Comparison

Elastic OSC vs FontStack

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

Head to head
About

Elastic OSC

This synthesizer app offers a vast range of sounds inspired by a popular hardware module. It features 24 distinct oscillator models, intuitive XY pads for sound manipulation, and a versatile arpeggiator. Play it with an on-screen or external keyboard for monophonic or polyphonic sound design.

Highlights
  • 24 distinct sound engines based on Plaits DSP
  • Intuitive XY pads for sound manipulation
  • Versatile arpeggiator with multiple modes
  • Integrated help system for all features
  • DX7 bank and wavetable import
  • 5 master effects with automations
Features
Read full description

Elastic OSC is a synthesizer app based on the DSP code of the Mutable Instruments Plaits hardware oscillator module, one of the most beloved (and cloned) oscillator modules in the Eurorack modular scene! Like the original, Elastic OSC comes with a wide variety of possible sounds, from analog-style, FM, and additive sounds to physical modeling, percussive, and even drum sounds. Elastic OSC can be used in both monophonic and 8-voice polyphonic modes. You can play the app using the (on-screen) keyboard or an external keyboard or sequencer inside your DAW of choice. The app focuses on ease of use, featuring two XY pads for intuitive sound manipulation of the OSC engine and the effects. Despite the simplicity of the cleaned-up interface, the sound possibilities are vast – thanks to 24 different oscillator models and the ability to automate parameter changes, as it is possible in all Elastic apps released so far. A versatile Arpeggiator makes it easy to start with simple ideas or can already create entire sonic worlds. Elastic OSC includes an integrated help system (tap “?”) to provide explanations for nearly every GUI element, the underlying DSP model, and most of the app’s functionality. CDM: "Elastic OSC becomes a must on iOS. It’s fun to use as an instrument in your iPad DAW of choice." SYNTH ANATOMY: "Takes the Mutable Instruments (Plaits) algorithms on a wild trip. A nearly perfect app." ROBERT LIPPOK: "Elastic OSC is incredibly fun to work with from the very first minute. The GUI is really well thought out and has 24 integrated synthesis models, as well as the ability to load DX7 sound banks. Omg, so good." --- FEATURES --- SYNTHESIZER – 24 different Sound Engines from MI Plaits DSP code – 4 main parameters per synth engine (Frequency, Harmonics, Morph, Harmo) – Recordable Modulations/Automations for almost all Parameters with a length of 1, 2 or 4 beats. – ADSR Envelope for Amplifier – LPG Envelope for Modulations of Timbre, FM, Harmonics – Adjustable Velocity effect on Volume and/or LPG Modulation – DX7 Bank and Wavetable Import ARPEGGIATOR With different Arp Modes, Rates, Octave Ranges and Skip Notes functionality MASTER FX – 5 effects (5 different Overdrive/Distortions, Hi-Low-Filter, Chorus/Flanger, Delay, Reverb) – Automations for all effects parameters – Master Gain and switchable Limiter effect SYNTH ENGINES - Virtual Analog - Waveshaping - 2 OP FM - Granular Formant - Additive - Wavetable - Chords - Speech - Granular Cloud - Filtered Noise - Particle Noise - String Model - Modal Resonator - Bass Drum - Snare Drum - Hi-Hat - Virt. Analog VCF - Phase Distortion - 6 OP FM 1 - 6 OP FM 2 - 6 OP FM 3 - Wave Terrain - String Machine - Chiptune —————— LFOs LFO 1 is for free, while three additional LFOs can be unlocked via In-App Purchase. LFO MODULATION TARGETS • Frequency Amount • Timbre Amount • Morph Amount • Harmonics Amount • Filter Amount • Pan Amount LFO MIX The MIX view enables you to blend multiple LFOs and define how strongly each active LFO influences a target parameter. The closer a target is placed to an LFO corner, the stronger its influence. All active LFOs always sum up to 100% (e.g. LFO1 50%, LFO2 30%, LFO3 20%).

About

FontStack

This app allows musicians to load and utilize classic SoundFont (.sf2) files within their digital audio workstation. It offers layering, key splitting, and instrument caching for creative sound design and quick access to a vast library of sounds.

