# KORG iKaossilator vs iVCS3

KORG iKaossilator and iVCS3 both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 91% of iVCS3's written reviews are positive against 80% of KORG iKaossilator's. KORG iKaossilator's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 206) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

KORG iKaossilator costs $19.99 and iVCS3 $19.99 up front. KORG iKaossilator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and iVCS3 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iVCS3 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KORG iKaossilator has 1.2K ratings behind it against 206, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of KORG iKaossilator's written reviews are positive against 91% of iVCS3's.

KORG iKaossilator ships an update every 4 months, iVCS3 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KORG iKaossilator | iVCS3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-ikaossilator/id452559831/reviews) | **[4.9 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivcs3/id665703927/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 206 |
| Positive reviews | 80.3% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 107 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KORG INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363714046) | [apeSoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/464660782) |

## What reviewers say

### KORG iKaossilator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-ikaossilator/id452559831)

Create music with intuitive touch controls and a variety of built-in sounds. This app lets you play melodies and phrases by simply touching the screen, layering up to five parts with a loop sequencer. Share your creations or perform live with DJ-style controls.

**Highlights:** Intuitive X-Y pad for sound control, 150 diverse built-in sounds, Loop sequencer for up to five parts, Real-time loop control for live performance, Audio export and SoundCloud sharing, Visual effects synchronized with performance

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EDM Sound Set | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Great sounds and features
- 🎨 Versatile and creative
- 🎉 Lots of fun to play with
- 💻 Works well on both iPhone and iPad

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔇 Limited sound library
- 🔒 No ability to import own samples
- 🔊 No individual volume control for instruments
- 🔍 Difficult to precisely hit notes

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to export to Ableton
- Shared tracks not loading properly
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Dropbox integration not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add more sound packs and expansion options
- Implement MIDI sync and export capabilities
- Include a grid view for more precise note input
- Allow individual volume control for each instrument
- Add an arpeggiator feature


### iVCS3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivcs3/id665703927)

This application emulates the iconic EMS VCS3 synthesizer, a pioneering portable synthesizer from 1969. It recreates the original's unique sound generation capabilities, including its oscillators, filters, and patch matrix, allowing users to explore its distinctive sonic palette.

**Highlights:** Official EMS VCS3 emulation, Three oscillators (2 VCOs, 1 LFO), Noise generator, Voltage controlled low pass filter (VCF), Patch board matrix, Joy-stick controller, Voltage controlled spring reverb

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Red Sky Lullaby - 180 Presets | Free | one-time |
| Singe Difficile by RUST(i)K | Free | one-time |
| RUMBLE | Free | one-time |
| OLD GRIT - COLLECTION | Free | one-time |
| JEC 2018 Iconic PinkFloyd | Free | one-time |
| JEC EMS-50 | Free | one-time |
| SINAPSYA - Under The Dust | $2.99 | one-time |
| LALA - Sonic Pleasures | $3.99 | one-time |
| JEC Mega Bank | $4.99 | one-time |
| Essential EMS Modifications | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faithful recreation of the original
- 👍 Powerful and versatile sound
- 🎨 Gorgeous vintage interface
- 💡 Additional features beyond the original
- 🎛️ Excellent integration with MIDI and other apps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🤔 Steep learning curve
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate the matrix

**Reported bugs**

- Presets not loading
- Crashes on iOS 15.04
- Sampler not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Mac compatibility
- Improved preset management
- Expanded sampling capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KORG iKaossilator free?

KORG iKaossilator costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is iVCS3 free?

iVCS3 costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, KORG iKaossilator or iVCS3?

iVCS3 is rated higher. KORG iKaossilator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while iVCS3 averages 4.9 from 206 ratings.

### Do KORG iKaossilator or iVCS3 have ads?

Neither KORG iKaossilator nor iVCS3 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KORG iKaossilator or iVCS3?

KORG iKaossilator ships an update every 4 months, and iVCS3 every 2 months. Most recently, KORG iKaossilator was updated on October 27, 2026 and iVCS3 on October 26, 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.*