# Combustor vs Relic Waves

The clearest difference is update cadence: Combustor at every 2 months against Relic Waves's every 11 months. Relic Waves's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Combustor costs $4.99 and Relic Waves $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Relic Waves holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 42 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Combustor's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.

Combustor ships an update every 2 months, Relic Waves every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Combustor | Relic Waves |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | [4.7 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/combustor/id6449939349/reviews) | **[5.0 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relic-waves/id6472637691/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **42** |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 4 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BeepStreet](https://appshunter.io/developer/321412321) | [Alexander Zolotov](https://appshunter.io/developer/324462547) |

## What reviewers say

### Combustor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/combustor/id6449939349)

This audio effect extension transforms tracks with a unique time-bending resonator. Create vibrant textures, subtle resonances, and dynamic sweeps. It's designed for electronic musicians and producers seeking to add wild or organic qualities to their sounds.

**Highlights:** Time bending resonator effect, Creates distorted textures and physical resonance, Envelope follower for dynamic control, MIDI input for melodic control, Performative interface, AUv3 compatible

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Relic Waves

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relic-waves/id6472637691)

Generate unique Lo-Fi sounds, pads, and effects using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sonic possibilities with intuitive controls and real-time recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking experimental audio.

**Highlights:** Billions of unique Lo-Fi sounds, Random sound generation with search, Multiple keyboard input options, Real-time audio recording to WAV, Export to WAV, SunVox, and clipboard, MIDI control and processing, iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Combustor free?

Combustor costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Relic Waves free?

Relic Waves costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Combustor or Relic Waves?

Relic Waves is rated higher. Combustor averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Relic Waves averages 5.0 from 42 ratings.

### Do Combustor or Relic Waves have ads?

Neither Combustor nor Relic Waves shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Combustor or Relic Waves?

Combustor ships an update every 2 months, and Relic Waves every 11 months. Most recently, Combustor was updated on September 20, 2026 and Relic Waves on September 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
