Comparison

iPulsaret vs VAPoly16

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

Head to head
About

iPulsaret

This app offers a real-time granular synthesis playground for iPad, generating diverse audio effects. It provides extensive control over grain parameters and includes a post-effects chain. Users can shape sounds, manipulate live input, and save presets.

Highlights
  • Real-time granular synthesis
  • Live input manipulation
  • Grain control and shaping
  • Post FX chain (Echo, Reverb, Filters)
  • Snapshot presets morphing pad
  • AUv3 support
Features
Read full description

iPulsaret is rated as a Killer App by Apps4iDevices. iPulsaret is a new real-time software capable of all time-domain varieties of granular synthesis. A genuine granular playground able to generate a wide range of usual and not so usual effects: Grainlet, Trainlet, FM, time/pitch shifting, time/pitch jittering, intricate textures, grain fountain/pulverizer, Live Input manipulation and many more. Control and shape grains, anytime, anywhere with iPulsaret for iPad. - Full AUv3 support - 32 Polyphony Voices - Granulation Sources: Wave, Trainlet, Sample, Live and Harmonic - Grain Envelope Deformation - Grain Glisson Sweep - Grainlet Linkage - ADSR Note Envelope - Snapshots Presets Morphing Pad - Sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox AudioCopy etc... - Post FX chain: Echo, Ring Modulation, Lowpass Ladder and High Shelf filters, Reverb FDN and Dynamic Compressor/Expander - Capture Master Audio Output - Keyboard Musical Scales, up to 35 + User Defined Scale - etc...

About

VAPoly16

This app is a virtual analog polyphonic synthesizer for iOS and Mac. It offers 16 voices, a sequencer, and various audio effects. It can be used as a standalone application or as an AudioUnit Extension.

Highlights
  • 16 voice virtual analog synthesizer
  • Bitimbral sound design
  • Sequencer with piano roll and automation
  • Multiple audio effects (delay, reverb, chorus, etc.)
  • Standalone and AUv3 extension support
  • Ableton Link and MIDI connectivity
  • Audio file export
Features
Read full description

VAPoly16 is a virtual analog bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It features 16 voice synthesizer, effects, sequencer and audio visualization tools. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. The synthesizer consists of two 8 voice synthesizer, which features two oscillators, two ADSR envelopes, resonant high pass and low pass filter and an amplifier per voice. The oscillators features continuously variable wave shape and wide variety of modulation. The filters are modeled on the Sallen-Key filter circuit for classic analog sound. The Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. The sequencer features piano roll and automation editor to program 16 bar pattern per clip. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Main Features Virtual analog 16 voice bitimbral polyphonic synthesizer Sequencer 16 bar patterns per clip. Total 16 clips. Parameter automation. Audio Export Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive. Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. System Requirements For iOS Devices, A10 Fusion or above is recommended. 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

iPulsaret4 screens
VAPoly164 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iPulsaret at $9.99 against VAPoly16's $14.99. iPulsaret also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). VAPoly16's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 78%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

iPulsaret costs $9.99 and VAPoly16 $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VAPoly16 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of iPulsaret's written reviews are positive against 100% of VAPoly16's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iPulsaret ships an update every 3 weeks, VAPoly16 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
iPulsaret versus VAPoly16: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriPulsaretVAPoly16
Price$9.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.8 (31 ratings)5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings31 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperapeSoftRyo Togawa

Customer experience

iPulsaret

All ratings31 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive78.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative17.4%

VAPoly16

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iPulsaret

No in-app purchases

None

VAPoly16

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iPulsaret free?
iPulsaret costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VAPoly16 free?
VAPoly16 costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iPulsaret or VAPoly16?
VAPoly16 is rated higher. iPulsaret averages 4.8 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while VAPoly16 averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.
Do iPulsaret or VAPoly16 have ads?
Neither iPulsaret nor VAPoly16 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iPulsaret or VAPoly16?
iPulsaret ships an update every 3 weeks, and VAPoly16 every 2 months. Most recently, iPulsaret was updated on September 21, 2026 and VAPoly16 on September 20, 2026.

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