Comparison

WoodTroller vs BrainBud

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

Head to head
About

WoodTroller

This app functions as a multi-touch bar MIDI controller for MPE and MIDI V2. It offers customizable rotary controls and buttons to manage various parameters and send MIDI commands, with iCloud syncing for presets.

Highlights
  • MPE touch bar with individual pitch shift, pressure, and CC74 control
  • 8 customizable rotary controls for sending multiple CC messages
  • 8 programmable buttons for sending various MIDI commands
  • User-definable rotary and button names, colors, and ranges
  • Preset storage and automatic syncing via iCloud
  • Stand-alone app and AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

WoodTroller is NOT an app to annoy people. It’s an MPE and midi V2 multi touch bar keyboard and midi controller : The MPE touch bar supports multiple notes with individual pitch shift (horizontal movement), pressure and cc74 (vertical movement). WoodTroller has 8 general purpose rotary controls : - Each can send 6 different CC messages to different channels. - Each of the 6 command values can be mapped differently to the full rotary range. - So 1 rotary can control several parameters on the same or on different instruments. - Rotary names, colour, unit, range can all be user set. WoodTroller also has 8 general purpose on-off or push buttons : - Each button can send up to 8 different midi commands (CC, PC, NoteOn, …) to different channels. - This allows to quickly switch multiple midi instruments or devices to another program or to other settings. - Each midi command’s data value can be auto incremented/decremented. - All button names, colour, type can be user set. All settings can be stored in presets in iCloud which yield automatic preset syncing between several WoodTrollers on different devices. WoodTroller is available as stand-alone app and as AUv3 plugin.

About

BrainBud

This app acts as a central controller for other music creation applications, allowing you to manage keys and scales simultaneously. It integrates with a variety of Bud apps via MIDI, enabling synchronized changes and broadcasting of musical parameters. Experiment with randomization and automate settings through its AUv3 plugin.

Highlights
  • Centralized key and scale control
  • MIDI out to multiple Bud apps
  • Budcast for parameter broadcasting
  • Randomize musical parameters
  • AUv3 plugin for automation
  • Requires other Bud apps to function
Features
Read full description

BrainBud controls the keys and scales of the Bud apps all at once. Connect BrainBud’s MIDI out to MIDI inputs of: - SnakeBud - PolyBud - MelodyBud - ShiftBud - ScaleBud 2 - In Theory - Textquencer - Binarhythmic - Auto Bass - BounceBud - MuseBud - Kebarp - FuncBud - Note to Be You can also broadcast the current key/scale to the newly connected apps with Budcast button. If you’d like to experiment, you can try the randomise button. With the AUv3 plugin, you can change the BrainBud's parameters or even automate them with AU parameters. For using the AUv3 plugin make sure you have an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Cubasis, Nanostudio, apeMatrix. BrainBud is a MIDI based app and requires other Bud apps present in order to work right. If you don't have any other Bud apps mentioned above, you can't make a use of BrainBud.  BrainBud doesn't produce any kind of sound on its own.

Screenshots

BrainBud4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BrainBud at $2.99 against WoodTroller's $9.99. BrainBud also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). WoodTroller's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). On review sentiment, 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

WoodTroller costs $9.99 and BrainBud $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BrainBud holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WoodTroller ships an update fortnightly, BrainBud every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
WoodTroller versus BrainBud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWoodTrollerBrainBud
Price$9.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.8 (6 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWoodman's Immaculate Maple Syrup StudioCem Olcay

Customer experience

WoodTroller

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BrainBud

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

WoodTroller

No in-app purchases

None

BrainBud

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WoodTroller free?
WoodTroller costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BrainBud free?
BrainBud costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WoodTroller or BrainBud?
BrainBud is rated higher. WoodTroller averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while BrainBud averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do WoodTroller or BrainBud have ads?
Neither WoodTroller nor BrainBud shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WoodTroller or BrainBud?
WoodTroller ships an update fortnightly, and BrainBud every 2 months. Most recently, WoodTroller was updated on September 8, 2026 and BrainBud on September 21, 2026.

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