# Core Synth Free vs Pentaholic Synth

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Synth Free | Pentaholic Synth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-synth-free/id449078353/reviews) | **[3.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pentaholic-synth/id6762106586/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **63.6% of reviews** | 57.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 7 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Core Engine Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/382236096) | [Andrew Strickland](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892938530) |

## 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 |


### Pentaholic Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pentaholic-synth/id6762106586)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Features | $28.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*