Comparison

Core Synth Free vs Synth Box

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

Synth Box

Transform your device into a versatile synthesizer with a touch-sensitive keyboard, morphing oscillators, and a resonant low-pass filter. Explore 100 presets, add real-time effects, and record your performances. Connect MIDI controllers for expanded creative possibilities.

Highlights
  • Slide-to-play keyboard with pitch/mod wheels
  • Dual morphing wavetable oscillators
  • Moog-style low-pass filter
  • 100 hand-crafted presets
  • Real-time effects (reverb, delay, bit-crusher)
  • Record and share performances
  • MIDI controller support
Features
Read full description

Synth Box turns your iPhone and iPad into a beautiful, play-anywhere synthesizer. Tap a key and it sings. Twist a knob, roll the dice, and shape the sound your way. No setup, no complicated menus. Just gorgeous sound, instantly. PLAY • A slide-to-play keyboard with glissando, plus pitch and mod wheels • Two morphing wavetable oscillators, a sub oscillator, FM and noise for huge, fat tones • A warm Moog-style low-pass filter with resonance and an LFO • ADSR envelope, octave shift and zoom for fast, expressive playing 100 PRO SOUNDS • 100 hand-crafted presets across Bass, Lead, Pad, Pluck, Keys, Brass, Arp, Bell, Organ and FX • Roll the dice for instant inspiration • Tweak any sound and save your own patches to build a personal sound library EFFECTS THAT MOVE • Lush reverb, musical delay, bit-crusher and a wide Fatten ensemble chorus • Shape space, movement and grit in real time while you play RECORD & SHARE • Capture your performance to WAV with reverb and delay tails included • Play it back and share it anywhere with a tap MIDI • Connect any USB or Bluetooth MIDI controller • Play Synth Box with external keys, wheels and knobs • Send your notes back out to other apps and gear MADE TO FEEL GOOD • Designed for iPhone and iPad • A clean light theme, plus a dark stage theme with Premium • No account and no sign-up required • No ads and no tracking • Works fully offline FREE TO PLAY. PREMIUM UNLOCKS EVERYTHING. Play the synth, shape sounds and enjoy 20 starter presets for free. Go Premium to unlock all 100 presets, recording and sharing, saving your own patches, MIDI support, the dark theme and the full-screen keyboard. Choose a monthly or yearly plan with a 3-day free trial, or unlock everything forever with a one-time Lifetime purchase. Download Synth Box and make something beautiful in the next 60 seconds. Terms of Use: https://alyakastudio.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://alyakastudio.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Core Synth Free3 screens
Synth Box4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Synth Box at 100% against Core Synth Free's 57%. Synth Box also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 13 months). Core Synth Free's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Synth Box sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Synth Box holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Core Synth Free has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Core Synth Free's written reviews are positive against 100% of Synth Box's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, Synth Box every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Core Synth Free versus Synth Box: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCore Synth FreeSynth Box
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (8 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB13 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperCore Engine AppsAlper Kahriman

Customer experience

Core Synth Free

All ratings8 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews87 reviews
Positive57.5%
Neutral12.6%
Negative29.9%

Synth Box

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Core Synth Free

One-time1
  • Full Version Upgrade$0.99
3 purchases

Synth Box

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Core Synth Free free?
Core Synth Free is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Synth Box free?
Synth Box is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Core Synth Free or Synth Box?
Synth Box is rated higher. Core Synth Free averages 2.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Synth Box averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Core Synth Free or Synth Box have ads?
Neither Core Synth Free nor Synth Box shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Core Synth Free or Synth Box?
Core Synth Free ships an update every 13 months, and Synth Box every 2 months. Most recently, Core Synth Free was updated on November 3, 2026 and Synth Box on October 31, 2026.

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