Relic Waves vs plugdata
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Relic Waves
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.
- 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)
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Relic Waves is a generator of Lo-Fi noises, pads and effects based on unique synthesis algorithms from NightRadio. More than 4 billion samples from the depths of the Mathematical Universe! Features: * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; each set of 12 sounds corresponds to a code of 8 characters; * three types of keyboards for live performing: on-screen buttons, PC keyboard, MIDI input; * several processing parameters + control via MIDI; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual samples - they will not change during the search for new sets; * iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.
plugdata
This app provides a visual programming environment for audio experimentation, prototyping, and education. It allows users to create and run audio patches on their mobile devices, enabling creative sound design on the go.
- Visual programming environment
- Audio experimentation
- Prototyping
- Educational tool
- Standalone application
- Audio plugins
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plugdata is visual programming environment for audio experimentation, prototyping and education. With plugdata for iOS, you can bring your plugdata patches with you everywhere you go. This app ships with a standalone application and audio plugins.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: plugdata at Free against Relic Waves's $1.99. plugdata also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 11 months). Relic Waves's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (100% vs 63%). On ratings volume, 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
plugdata is free to download; Relic Waves costs $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 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Relic Waves's written reviews are positive against 63% of plugdata's.
Relic Waves ships an update every 11 months, plugdata every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Relic Waves | plugdata |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (42 ratings) — better | 4.4 (17 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 63.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 42 — better | 17 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #181 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 147 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Zolotov | Timothy Schoen |
Customer experience
Relic Waves
plugdata
In-app purchases
Relic Waves
No in-app purchases
plugdata
No in-app purchases









