Comparison

Synthophone Stylophone clone vs Retro Synth

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

Head to head
About

Synthophone Stylophone clone

This app offers a retro-style monophonic synthesizer experience, emulating the classic Stylophone with added modulation capabilities. Explore different waveforms, control vibrato, transpose notes, and adjust amplitude envelopes for a unique sound.

Highlights
  • Retro monophonic synthesizer
  • Stylophone emulation
  • Multiple waveforms (sawtooth, square, triangle)
  • Vibrato control (speed and depth)
  • Note transposition
  • Amplitude envelope adjustment
  • Pitch bender
Features
Read full description

"5 stars for the sound", "Pb8-5 Stars, "Great fun". The retro style mono synthesizer app based on the classic Stylophone but with some cool modulation options: * Play the stylophone while music is playing on iTunes * It really does sound like the real Stylophone * 3 different waveforms(sawtooth, square and triangle). * Control the vibrato (pitch modulation) speed and depth. * Transpose up each note to the next octave. (Handy for playing in another key) * Adjust the amplitude envelope attack and release. Plus a bender (-/+5 semitone) #Check out the video demo on  the "BeatsnBobs Web Site" link If you like this app you may also like some of our other apps

About

Retro Synth

Create authentic retro music with this vintage-inspired synthesizer app. Explore sound design with tone controls and vibrato, or upgrade for premium waveforms and studio effects. Designed for instant musical creativity, it offers a portable music-making experience.

Highlights
  • Authentic vintage sound recreation
  • Tone control for sound shaping
  • Vibrato effect for musical expression
  • Zero latency real-time response
  • Premium waveforms (Sine, Sawtooth, Triangle)
  • Studio effects (Reverb, Delay)
  • MIDI export
Features
Read full description

Play a real pocket stylophone — then plug it straight into GarageBand. Retro Synth · Syntophone turns your device into a vintage touch-keyboard synthesizer, and now works as an AUv3 instrument inside GarageBand, Logic Pro, and AUM. Slide your finger across the keys and a warm, authentic square-wave synth comes to life. Learn built-in songs with light-up "follow the key" tutorials, record your ideas, and drop the instrument into your favorite music app — all from one tiny synth. Like the original, it plays one note at a time: one stylus, one note. Curious about Pro? Tap any locked sound and hear it free for 30 seconds. FREE FEATURES (Included at no cost): • Authentic Vintage Sound: faithfully recreates that iconic square-wave tone with modern precision. • Song Mode: learn songs with light-up "follow the key" tutorials, hold-to-repeat for repeated notes, and a star rating when you finish (2 songs free). • My Recordings: a full library to play back, rename, share, and delete your takes. • Metronome: a sample-accurate click with adjustable BPM and an accented downbeat to keep you in time. • AUv3 Instrument: use Syntophone as a plug-in inside GarageBand, Logic Pro, AUM and other AUv3 hosts. • Sound Controls: shape your tone from thin and bright to thick and warm, and add expression with vibrato. • Real-time Response: instant, zero-latency audio as you play. • Clean, minimalist design inspired by vintage hardware. SYNTOPHONE PRO (subscription): Upgrade to unlock the full studio: • Premium Waveforms: Sine, Sawtooth, and Triangle. • Studio Effects: high-quality Reverb and Delay. • Pro Sound Panel: a second detuned oscillator for a fatter analog tone, hands-on delay time & feedback controls, and live MIDI output — play GarageBand and other synth apps as a virtual MIDI keyboard. • 12 more built-in songs to learn. • MIDI Export: save and share your recordings as .mid files. WHY SYNTOPHONE? No setup, no menus to fight — open the app and make music immediately. Then, when you're ready, it becomes a plug-in in your studio. Note: The app includes an auto-renewable subscription (Syntophone Pro) for premium features. For Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Synthophone Stylophone clone1 screens
Retro Synth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Retro Synth at Free against Synthophone Stylophone clone's $0.99. Retro Synth also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 33 months). Synthophone Stylophone clone's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 17.0). 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

Retro Synth is free to download; Synthophone Stylophone clone costs $0.99 up front. Retro Synth sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Synthophone Stylophone clone asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Synthophone Stylophone clone ships an update every 33 months, Retro Synth every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Synthophone Stylophone clone versus Retro Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSynthophone Stylophone cloneRetro Synth
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating—4.2 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 33 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRob WilmotKerem ERSU

Customer experience

Synthophone Stylophone clone

Written reviews24 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Retro Synth

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

None

Synthophone Stylophone clone

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Retro Synth

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove ads$2.99

Questions

Is Synthophone Stylophone clone free?
Synthophone Stylophone clone costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Retro Synth free?
Retro Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Synthophone Stylophone clone or Retro Synth have ads?
Neither Synthophone Stylophone clone nor Retro Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Synthophone Stylophone clone or Retro Synth?
Synthophone Stylophone clone ships an update every 33 months, and Retro Synth every 2 months. Most recently, Synthophone Stylophone clone was updated on November 1, 2026 and Retro Synth on October 30, 2026.

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