Comparison

MIDI Designer Pro X vs MidiPad 2

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

Head to head
About

MIDI Designer Pro X

Create custom MIDI controllers for any MIDI-enabled hardware or software. Offers extensive customization, a large user-created layout library, and robust MIDI communication. Ideal for musicians and producers seeking a personalized control experience.

Highlights
  • Control any MIDI-enabled device
  • Network, Bluetooth, and USB MIDI
  • Extensive user layout library
  • Customizable control surfaces
  • Advanced MIDI transformation features
  • Ableton Link integration
Features
Read full description

MIDI Designer Pro X (MDPx) is the culmination of over a decade of improvement. We launched MIDI Designer Pro in 2012 and relaunched it in 2016 as MIDI Designer Pro 2. MDP2 was the first and only professional-grade MIDI controller built natively for iOS, earning critical acclaim. Since launch, over 80 updates have greatly expanded its capabilities. Our user-created library now covers 375+ MIDI targets across music hardware and software. In 2024, MDPx took a significant leap forward with the expressive "Spaceship" theme on iPad and Mac and major iPhone usability advances. It now adds AUv3 support in hosts such as AUM, Cubasis, and Logic. A new subscription model — Premium — allows even more users to use the App in their music-making and discover the App Store's best MIDI controller for themselves. CAPABILITIES • Control all MIDI-enabled hardware and software: keyboards, synths, effects, pedals, DAWs, plug-ins, DJ, VJ & lighting rigs, other iOS apps, robots, cruise ships, rail guns, particle accelerators • AUv3 MIDI Processor Extension: Host MDPx inside AUM, Cubasis, Logic, and other AUv3 hosts. • Solid MIDI Communications Infrastructure: Sets the industry standard for reliable and robust MIDI interactions over Network, Bluetooth and USB. • Active Community of Authors: A vibrant ecosystem supporting legacy and current music synthesizers, sound engines, DAWs, and all MIDI-controlled devices. • Extensive User Layout Library: More than 350 layouts for over 80 manufacturers, contributed by the Community. • Comprehensive Support: Whether you're just starting or tackling complex MIDI implementations, with the Community we are here to assist. • MIDI Designer's 'Superpowers': A suite of powerful features exclusive to MIDI Designer that we have developed over the last 10+ years, including: • Ableton Link and Link Control Loopers • Supercontrols and subcontrols as the basis for many features (with no scripting!): • Snap sub to value over time • Sequential subs • Subcontrol chaining • Button groups (radio buttons) with Bounceback™ • Steppers • Live Transpose • Group Presets • Named Ticks • Accelerometer • Simplified Sysex Messages with variables and bit changers • Snap to Value over Time • Global Presets • Pedalboards • Popup Panels (Show/Hide) • Two-up Page Layout for iPad/Mac • Streambyter Plugin by Audeonic for advanced MIDI transformation MDPx is easy to use, infinitely flexible and customizable, and battle-tested in performance. It's the only professional-grade MIDI controller built from the ground up for iOS to control ANYTHING via MIDI. dream | create | play COMMUNITY The MIDI Designer Community has built layouts for popular MIDI targets. Here are just a few: • Ableton Live • Air Music Tech: Xpand!2 • Arturia: Synclavier V, Analog Lab 4 • Audiofier: Riffendium • Chase Bliss: Mood MKII, Reverse Mode C, Thermae • Clavia: NORD LEAD 4 • DSI: Prophet 12 • Elektron: Octatrack MKII • E-MU: Planet Phatt • Eventide: Pitchfactor, Modfactor • Fractal: Axe-FX • Hauptwerk: St. Anne's Symphonic Organ • Kawai: K1, K1r • Korg: Volca Series, 707 • Line 6: POD X3, POD XT, POD HD500, POD Go • Meris: Enzo, Polymoon • M-Audio: Venom • Novation: MiniNova • Moog: Voyager, Animoog, Little Phatty, Slim Phatty, MF-104m Analog Delay • Omnisphere • Pigtronix: Infinity Looper • Roland: Jupiter-Xm, RD-2000, RD-88, FA-06/FA-07/FA-08, VG-99, JX-3P, JX-8P, MKS-30, MKS-50, MKS-80 • Sample Logic: Morphestra 2 • Sonokinetic: Noir • Soundiron: Steel Tones • TC Electronic: Nova Drive NDR-1 • ValhallaDSP: ÜberMod, VintageVerb, FreqEcho, Shimmer, Room • Yamaha: DX7 (TX7), TQ5, SY77 (TG77), DX21, Reface DX, AN200/PLG-100AN/AN1X FIND OUT MORE Web: midiDesigner.com/mdpx Community Layouts: midiDesigner.com/community Manual: midiDesigner.com/manual EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

