Comparison

sumFX vs FW Radar

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

Head to head
About

sumFX

This app is a versatile audio effects processor for musicians. It offers a modular design with multiple high-quality FX modules and customizable slots, allowing for quick creation of unique sounds. Focus on your music with intuitive controls and visual feedback.

Highlights
  • Modular multi-FX processor
  • 8 high-quality FX modules
  • 8 FX slots with Wet/Dry control
  • 2 LFOs per slot
  • 50+ cross-platform presets
  • Pre/post waveform view
Features
Read full description

sumFX is a modular multi-FX processor for Mac/PC and iOS. Designed with simplicity in mind, to help keep you focused on the music and the sum of your efforts. Packed with 8 high quality FX modules and an available 8 slots, each loaded with Wet/Dry control, Global Wet/Dry, and 2 LFOs per slot, creating new unique sounds is quick and easy. 50+ cross-platform slot & chain presets are included to get you to any sound you need quickly and we’ve packed in an easy to use pre/post waveform view to help keep you focused on the result of your FX. Modules: -syncDynamics - Multimode dynamic FX with BPM sync attack/release (Noise Gate, Expander, Compressor, Limiter) -stereoFilter - Stereo filter with link or individual channel controls (LPF12, HPF12, BPF12, LPF24, HPF24, BPF24, Notch, & Formant options). -variMod - Multimode modulation FX with stereo offset (Chorus, Flanger,  Vibrato, Phaser, Tremolo,  & Auto Pan) -EQuator - Full high quality EQ module (3 Parametric Bands, High/Low Shelf, & HPF/LPF). -frostReverb - Multi-Mode (Original, Plate, Spring, Room) Stereo Reverb.  -bucketDelay - Stereo Analog Style Delay with individual channel control. -variPitch - Stereo Pitch Shifter with 3X Modes (Doubler, Harmonizer, & Full Control) -powerPhase - Multimode Saturation, Utility Gain In/Out, Mono Maker, Channel msDelay, & Phase inverter.

About

FW Radar

Read full description

FW Radar keeps track of firmware for your studio gear, so you don't have to. It follows firmware releases for more than 1,600 hardware products, from synths and drum machines to eurorack modules, audio interfaces and effects. When something in your rig gets an update, you hear about it. Your rig Add the gear you own and see where each device stands: the latest firmware, the version you have installed, the full version history with changelogs, manuals and used prices from Reverb. Notifications Turn on notifications and you get a push as soon as a new firmware shows up for one of your devices. Tap it and you land on the product page. Telegram and email alerts are there too, if you prefer. Public rigs Look at the setups other electronic musicians share, and publish your own with photos if you like. The catalog More than 1,600 products from over 260 brands, checked around the clock. If your device is missing, request it from the app and it gets added. On iPhone, iPad and Mac. Free, no subscription. Sign in with Apple or Google. FW Radar does not host firmware files: every download link goes to the manufacturer's official page. This application uses the Reverb API but is not endorsed, created by or certified by Reverb.com, LLC.

Screenshots

sumFX3 screens
FW Radar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: FW Radar at Free against sumFX's $9.99. FW Radar also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 6 months). sumFX's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

FW Radar is free to download; sumFX costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

sumFX ships an update every 6 months, FW Radar every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
sumFX versus FW Radar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametersumFXFW Radar
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOSC AudioVincenzo Risi

In-app purchases

None

sumFX

No in-app purchases

None

FW Radar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is sumFX free?
sumFX costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FW Radar free?
FW Radar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do sumFX or FW Radar have ads?
Neither sumFX nor FW Radar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, sumFX or FW Radar?
sumFX ships an update every 6 months, and FW Radar every 5 weeks. Most recently, sumFX was updated on October 9, 2026 and FW Radar on October 15, 2026.

Other comparisons