ModWheels vs TouchOSC
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ModWheels
This app emulates classic synthesizer modulation and pitch wheels on your iPhone or iPod. Connect a MIDI interface to control any MIDI-enabled synth or keyboard, and utilize a pitch ribbon for vintage synth performance.
- Synthesizer modulation wheels
- Pitch wheels
- Pitch ribbon controller
- MIDI interface support
- MIDI over WIFI support
Read full descriptionHide full description
ModWheels brings classical synthesizer modulation and pitch wheels to your iPhone and iPod. Just hook up a MIDI interface and control any MIDI enabled synth or keyboard. In addition to the wheel interface this app also features a pitch ribbon / wheel combination as it could be found on some vintage synths. This app comes in handy when you are using one of these new organ keyboards which also feature synth sounds. But for some reason the designers have forgotten the performance controls? ModWheels help you using the full potential of those keyboards. ModWheels can be used with most MIDI hardware like LINE6 MIDI Mobilizer and it also supports MIDI over WIFI ModWheels has been rated „Killer App“ by the testers of Apps4iDevices
TouchOSC
This app provides a powerful and flexible modular control surface for MIDI and OSC messages. It features a GPU-powered editor for creating complex layouts, cross-network synchronized editing, and a scripting engine for deep customization. It's designed for musicians and audio professionals seeking advanced control over their digital audio workstations and other compatible software.
- Modular control surface
- Powerful integrated editor
- MIDI and OSC message support
- Cross-network synchronized editing
- Scripting engine for customization
- Wired & wireless MIDI connections
Read full descriptionHide full description
Brand-new app. Brand-new powerful editor. We've listened for the past 10 years and we've re-written the application from the ground up - with speed, features and usability in mind. A GPU-powered, fast and advanced integrated editor is part of TouchOSC on all platforms - create the most complex of control layouts with ease and precision. MIDI, OSC and more... TouchOSC supports sending and receiving any number of MIDI and OSC messages on many connections simultaneously. On top of OSC over UDP & TCP, we support every type of wired & wireless MIDI connection your device can offer, including MIDI over USB. Cross-Network. Synchronized editing. Multiple instances of TouchOSC can be connected on the network for synchronized editing. Use the precision of your desktop's mouse and keyboard for fine-grained, detailed editing - test-drive and preview in real-time on all connected touch-screen devices at the same time. Scripting and local messages. A lightweight and fast scripting engine allows deep access to all aspects of your controller and enables limitless customization and interactivity. For less complex tasks we've added local messages - simply wire up controls to transmit or display values; no need to break out the big (code) guns. Easy. This is only the beginning... We've supported and updated TouchOSC Mk1 for more than 10 years and we're planning to do the same for this new version. We've already got a whole bunch of features cooking that were just not quite ready yet. There is so much more to come... Welcome to the next generation!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ModWheels at $1.99 against TouchOSC's $19.99. ModWheels also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 72%) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 13.0). TouchOSC's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (232 vs 9). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
ModWheels costs $1.99 and TouchOSC $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TouchOSC holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TouchOSC has 232 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of ModWheels's written reviews are positive against 72% of TouchOSC's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
ModWheels ships an update every 3 months, TouchOSC every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ModWheels | TouchOSC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (9 ratings) | 4.6 (232 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.3% of reviews — better | 71.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 232 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #107 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.1 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matthias Schorer | Hexler LLC |
Customer experience
ModWheels
TouchOSC
Bugs and requests
ModWheels
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
TouchOSC
Reported bugs
12 issues- App crashes and won't reopen
- Connection drops between iPad and computer
- OSC not transmitting despite showing connected
- Screen goes blank when typing text
- Document tree scrolling jumps erratically
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Pen input unresponsive on iPad
- Control surfaces appearing upside down
- Inconsistent mirror editing from desktop
- MIDI over USB connection issues on Windows
- Automatic 'untitled' file creation on connection
- Studio One integration failures
- Logic Pro mapping inconsistencies
Requested features
17 requests- Bluetooth MIDI support on iOS devices
- VST/AU plugin version for DAWs
- Better documentation and video tutorials
- Cross-control scripting capabilities
- Image and background customization
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Global variables for state management
- Improved document tree navigation
- Batch editing for multiple controls
- Real-time cloud synchronization
- Radial radio button controls
- Audio analyzer for frequency/BPM detection
- Background mode operation
- Joycon controller support
- NRPN MIDI support
- Better grid snapping options
- Position lock for interface elements
- Standalone app compilation/export
In-app purchases
ModWheels
No in-app purchases
TouchOSC
No in-app purchases








