Comparison

Santoor HD vs VAPolyMT

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

Head to head
About

Santoor HD

Experience the traditional Santoor instrument with realistic sound and touch controls. Play individual notes, create vibrate effects by sliding, and even play semitones. Record and playback your musical creations with loop and fast-forward options.

Highlights
  • Realistic Santoor instrument simulation
  • Individual string touch for notes
  • Vibrate effect with horizontal sliding
  • Semitone playback option
  • Record and playback functionality
  • Loop and fast-forward playback
Read full description

Played the Harp? Try the Santoor - A Traditional Musical Instrument. Supports touching individual strings to play notes as well as sliding horizontally across a string for VIBRATE effect. Fade out your vibrate effect by sliding your finger to the edge of the Santoor. Now also includes the option to play semitones! ***** Ranked in the top 7 and top 25 in the India APP STORE in the Music category for iPad and iPhone respectively. *****Ranked in the top 31 in the Greece APP STORE in the Music category for iPad. ***** Ranked in the top 45 in the US APP STORE in the Music category for iPad. FEATURES * Hi Quality Retina Display Optimized Graphics * Studio Quality Sounds. Realistic Vibrate Effect with tuned strings across two octets. New option to also play Semitones * Fast, Fluid Touches and Sounds. Recognizes multiple touches with both hands * Features sliding across a string for VIBRATE effect. * Slide along a string to the edges for a unique fade out effect. * Switch to play Semitones to truly play out all of your melodies! (Pro Version) * Record And Playback your own creations * Options to Loop playback of recordings and also to play them at Fast Forward Speeds Questions/suggestions/bugs? Email us at: thesoftwarekitchen@gmail.com To fun times with "Santoor HD"!!

About

VAPolyMT

This powerful synthesizer app offers bi-timbral polyphony with analog-style sequencers and assignable macro controls. It functions as a standalone application or an AudioUnit Extension, supporting MIDI, Ableton Link, and audio export. Project files are savable via iCloud Drive for cross-platform access.

Highlights
  • Bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer
  • Analog-style step sequencer per timbre
  • Assignable macro controls
  • AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) support
  • Ableton Link and MIDI support
  • iCloud Drive project sharing
  • Built-in effects and piano roll editor
Features
Read full description

VAPolyMT is a bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It features analog style step sequencer per timbre and assignable macro controls. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. Each synthesizer consists of two oscillators, mixer, resonant low pass filter, resonant hight pass filter and amplifier. The synthesizers can be layered or can be split. Built-in Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. VAPolyMT also includes sequencer which features piano roll editor and parameter automation. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Main Features Bi-timbral polyphonic subtractive synthesizer. Analog Style Step Sequencer per timbre. Eight Assignable Controllers. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Built-in effects and piano roll sequencer. Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Support MIDI 2.0. Support Foot Pedal and Per Note Control. Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. Include more than 200 Factory Presets. Improvements Support MIDI Foot Pedal (CC#11, CC#64) Support MIDI2.0 Per Note Control Messages MIDI CC Settings are saved. It will be recovered when the app launched in the next time. System Requirements iOS 17.0 or later macOS 14.0 or later Devices with Apple Silicon are recommended. A13 Fusion or above is highly recommended. if sound is distorted when using a device with less CPU power, reduce number of voices. AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. AudioUnit Extension is supported by Apple Logic and Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension.

Screenshots

Santoor HD2 screens
VAPolyMT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: VAPolyMT at 5.0 against Santoor HD's 4.3. VAPolyMT also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Santoor HD's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (157 vs 4). On 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

Santoor HD costs $2.99 and VAPolyMT $3.99 up front. Santoor HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. VAPolyMT asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VAPolyMT holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Santoor HD has 157 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Santoor HD ships an update every 3 months, VAPolyMT every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Santoor HD versus VAPolyMT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSantoor HDVAPolyMT
Price$2.99 — better$3.99
Rating4.3 (157 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews84.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings157 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSoftware-KitchenRyo Togawa

Customer experience

Santoor HD

All ratings157 ratings
Positive83.4%
Neutral7.0%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews119 reviews
Positive84.9%
Neutral4.2%
Negative10.9%

VAPolyMT

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Santoor HD

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • App crashes immediately upon opening
  • Freezes on startup screen with stuck audio
  • Black screen with continuous sound on launch
  • Incompatible with iOS 10.2 and later versions
  • Popup keyboard fails to appear when saving recordings
Show 3 more
  • App becomes unresponsive and requires force close
  • Strange noise and visual glitches during startup
  • Recording feature doesn't function properly

Requested features

10 requests
  • iOS 11+ compatibility and regular updates
  • Note labels on strings for non-harp players
  • Ability to layer and edit recorded tracks
  • Audio input/output functionality
  • Better pitch control options
Show 5 more
  • Improved rhythm buttons with customization
  • Remove or reduce aggressive monetization
  • Better note selection precision
  • Export recorded songs functionality
  • Semitone access without paywall

VAPolyMT

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Santoor HD

One-time1
  • Santoor HD - No Ads$3.99
None

VAPolyMT

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Santoor HD free?
Santoor HD costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyMT free?
VAPolyMT costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Santoor HD or VAPolyMT?
VAPolyMT is rated higher. Santoor HD averages 4.3 out of 5 from 157 ratings, while VAPolyMT averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Santoor HD or VAPolyMT have ads?
Neither Santoor HD nor VAPolyMT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Santoor HD or VAPolyMT?
Santoor HD ships an update every 3 months, and VAPolyMT every 11 months. Most recently, Santoor HD was updated on October 26, 2026 and VAPolyMT on October 26, 2026.

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