Comparison

RingsFX 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

RingsFX

This music app emulates a renowned physical modeling synthesizer, offering diverse synthesis techniques and polyphonic capabilities. It allows for real-time parameter manipulation and can process external audio, creating unique sonic textures and rhythms.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling synthesis emulation
  • Multiple polyphony modes (Mono, Duo, Quad, True Polyphonic)
  • Supports MIDI MPE and velocity sensitivity
  • External audio excitation
  • Mod Matrix for real-time parameter control
  • 7 unique synthesis modes
  • 6 mod-able and 6 global effects
Features
Read full description

RingsFX is an AUv3 plugin based on the famous Mutable Instruments Rings, one of the most dedicated and fully-featured Physical Modeling Eurorack modules ever created. At its core is a resonator that needs to be 'excited' or 'strummed' by MIDI input, noise, or external audio excitation. RingsFX emulates vibrations of structures simulated by 3 different synthesis techniques that can be plucked or process external signals: Modal Synthesis, Sympathetic Strings, and Inharmonic Strings. Traditionally, Rings was only monophonic but used a unique approach to polyphony that allowed the previous note to 'ring' out and decay while a new note was played. Rings FX provides these same modes (Mono, Duo, and Quad), but expands it with a true Polyphonic mode. RingsFX also expands the capabilities of the original engine by adding support for velocity sensitivity and MIDI MPE mode. The new polyphonic mode allows RingsFX to play up to 12 notes of true polyphony, depending on the settings. Doing so requires RingsFX to use multiple Rings resonators, but the more true polyphony you use, the more processing power it requires. Running in the traditional Monophonic, Duophonic, or Quadrophonic modes may be preferred in order to keep CPU usage under control. RingsFX has 7 modes in total, by combining the 3 basic modes with additional properties such as chords or specially tuned reverbs. The original hardware also had a secret 'Easter Egg' mode, which in RingsFX is simply calling 'Synthesizer' mode, rumoured to be based on one of the early Korg synthesis methods. This mode supported a number of mutable effects which now work on in all resonator modes. RingsFX also has a Mod-Matrix which allows you to combine the built-in LFOs and FEGs to great effect by manipulating parameters and mutable effects in realtime. Finally, RingsFX can be loaded as an AUv3 effect plugin. Set the Exciter Source to 'INPUT', and you can pass any audio through RingsFX and use this audio as an external exciter. For example, it can be used to great affect on a drum beat to create some crazy rhythms. Use the Output Mix to combine the original audio with the synthesised resonator output to create some stunning effects. Features ○ 7 unique synthesis modes. ○ Supports Mono, Duo, Quad and true polyphony. ○ Supports 2 fluid LFO's per note. ○ Up to 4 FEG's per note. ○ External Exciter modes. ○ White noise Pulse Sequencer. ○ Supports 6 mod-able effects and 6 global effects. ○ Mod Matrix ○ Input and white noise filters. ○ Program Manager with drag and drop. ○ Preset Search and Favourites. ○ Easy export and import of banks and presets. ○ Extensive help manual. ○ Web Transfer for backing up to PC/Mac. ○ MPE Support.

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

RingsFX4 screens
Relic Flow2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Relic Flow at $1.99 against RingsFX's $14.99. RingsFX's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 17 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

RingsFX costs $14.99 and Relic Flow $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for RingsFX against 4.8 for Relic Flow. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 26 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of RingsFX's written reviews are positive against 93% of Relic Flow's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RingsFX ships an update fortnightly, Relic Flow every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
RingsFX versus Relic Flow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRingsFXRelic Flow
Price$14.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.9 (26 ratings) — better4.8 (26 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better93.3% of reviews
Number of ratings2626
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

RingsFX

All ratings26 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Relic Flow

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

In-app purchases

None

RingsFX

No in-app purchases

None

Relic Flow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RingsFX free?
RingsFX costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Relic Flow free?
Relic Flow costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RingsFX or Relic Flow?
RingsFX is rated higher. RingsFX averages 4.9 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Relic Flow averages 4.8 from 26 ratings.
Do RingsFX or Relic Flow have ads?
Neither RingsFX nor Relic Flow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RingsFX or Relic Flow?
RingsFX ships an update fortnightly, and Relic Flow every 17 months. Most recently, RingsFX was updated on October 16, 2026 and Relic Flow on October 13, 2026.

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