# MIDIWriter vs MES Arpeggiator

The clearest difference is price: MIDIWriter at $0.99 against MES Arpeggiator's $14.99. MES Arpeggiator's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 1.5) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 35 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

MIDIWriter costs $0.99 and MES Arpeggiator $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

MES Arpeggiator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

MIDIWriter ships an update every 35 months, MES Arpeggiator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MIDIWriter | MES Arpeggiator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $14.99 |
| Rating | [1.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiwriter/id520751563/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mes-arpeggiator/id6758674634/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 31 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Masayuki Akamatsu](https://appshunter.io/developer/284722836) | [Make Electronic Sound OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874343004) |

## What reviewers say

### MIDIWriter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiwriter/id520751563)

This app transforms keyboard input into musical notes and sounds. Type characters to instantly generate MIDI messages, or input phrases to create musical sequences with adjustable tempo and looping. It includes a built-in sound engine and supports external MIDI devices and apps.

**Highlights:** Text to MIDI conversion, Built-in General MIDI sound engine, Phrase playback with tempo control, Drum mode with multiple kits, External MIDI output, Hardware keyboard support, Wi-Fi MIDI networking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### MES Arpeggiator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mes-arpeggiator/id6758674634)

Generate evolving MIDI patterns from chords and rhythms. This app offers real-time control over note timing, gate, and swing, with a built-in FM synth for standalone use. It functions as an AUv3 MIDI plugin for hosts like AUM or as a standalone tool for sketching musical ideas.

**Highlights:** MIDI Arpeggiator (AUv3 plugin), Standalone app mode, Built-in FM synthesizer, Skippable steps & Euclidean rhythms, Chord Board for harmony generation, Real-time performance controls, Visual step grid feedback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MIDIWriter free?

MIDIWriter costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MES Arpeggiator free?

MES Arpeggiator costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MIDIWriter or MES Arpeggiator?

MES Arpeggiator is rated higher. MIDIWriter averages 1.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while MES Arpeggiator averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do MIDIWriter or MES Arpeggiator have ads?

Neither MIDIWriter nor MES Arpeggiator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MIDIWriter or MES Arpeggiator?

MIDIWriter ships an update every 35 months, and MES Arpeggiator every 2 months. Most recently, MIDIWriter was updated on November 1, 2026 and MES Arpeggiator on October 28, 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.*