# Core Synth Free vs Retro Synth

The clearest difference is rating: Retro Synth at 4.2 against Core Synth Free's 2.9. Retro Synth also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 13 months). Core Synth Free's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Core Synth Free sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Retro Synth sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Retro Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 5 respectively.

Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, Retro Synth every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Synth Free | Retro Synth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-synth-free/id449078353/reviews) | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-synth-syntophone/id6754520378/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 57.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Core Engine Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/382236096) | [Kerem ERSU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759709233) |

## 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 |


### Retro Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-synth-syntophone/id6754520378)

Create authentic retro music with this vintage-inspired synthesizer app. Explore sound design with tone controls and vibrato, or upgrade for premium waveforms and studio effects. Designed for instant musical creativity, it offers a portable music-making experience.

**Highlights:** Authentic vintage sound recreation, Tone control for sound shaping, Vibrato effect for musical expression, Zero latency real-time response, Premium waveforms (Sine, Sawtooth, Triangle), Studio effects (Reverb, Delay), MIDI export

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Remove ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Core Synth Free free?

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

### Is Retro Synth free?

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

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

Retro Synth is rated higher. Core Synth Free averages 2.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Retro Synth averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

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

Neither Core Synth Free nor Retro Synth shows ads.

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

Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, and Retro Synth every 2 months. Most recently, Core Synth Free was updated on November 3, 2026 and Retro Synth on October 30, 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.*