Comparison

Core Synth Free vs Pentaholic Synth

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Core Synth Free

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
Read full description

Get your groove on with Core Synth Free, the definitive monophonic synthesizer for the iPhone and iPod touch. With tons of features packed into a small package, Core Synth is great for live performing. This free app has the following features: - 1 Octave keyboard - Keys light up in different colors when pressed Oscillator Module - Dual overlapping oscillators - Four wave patterns: Square, Triangle, Sawtooth and Reverse Sawtooth * Select from 5 octaves * Adjust glide between notes * Fine tune Oscillator 2 with option to sync with Oscillator 1 Volume Envelope Shaper - Edit ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) Low Pass Filter Module - Adjust Cutoff and Resonance - Edit ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) Upgrade to the full version within the app for the following additional features: - 7 Octave Keyboard - Octave control to move along entire range Patches Module - Save an unlimited number of individually named patches - Browse through your collection before applying patch - Delete unwanted patches - Backup patches via iTunes File Sharing Modulation Module - Four wave patterns: Square, Triangle, Sawtooth and Reverse Sawtooth - Modulate Filter, Pitch or Wave - Adjust LFO Rate and amount Arpeggiator Module - Arpeggio moves up to 5 octaves - Four step modes: Up, Down, Up/Down, Random - Adjust rate Many more exciting enhancements to follow! Core Synth Free includes open source code from MobileSynth developed by Allen Porter.

About

Pentaholic Synth

This app digitally recreates a classic polyphonic synthesizer, offering authentic sound design and songwriting inspiration. It features a 300-note sequencer, multiple oscillators per voice, and performance controls like a joystick and expression pedal inputs.

Highlights
  • Authentic 5-voice polyphony
  • 3 oscillators per voice with 8 waveforms
  • Component-level circuit modeling
  • Dual ADSR envelopes
  • 300-note polyphonic sequencer
  • Joystick and expression pedal support
Features
Read full description

Pentaholic is the first digital recreation of the Gleeman Pentaphonic. It's audio signal path is traced at the component level and built specifically for Apple Silicon devices utilizing native Metal 3D graphics featuring classic and clear UI. In 1982, the Gleeman Pentaphonic was released as a "sketchpad synth" with a 300-note polyphonic sequencer boasting 5 voices, 3 digitally controlled oscillators per voice, and 8 waveforms per oscillator, all from an 8-bit microprocessor. After DAC, a trio of CEM chips per voice passes the audio: a 3310 envelope generator, 3320 configured as a 24dB low-pass resonant filter, and a 3360 as dual voltage-controlled amplifiers. Each subsequent stage of audio is summed out to a LM348 op amp, stacking saturation through to output. Add performance controls like expression pedal inputs and a joystick for modulation and pitch bend for a performance powerhouse synth. Pentaholic brings the circuit to life in the digital realm for the first time ever on any platform. The concept of a sketchpad synth was the main inspiration for this - getting back to the fundamentals of songwriting and sound design. Pentaholic is meant to inspire ideas faster and prevent Producer Paralysis induced by too many options on the piano roll. Record your idea to the sequencer and play over it - the keyboard takes precedence over the sequencer notes so you can nail down your melody or adjust your groove with the rate and delay of the sequencer. • Authentic 5-Voice Polyphony: True chorusing detune of OSC 2/3 relative to OSC 1's pitch (not BBD!) - oldest note first voice stealing. • 3 Oscillators Per Voice: 8 waveforms CMP 1 CMP 2 3% PULSE 12% Pulse SQR SAW TRI SIN per OSC and a HIGH or LOW octave mode. • One octave of chromatic pitch: transposing progressions or leads just like you put a capo on a guitar. • Component-Level Modeling: The soul of the synth - a 24dB resonant low-pass filter - self-oscillation, and nonlinear harmonic drive of the legendary CEM 3320 filter chip for a distinct bite with each subsequent gain stage pushing into saturation through a LM348 op amp. • Dual ADSR Envelopes: Precise, vintage-snappy envelope generators for exacting control over amplifier and filter contours. Subtle noise and quick snap attacks from resistor-capacitor networks the envelopes pass through. • The Polyphonic Sketchpad Sequencer: A massive 300-note sequencer honoring the original hardware workflow. Recording polyphonic chords in real time and yielding to performance on the keyboard in playback. • Joystick and expression pedal hookups: +/- 5 step pitch bend, modulation of depth of the LFO destination and cutoff expression all from the joystick even more control with expression pedals. Pentaholic honors the original but Gotham Paradise recognizes the value and convenience of advances for performance available from soft-synths, MIDI 2.0 and Bluetooth. • *MIDI Polyphonic Expression - *MIDI Learn - *6 Octave Pitch Change - *Master Volume - *Re-assignable joystick 0 to 5 steps - *Sync'd parameters for glide, sequencer rate/delay, LFO rate - *Game controller performance using scales to the directional pad and ABXY buttons, stick click sequencer recording and playback - Bluetooth MIDI controller Connectivity *Pentaholic is fully functional from download but the following features are accessible with in-app purchase *Sequencer Volume *Keyboard Volume *Master Volume *6 Octave Pitch *Unison *Sync'd Parameters *Recall or Automation of parameters when hosted in a DAW such as Logic for iPad or Garageband *User Preset Saving *MIDI Learn/MIDI CC Parameter Assignment *M.P.E. *Sequencer records and plays back but resets when stopped *MIDI export of recorded Sequences *Game Controller Performance Mode *Reassignable Joystick Pitch bend Keeping Pentaholic's core functionality free for young and new producers who can't afford the full version is important to Gotham Paradise, purchasing the full featured synth helps pay it forward.

Screenshots

Core Synth Free3 screens
Pentaholic Synth3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pentaholic Synth at 3.8 against Core Synth Free's 2.9. Pentaholic Synth also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 13 months) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Core Synth Free's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pentaholic Synth holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 6 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Core Synth Free's written reviews are positive against 57% of Pentaholic Synth's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, Pentaholic Synth every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Core Synth Free versus Pentaholic Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCore Synth FreePentaholic Synth
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (8 ratings)3.8 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.6% of reviews — better57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCore Engine AppsAndrew Strickland

Customer experience

Core Synth Free

All ratings8 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral4.5%
Negative31.8%

Pentaholic Synth

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Core Synth Free

One-time1
  • Full Version Upgrade$0.99
1 purchases

Pentaholic Synth

One-time1
  • Full Features$28.00

Questions

Is Core Synth Free free?
Core Synth Free is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pentaholic Synth free?
Pentaholic Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Core Synth Free or Pentaholic Synth?
Pentaholic Synth is rated higher. Core Synth Free averages 2.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Pentaholic Synth averages 3.8 from 6 ratings.
Do Core Synth Free or Pentaholic Synth have ads?
Neither Core Synth Free nor Pentaholic Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Core Synth Free or Pentaholic Synth?
Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, and Pentaholic Synth every 6 days. Most recently, Core Synth Free was updated on October 16, 2026 and Pentaholic Synth on October 8, 2026.

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