Highlights
  • 4 SoundFont layers
  • Keyboard splits
  • SoundFont stacking
  • Instrument caching
  • Remote folder linking
  • Reverb, Delay, Chorus effects
  • Amp Envelope and Filter control
Features
Read full description

FontStack is a 'fontastic' new AUv3 plugin for iOS which can be loaded into your favourite DAW allowing you to utilise all those wonderful and nostalgic SF2 SoundFonts you've collected over the years. The SoundFont standard was created back in the early 90s, and made famous by the SoundBlaster series of sound cards. With the introduction of the Amiga, it spawned a host of musical creation tools called Trackers, which allowed the Amiga to load these SoundFonts and create sophisticated musical scores of 4 or 8 tracks. These days we don't use this standard so much, but there is a wealth of free SF2 files available on the internet just waiting to be loaded into FontStack. A SoundFont comprises a file with an .sf2 file extension. This file contains a set of samples, instruments, and presets. FontStack enables you to load one or more SoundFonts into its 4 layers, and use them in lots of creative ways. You can stack layers to create a rich combination of multiple tones, or assign each layer its own key range on the keyboard to create virtual splits, or a mixture of the two. Each layer can also be assigned its own MIDI channel for true OMNI mode. One great feature of FontStack is its ability to cache all your SoundFonts and the instruments they contain. This allows quick searching for specific instrument types without the need to physically search through SoundFonts to find them. Another great feature is the ability to optionally link to a remote folder containing a global set of SoundFonts, so that they can be shared between apps. Both internal and external SoundFonts and their instruments will be cached and searching is just as easy as it is using internal SoundFonts. FontStack features: ○ 4 SoundFont Layers which can be stacked, layered or played on different channels. ○ 6 Scenes per Layer containing different SoundFont instruments and settings. ○ Keyboard Splits can be created spreading multiple SoundFonts over a single keyboard. ○ SoundFont Stacks can be created, stacking multiple SoundFonts to produce a bigger, thicker sound. ○ Disk Streaming allows you to stream a SoundFont directly from disk saving physical memory. ○ File Manager allowing local and remote file management. ○ Symbolic Link allows you to specify a remote/external folder from which to access your SoundFonts. ○ Instrument Search allows you to search the content of local and remote SoundFonts folders. ○ Drag and Drop your sound fonts directly into the SoundFont Manager. ○ Reverb, Delay & Chorus effects can be applied to each instrument layer. ○ Haas and Stereo Width can be used to simulate virtual STEREO on SoundFonts with MONO samples. ○ Allows direct control of the SoundFonts Amp Envelope and Filter settings.

Screenshots

Elastic OSC4 screens
FontStack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FontStack at none against Elastic OSC's 2. FontStack also leads on price ($14.99 vs $17.99). Elastic OSC's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 75%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On update cadence, ads, monetization model 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

Elastic OSC costs $17.99 and FontStack $14.99 up front. Elastic OSC sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. FontStack asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Elastic OSC holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Elastic OSC's written reviews are positive against 75% of FontStack's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Elastic OSC ships an update fortnightly, FontStack every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Elastic OSC versus FontStack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElastic OSCFontStack
Price$17.99$14.99 — better
Rating4.7 (39 ratings) — better4.5 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews92.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings39 — better12
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB308 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver Greschke (DE)4Pockets.com

Customer experience

Elastic OSC

All ratings39 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral2.6%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative4.0%

FontStack

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Elastic OSC

One-time2
  • Multi LFOs$3.99
  • Unlock MPE for expressive control$4.99
None

FontStack

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Elastic OSC free?
Elastic OSC costs $17.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is FontStack free?
FontStack costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Elastic OSC or FontStack?
Elastic OSC is rated higher. Elastic OSC averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while FontStack averages 4.5 from 12 ratings.
Do Elastic OSC or FontStack have ads?
Neither Elastic OSC nor FontStack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Elastic OSC or FontStack?
Elastic OSC ships an update fortnightly, and FontStack every 2 weeks. Most recently, Elastic OSC was updated on September 27, 2026 and FontStack on September 19, 2026.

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