MidiPad 2

This app functions as a highly customizable MIDI pad controller. It allows users to send notes, program changes, and controller events to Core MIDI devices with velocity-sensitive pads. Create multiple pages and actions per pad for extensive control over your music production.

Highlights
  • Velocity-sensitive pads
  • Multiple actions per pad
  • Push button or on/off switch pads
  • Color-coded pad grouping
  • Multiple page creation
  • Wireless MIDI support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

MidiPad is the most customizable Midi Pad Controller you will ever find! Using MidiPad you can send notes, program changes or controller events to Core Midi capable devices. The pads are velocity sensitive and you can add as many of them as you wish. Still not enough? Create multiple pages for each song or device. The possibilities are limitless! Features: - Very fast pad response with low latency - Multiple actions per pad - Pads can be push buttons or on/off switches - Group your pads with matching colors - Create multiple pages and quickly switch between them - Support for wireless Midi and Core Midi capable apps/devices

Screenshots

MIDI Designer Pro X4 screens
MidiPad 23 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDI Designer Pro X at Free against MidiPad 2's $2.99. MIDI Designer Pro X also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (79% vs 54%). MidiPad 2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and chart position (#123 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads and device support 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

MIDI Designer Pro X is free to download; MidiPad 2 costs $2.99 up front. MIDI Designer Pro X sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. MidiPad 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MIDI Designer Pro X holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 271 and 129 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of MIDI Designer Pro X's written reviews are positive against 54% of MidiPad 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 10 days, MidiPad 2 every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
MIDI Designer Pro X versus MidiPad 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI Designer Pro XMidiPad 2
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.6 (271 ratings) — better4.3 (129 ratings)
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews — better54.1% of reviews
Number of ratings271 — better129
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank—#123 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.610.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperConfusion Studios LLCCodelle

Customer experience

MIDI Designer Pro X

All ratings271 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews165 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative17.0%

MidiPad 2

All ratings129 ratings
Positive79.8%
Neutral6.2%
Negative14.0%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive54.1%
Neutral12.9%
Negative32.9%

In-app purchases

14 purchases

MIDI Designer Pro X

Subscriptions10
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$1.991 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$3.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium Mac Only$4.491 Month
Show 7 more
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$4.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$7.991 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$19.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$34.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium Mac Only$44.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$44.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$79.991 Year
One-time4
  • Extra Features Pack$4.99
  • Automatic Backups$4.99
  • Audeonic Stream Byter Plugin$4.99
Show 1 more
  • MDPx Premium Lifetime$199.99
None

MidiPad 2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI Designer Pro X free?
MIDI Designer Pro X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MidiPad 2 free?
MidiPad 2 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDI Designer Pro X or MidiPad 2?
MIDI Designer Pro X is rated higher. MIDI Designer Pro X averages 4.6 out of 5 from 271 ratings, while MidiPad 2 averages 4.3 from 129 ratings.
Do MIDI Designer Pro X or MidiPad 2 have ads?
Neither MIDI Designer Pro X nor MidiPad 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Designer Pro X or MidiPad 2?
MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 10 days, and MidiPad 2 every 5 months. Most recently, MIDI Designer Pro X was updated on October 24, 2026 and MidiPad 2 on October 24, 2026.

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