rated higher. Core Synth Free averages 2.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Polywave averages 4.7 from 34 ratings.

### Do Core Synth Free or Polywave have ads?

Neither Core Synth Free nor Polywave shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Core Synth Free or Polywave?

Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, and Polywave every 3 months. Most recently, Core Synth Free was updated on October 16, 2026 and Polywave on October 15, 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.*