MIDI Messenger vs Doris by dgApps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MIDI Messenger
This app allows users to create and send custom MIDI messages triggered by various system events or incoming MIDI data. It offers advanced features like expression calculations for generative workflows and message ordering with delay options.
- Create custom MIDI messages
- Trigger messages with MIDI or system events
- Expression calculations for generative music
- Supports various MIDI message types
- Configurable message order and delays
- Discard or pass-through incoming messages
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MIDI Messenger is an AUv3 MIDI plug-in that came to life as an answer to the lack of MIDI processors for iOS. It allows creating an endless list of ‘messages’ that will be sent after being triggered by incoming MIDI or system events. MIDI messages can be typed in manually or contain some expression calculations allowing generative workflows. Here's the list of possible triggers: On Load, CC, Note On, Note Off, MIDI/AU Host Transport Start/Stop/Continue, Pressure. Here are possible message types: CC, Program/Bank Change, Note On, Note Off, Pressure, Pitch Wheel, Sysex, All Sounds Off (CC). Messages have order, the first message to be triggered and sent is at the top of the list. The last one is at the bottom. You can specify a delay time in milliseconds so the message is sent a bit later than the trigger-event was detected. You can discard incoming messages that triggered new messages, or pass them through. You can also reorder messages.
Doris by dgApps
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Doris by dgApps is the app to send and receive MIDI commands from your iPhone or iPad via fully configurable touch buttons. Each Doris Project can have multiple Screens. Each Doris Screen can have multiple Buttons. Each Button can be one of nine different sizes, and each Button can be one of six different types: Note On Note Off A Button that sends Note On and Note Off MIDI commands, with the same channel and note for each command. These Buttons send a Note On command on touch and a Note Off command on the next touch, or they can be momentary, sending a Note On command on touch and a Note Off command on release. Control Change A Button that sends a Control Change MIDI command using a slider for a specific channel and specific control change number. Program Change A Button that sends a Program Change MIDI command on touch, with a configurable channel and program number. Multiple MIDI This Button type can have any number of on MIDI commands and any number of off MIDI commands. The on MIDI commands are sent on touch and the off MIDI commands are sent on a second touch, or on release if the Button is momentary. The MIDI commands can be sent all at once, or one after the other sequentially, both for the on MIDI commands and the off MIDI commands. Each MIDI command can be a Note On, Note Off, Program Change, or a Control Change command with a specified value. Flash All Buttons will flash when they receive their MIDI command, whether the command comes from another Button or from outside Doris. Flash Buttons go further in that they can be configured to flash for a specific MIDI command on a specific channel, or all MIDI commands on all channels, or any combination of commands and channels in between those two extremes. Blank Blank buttons are only visible in Edit mode. They are used to help with the layout of Buttons across the Screen. Each MIDI command is fully configurable visually: text, font, text size, text weight, text alignment, text colour, symbol, symbol colour, and background colour All configuration of Doris Projects, Screens, and Buttons is accomplished directly in the app. There’s no requirement for any other software. There is an always available MIDI screen that logs incoming MIDI commands and can send specific MIDI commands. The screen also enables MIDI using Bluetooth connections. Copious Help is available throughout Doris to explain things as you go. Doris can share DORIS files using all the usual share options, and import saved DORIS files into new Projects. Doris was successfully used with Blur at Coachella 2024, with The Script during 2024, and with Little Simz at Glastonbury 2024.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Doris by dgApps at every 3 weeks against MIDI Messenger's every 4 months. MIDI Messenger's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). On price, 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. MIDI Messenger sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Doris by dgApps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MIDI Messenger ships an update every 4 months, Doris by dgApps every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDI Messenger | Doris by dgApps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (9 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Gleb Valin | dgApps |
In-app purchases
MIDI Messenger
- Small tip$1.00
- Nice tip$5.00
- Generous tip$10.00
Doris by dgApps
- Doris Monthly Subscription$8.991 Month
- Doris Annual Subscription$89.991 Year

