Comparison

AxeModes vs Solderbox

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

Head to head
About

AxeModes

This app helps guitarists learn various musical modes and scales from any root note. It features a dynamic fretboard, scale degree visualization, and audio playback for each note, along with chord accompaniment.

Highlights
  • Learn major, minor, and other scale modes
  • Dynamic fretboard display
  • Color-code and show/hide scale degrees
  • Hear individual note sounds
  • Play chord accompaniment
  • Context-sensitive help
Read full description

Learn all the associated Modes of the Major, Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor, Harmonic Major, Double Harmonic Major, Hexatonic, Pentatonic, and Diminished Scales. Starting from any Root Note. (Hundreds and hundreds of combinations!) Dynamically generated Fretboard. Show between 2 and 22 Frets at a time. Color code any Scale Degree(s). Show or hide any Scale Degree(s). Click on any Note to hear what it sounds like. Play Chord accompaniment for any Scale/Mode/Root combination. Context sensitive help available on every screen.

About

Solderbox

This app is a compact, semi-modular synthesizer designed for generative music creation. It offers a comprehensive set of modular functions, aiming for analog-like sound and behavior with unique digital effects and an 'Instability Engine' for organic fluctuations.

Highlights
  • Generative synthesis tools
  • Analog-like sound emulation
  • Instability Engine for organic fluctuations
  • Audio Unit (AUv3) compatibility
  • Built-in Pulsequencer melody generator
  • Multiple filter modes
  • Stackable patch cables
Features
Read full description

Solderbox is a compact semimodular synthesizer, made in collaboration with Jakob Haq. It is heavily based on Jakob's own modular rack design (which features a lot of modules made by hand). The app is designed to offer a set of modular functions that is both comprehensive and eclectic, including several tools for generative synthesis, random signals and the surgical mangling of audio waves and modulation signals. A lot of effort went into making everything sound and behave as analog as digitally possible (with the exception of the unashamedly digital Entropy lo-fi effect processor). Additionally, the built-in Instability Engine injects the subtle fluctuations simulating the effects of crosstalk, leaky signals and expired electrical components. This is a living instrument with a soul of its own. - Full Audio Unit compatibility (AUv3 instrument, audio effect) - Universal design (iPhone, iPad, MacOS AUv3) - Built-in Pulsequencer (LFO-based generative melody generator with custom scales) - 4 mode Low-pass filter (6, 12, 18, 24 dB) - 3 voice polyphony - Drone mode - Stackable patch cables - DIY Lo-Fi digital delay circuit emulation - All synth settings exposed a AU Parameters (for automation and MIDI learning in your host of choice) Find the user manual on ruismaker.com

Screenshots

AxeModes3 screens
Solderbox3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: AxeModes at $4.99 against Solderbox's $12.99. AxeModes also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks). Solderbox's advantage is ratings volume (27 vs 2) and device support (4 vs 2). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

AxeModes costs $4.99 and Solderbox $12.99 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 — 5.0 for AxeModes against 5.0 for Solderbox. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solderbox has 27 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AxeModes ships an update every 4 days, Solderbox every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AxeModes versus Solderbox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAxeModesSolderbox
Price$4.99 — better$12.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (27 ratings)
Positive reviews—90.0% of reviews
Number of ratings227 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.213 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoseph SvantnerBram Bos

Customer experience

AxeModes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Solderbox

All ratings27 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

In-app purchases

None

AxeModes

No in-app purchases

None

Solderbox

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AxeModes free?
AxeModes costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Solderbox free?
Solderbox costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AxeModes or Solderbox?
AxeModes and Solderbox are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 27 ratings respectively.
Do AxeModes or Solderbox have ads?
Neither AxeModes nor Solderbox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AxeModes or Solderbox?
AxeModes ships an update every 4 days, and Solderbox every 6 weeks. Most recently, AxeModes was updated on September 17, 2026 and Solderbox on October 1, 2026.

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