# Pixound vs Riffpad

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Riffpad at none against Pixound's 2. Riffpad also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 72%). Pixound's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On update cadence, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Pixound costs $0.99 and Riffpad $5.99 up front. Pixound sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Riffpad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixound | Riffpad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $5.99 |
| Rating | **[4.1 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixound/id486076965/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 1.1 GB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Techné Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/486076968) | [PAUL GLENN VERNON](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873002106) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixound

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixound/id486076965)

Transform any image into a musical instrument and create unique songs. Explore a deep musical experience with extensive controls, over 127 instruments, and various scales. It's a fun and educational tool for all ages, allowing you to play live video and record your performances.

**Highlights:** Turn any picture into music, Play live video as an instrument, Record performances with touch playback, Over 65 scales and modes, 127+ instruments for four voices, Save and share creations, MIDI export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pixound Live Video | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pixound MIDI Features | $2.99 | one-time |


### Riffpad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riffpad/id6771772448)

Create melodies quickly on your iPhone or iPad with this MIDI sketchpad. Draw notes, loop ideas, and use it standalone or within other music apps. It offers touch-first gestures for easy note manipulation and MIDI export options.

**Highlights:** Thumb-first MIDI piano roll, Draw, loop, and sketch melodies, AUv3 MIDI Processor integration, Touch-first gesture controls, MIDI export and audio previews, Scale highlighting and quantize

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixound free?

Pixound costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Riffpad free?

Riffpad costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Pixound or Riffpad have ads?

Neither Pixound nor Riffpad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pixound or Riffpad?

Pixound ships an update monthly, and Riffpad monthly. Most recently, Pixound was updated on October 23, 2026 and Riffpad on October 23, 2026.

---

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