# MusicSoft Manager vs FM Essential

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FM Essential at none against MusicSoft Manager's 10. FM Essential also leads on rating (3.0 vs 2.6) and review sentiment (40% vs 14%). MusicSoft Manager's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MusicSoft Manager sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. FM Essential asks for nothing beyond the download.

FM Essential holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 70 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of MusicSoft Manager's written reviews are positive against 40% of FM Essential's.

MusicSoft Manager ships an update every 8 months, FM Essential every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MusicSoft Manager | FM Essential |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musicsoft-manager/id569009639/reviews) | **[3.0 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **70** |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **40.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 months** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 10 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yamaha Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/353469356) | [Yamaha Corporation of America](https://appshunter.io/developer/408058585) |

## What reviewers say

### MusicSoft Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musicsoft-manager/id569009639)

Connect your Yamaha digital instrument to your iOS device to transfer content via Wi-Fi. Easily back up and restore instrument data, manage files, and share data with your computer and cloud storage.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi instrument connection, Content transfer to instrument, Instrument data backup, Instrument data restore, File name management, Cloud storage integration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Entertainer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Piano Man | $2.99 | one-time |
| Star Wars | $3.99 | one-time |
| Hallelujah | $3.99 | one-time |
| You Raise Me Up | $3.99 | one-time |
| Someone Like You | $3.99 | one-time |
| Desperado | $3.99 | one-time |
| Happy | $3.99 | one-time |
| Imagine | $3.99 | one-time |
| Let It Go (from Frozen) | $3.99 | one-time |


### FM Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614)

This app is an FM tone generator and synthesizer for iPhone and iPad, offering real-time performance capabilities and voice editing. It includes a variety of presets, arpeggiator patterns, chord pads, and scales, along with drum functionalities. The app also supports external hardware integration and advanced sound manipulation through effects, EQ, and a ball controller.

**Highlights:** FM tone generator, Real-time synth performance, Voice editing, Arpeggiator and chord pads, Effects and EQ edit, Ball controller for sound modulation, Step sequencer

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Fantastic sound quality
- 👍 Easy to use
- ✨ Amazing synth capabilities
- 💡 Great FM synth app
- 🎵 Wonderful, flexible, intuitive synth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔓 App locked by hardware
- 🔌 Connection issues
- 💸 Expensive hardware required
- ❓ Deceptive free app
- 😩 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Does not unlock with USB-C adapter
- App crashes when loading combinations
- Preset menus crash the app
- Combined Sounds no longer read from keyboard after iPad update
- Instruments stop working if effect filters are turned off

**Requested features**

- Unlock without hardware purchase
- Allow in-app purchase to unlock
- Bring back Tenori On apps
- Fix LFO delay parameter
- Add separate volume control for drums


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MusicSoft Manager free?

MusicSoft Manager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is FM Essential free?

FM Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MusicSoft Manager or FM Essential?

FM Essential is rated higher. MusicSoft Manager averages 2.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while FM Essential averages 3.0 from 70 ratings.

### Do MusicSoft Manager or FM Essential have ads?

Neither MusicSoft Manager nor FM Essential shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MusicSoft Manager or FM Essential?

MusicSoft Manager ships an update every 8 months, and FM Essential every 15 months. Most recently, MusicSoft Manager was updated on November 1, 2026 and FM Essential on November 2, 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.*