sqrt vs word_salad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
sqrt
This app allows users to trigger and manipulate sounds on a multitouch surface. The pro version enables loading custom audio files and creating personalized sound grids. It offers a unique playback control system where sound parameters are interpolated across the screen.
- Multitouch sound triggering
- Drag-to-manipulate sound parameters
- Load custom sounds (Pro version)
- Create custom sound grids (Pro version)
- Interpolate between parameter presets
- Includes curated glitch sounds
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SQRT is a multitouch sound board sample player. Tap on the items to trigger different sounds. Drag a triggered sound around the surface to change its parameters. Use the two buttons on the side to change the way how you can play / trigger the sounds. With the pro version you can load in your own sounds (using iTunes or AudioShare) and create your own grids! SQRT comes with a specially designed set of (glitch) sounds by composer/sound designer Ctrl-t (aka Jan T.) and are an incarnation of one of his recent (live) pieces. If you want to use your own sounds, get the pro version! What is special about SQRT? The sounds can be triggered from one point on the screen but the playback behavior can be manipulated over the entire screen. For each 'trigger point' there are snapshots of parameter settings spread across the playing area. The playback behavior is changed by interpolating between these presets. Currently the presets define pitch, loop start and loop length.
word_salad
This app explores the concept of a musical instrument that generates sounds based on user input. It aims to be a futuristic tool for musical creation and exploration.
- Futuristic musical instrument concept
- Sound generation based on input
- Tool for musical creation
- Exploration of sonic possibilities
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$ ask "Is word_salad the instrument of the future?" YES $
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: word_salad at 4.7 against sqrt's 3.3. word_salad also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 58%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). sqrt's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 55 months) and iOS requirement (8.4 vs 15.1). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
word_salad holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of sqrt's written reviews are positive against 83% of word_salad's.
sqrt ships an update every 5 weeks, word_salad every 55 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | sqrt | word_salad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (7 ratings) | 4.7 (12 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 57.9% of reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 12 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 55 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.4 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TeaTracks | Greg Kufera |
Customer experience
sqrt
word_salad
In-app purchases
sqrt
No in-app purchases
word_salad
No in-app purchases
