nils vs Ripplemaker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
nils
This real-time audio effect machine offers bitcrush, delay, and gain for distortion. It functions as a sampler and looper, allowing for lo-fi sound manipulation for both beginners and professionals. Supports Audiobus and various audio inputs.
- Real-time audio effects
- Bitcrush, delay, gain
- Sampler functionality
- Minimalistic looper
- Audiobus support
- Export audio
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..:: || NEW || AudioBus Support || ::.. Real time bitcrush, sampler and looper. Nils is a real time sound effect machine with a minimalistic looper. It comes with bitcrush, delay and gain for distortion. As input you can use the internal microphone, your earpods or accessories like iRig. Can also be used as a sampler, by holding the delay buffer and changing its phase. Lo-fi looping for both beginners and professionals. +++ Audiobus (input/effects/output). +++ Real time. +++ Bitchrush. +++ Sample rate (1 Hz - 44100 Hz). +++ Delay. +++ Hold delay buffer. +++ Play delay buffer. +++ Gain (goes up to 11). +++ Limiter. +++ Tape looper. +++ Export (email, soundcloud, MAPI audio copy).
Ripplemaker
Explore sound with a West Coast-style modular synthesizer. This app offers a versatile playground for creating evolving drones and morphing basslines, with or without patching cables. It also includes a standalone sequencer with advanced pattern generation and mutation features.
- West Coast-style modular synthesis
- Prewired monosynth functionality
- Virtual patch cables for experimentation
- Standalone sequencer with random pattern generation
- Realtime probability-based mutation engine
- AUv3 plugin support
- Ableton Link and MIDI Clock Sync
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Ripplemaker: a West Coast Flavored (Semi-)Modular Synth The freedom and versatility of a modular synth in a stylish mobile package. In typical West Coast fashion the available modules, such as complex oscillator, lowpass gate, FM, mathematical utilities and slope generator, are designed for exploration and experimentation. The virtual patch cables will let you take your sound wherever you want to take it, from morphing basslines to evolving generative drones. A modular playground Even if you’re not familiar with modulars, wavefolders or control voltage you can dive right in, because all modules are prewired; offering a powerful monosynth without using a single cable. Then whip out the virtual cables and start patching. Ripplemaker is designed for fun - big enough to lose yourself into, yet intuitive enough to not get lost. Standalone sequencer goodness Sometimes you want to get away from your DAW and just play. That’s why Ripplemaker, beside being an AU plugin, also comes with a standalone sequencer app that helps you get creative. It has a random pattern generator with scale locks, a realtime probability-based mutation engine and it syncs with your other apps and hardware via Ableton Link or MIDI Clock. Download the user manual on www.ruismaker.com Connectivity beyond cables: obviously in a modular synth it’s all about cables. But Ripplemaker takes connectivity to the another level: - AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugin) Extension for use in iOS DAWs - Universal design (works on iPad 4+, iPhone 5S+, iPod Touch 6G+) - CoreMIDI, Virtual MIDI, Bluetooth MIDI, - Audiobus 3, including AB3 MIDI IN+OUT and State Saving - Ableton Link - MIDI Clock Sync - WAV export, MIDI file export, AU preset export
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: nils at $1.99 against Ripplemaker's $8.99. nils also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). Ripplemaker's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 72%) and chart position (#187 vs unranked). On rating, 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
nils costs $1.99 and Ripplemaker $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for nils against 4.8 for Ripplemaker. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ripplemaker has 95 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of nils's written reviews are positive against 91% of Ripplemaker's.
nils ships an update every 5 weeks, Ripplemaker every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nils | Ripplemaker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $8.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (13 ratings) | 4.8 (95 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | 90.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 95 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #187 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Erik Sigth | Bram Bos |
Customer experience
nils
Ripplemaker
In-app purchases
nils
No in-app purchases
Ripplemaker
No in-app purchases
