# DR vs tardigrain

The clearest difference is rating: tardigrain at 4.6 against DR's 4.2. tardigrain also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months) and chart position (#178 vs unranked). DR's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 11.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

DR costs $1.99 and tardigrain $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

tardigrain holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 98 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of DR's written reviews are positive against 76% of tardigrain's.

DR ships an update every 4 months, tardigrain every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DR | tardigrain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dr-om/id555409573/reviews) | **[4.6 (98 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tardigrain/id1344470087/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 44 | **98** |
| Positive reviews | 63.9% of reviews | **75.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#178** |
| Size | 38 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fluxama](https://appshunter.io/developer/513770097) | [Erik Sigth](https://appshunter.io/developer/385275335) |

## What reviewers say

### DR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dr-om/id555409573)

Explore a virtual synthesizer simulating a rare, hackable 70s science lab device. This app offers playable simulations of three distinct units, each with unique sonic characteristics due to component variations. Discover its experimental sound-shaping capabilities and unique tuning drifts.

**Highlights:** Virtual synthesizer simulation, Three distinct DR-OM unit variations, Mixable Low Frequency Oscillators, Voltage-Controlled Filter, Speed dial with tuning drifts and effects, Hackable device inspiration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Great drone sounds
- 💡 Unique and interesting sounds
- 👴 Works on older devices
- ✨ Deceptively deep
- 🎶 Inspiring soundscapes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 UI broken on newer iPads
- 🐛 Display issues on iPad Pro
- 🐛 Inaccessible GUI elements
- 🐛 Unusable on modern iPads
- 🐛 Not centered on screen

**Reported bugs**

- Display broken on iPad Pro M5
- Cannot access whole GUI on newer iPads
- Half controls inaccessible on iPad screen
- App not centered on iPad screen
- Plugin only partially visible on screen

**Requested features**

- Update UI for newer iPads
- Fix display/GUI issues on iPad Pro
- Add presets
- Add record function
- Add copy/paste function


### tardigrain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tardigrain/id1344470087)

**Currently charting:** #178 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Create unique sounds by breaking down samples into small fragments and playing them back non-linearly. Explore granular synthesis with adjustable grain size, direction, and step size. Enhance your audio with built-in effects, filters, and modulation options.

**Highlights:** Granular synthesis engine, Adjustable grain parameters, Built-in effects (reverb, wave shaper, crush), Resonant filter, MIDI and MPE modulation, Sequencer/arpeggiator, LFO modulation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DR free?

DR costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is tardigrain free?

tardigrain costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DR or tardigrain?

tardigrain is rated higher. DR averages 4.2 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while tardigrain averages 4.6 from 98 ratings.

### Do DR or tardigrain have ads?

Neither DR nor tardigrain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DR or tardigrain?

DR ships an update every 4 months, and tardigrain every 2 months. Most recently, DR was updated on October 23, 2026 and tardigrain on October 24, 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.*