Comparison

AxeChords vs VAPolyTS

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

Head to head
About

AxeChords

Read full description

Learn all the basic Major and Minor Chords on Guitar using the CAGED System. (A system based on the open C, A, G, E, and D chords). Learn the foundation of all Jazz Chords with Shell Chords. (Root, 3rd, 7th). Master advanced Chords and their Inversions with Drop 2 and Drop 3 Chords. (2nd or 3rd highest note of a closed position Chord dropped an octave to spread out the voicing). Select any of 12 different Root Notes for each chord form, providing thousands of different combinations! Shows the scale degree of each chord note, as well as the suggested fingerings for each chord. Play each chord to hear how it sounds, choose from several different guitar types with strummed or picked chords. Context sensitive help available on each screen. Plus, you can also add your own custom User Chords!

About

VAPolyTS

Create iconic electronic music sounds with this polyphonic synthesizer. It offers advanced oscillator stacks, a step sequencer, and built-in effects for crafting Trance, House, and Techno. Seamlessly share projects across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud.

Highlights
  • Polyphonic subtractive synthesizer
  • Stack oscillators with detuned and octave-shifted outputs
  • Analog style step sequencer with piano roll editor
  • Built-in delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, EQ, and compressor
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) and Ableton Link support
  • MIDI 2.0 and Bluetooth MIDI compatibility
  • iCloud Drive project sharing across Apple devices
Features
Read full description

VAPolyTS is polyphonic synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It is inspired by the synthesizers which contributed to shape iconic sounds of Trance, House and Techno Music in 1990’s. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. The synthesizer features two stack oscillators. The one of them can generate mix of detuned seven oscillator outputs. The other one can generate mix of several octave shifted oscillator outputs. It also features a mixer, a resonant low pass filter, a resonant hight pass filter, an amplifier, two envelope generators, two LFO and analog style step sequencer. Built-in Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. VAPolyTS also includes sequencer which features piano roll editor and parameter automation. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Main Features Polyphonic subtractive synthesizer. Stack oscillator which can generate mix of seven detuned oscillator outputs. Stack oscillator which can generate mix of several octave shifted oscillator outputs. Analog Style Step Sequencer. Eight Assignable Controllers. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Built-in effects and piano roll sequencer. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Support MIDI 2.0. Support Foot Pedal and Per Note Control. Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Include 256 Factory Presets. Improvements Support MIDI Foot Pedal (CC#11, CC#64) Support MIDI2.0 Per Note Control Messages MIDI CC Settings are saved. It will be recovered when the app launched in the next time. System Requirements iOS 17.0 or later Devices with Apple Silicon are recommended. A13 Fusion or above is highly recommended. if sound is distorted when using a device with less CPU power, reduce number of voices. AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. AudioUnit Extension is supported by Apple Logic and Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension.

Screenshots

AxeChords4 screens
VAPolyTS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: AxeChords at $1.99 against VAPolyTS's $14.99. AxeChords also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AxeChords ships an update every 3 days, VAPolyTS every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
AxeChords versus VAPolyTS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAxeChordsVAPolyTS
Price$1.99 — better$14.99
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.2 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoseph SvantnerRyo Togawa

In-app purchases

None

AxeChords

No in-app purchases

None

VAPolyTS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AxeChords free?
AxeChords costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyTS free?
VAPolyTS costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do AxeChords or VAPolyTS have ads?
Neither AxeChords nor VAPolyTS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AxeChords or VAPolyTS?
AxeChords ships an update every 3 days, and VAPolyTS every 10 months. Most recently, AxeChords was updated on October 4, 2026 and VAPolyTS on October 17, 2026.

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