Comparison

plugdata vs Relic Flow

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Visual programming environment
  • Audio experimentation
  • Prototyping
  • Educational tool
  • Standalone application
  • Audio plugins
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Relic Flow

Generate unique Lo-Fi rhythms, noise patterns, and drum loops using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sound samples with intuitive controls and real-time audio recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking endless creative possibilities.

Highlights
  • Lo-Fi rhythm and drum loop generation
  • Billions of unique sound samples
  • Real-time audio recording to WAV
  • Multiple input methods (on-screen, PC keyboard, MIDI)
  • Export to WAV, SunVox, and text clipboard
  • iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
Features
Read full description

Relic Flow is a generator of Lo-Fi rhythms, noise patterns and drum loops 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.

Screenshots

plugdata2 screens
Relic Flow2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: plugdata at Free against Relic Flow's $1.99. plugdata also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 17 months). Relic Flow's advantage is review sentiment (93% vs 63%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

plugdata is free to download; Relic Flow costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Relic Flow holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of plugdata's written reviews are positive against 93% of Relic Flow's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

plugdata ships an update every 3 months, Relic Flow every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
plugdata versus Relic Flow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterplugdataRelic Flow
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.4 (17 ratings)4.8 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.2% of reviews93.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1726 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size147 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTimothy SchoenAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

plugdata

All ratings17 ratings
Positive82.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive63.2%
Neutral15.8%
Negative21.1%

Relic Flow

All ratings26 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%

In-app purchases

None

plugdata

No in-app purchases

None

Relic Flow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is plugdata free?
plugdata is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Relic Flow free?
Relic Flow costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, plugdata or Relic Flow?
Relic Flow is rated higher. plugdata averages 4.4 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Relic Flow averages 4.8 from 26 ratings.
Do plugdata or Relic Flow have ads?
Neither plugdata nor Relic Flow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, plugdata or Relic Flow?
plugdata ships an update every 3 months, and Relic Flow every 17 months. Most recently, plugdata was updated on September 30, 2026 and Relic Flow on October 4, 2026.

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