Pluck vs Locus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pluck
Experience a realistic string plucking simulator. Draw your own strings to create unique songs or listen to classical pieces played automatically. Discover the natural feel for yourself.
- String plucking simulation
- Draw custom strings
- Compose original songs
- Listen to classical music
- Self-playing strings
- Natural feel
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A string plucking simulator with a natural feel. You have to try it yourself to see. Draw strings & pluck your own songs, or enjoy classical music on self-playing strings.
Locus
This app generates evolving melodic MIDI sequences for electronic music production. It offers thirteen generative archetypes and extensive editing capabilities, allowing users to create unique musical ideas and arrange them into full compositions. It functions as a standalone application or an AUv3 MIDI effect within compatible hosts.
- Generative MIDI sequencing
- 13 unique generative archetypes
- Seed-derived, reproducible patterns
- Evolve, Feel, and Edit controls
- Per-note slides with 303-style legato
- 25 scales and snap-to-scale pitch
- Standalone and AUv3 MIDI effect
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Locus is a generative MIDI sequencer that creates evolving melodic motifs and sends them to your favorite synths. Designed for techno, ambient, IDM, and experimental electronic music, it turns a single seed into fresh musical ideas across thirteen generative archetypes, from acid-style grooves and cascading arpeggios to sparse fractals and interlocking pulses. Use Locus as a standalone app or as an AUv3 MIDI effect inside hosts like AUM, Logic, Cubasis, and Drambo. Every generated pattern plays in sync with your host and routes over MIDI to any instrument you choose. GENERATION Press CREATE and Locus composes a new motif from the current archetype, rooted in your chosen key and scale. Each archetype has its own rhythmic and melodic character: Groove, Cascade, Arc, Wander, Call & Answer, Chaos, Pulse, Even Pulse, Sparse Fractal, Interlock, Cluster, Puncture, and Thump. Generation is seed-derived, so the same settings always reproduce the same pattern. EVOLVE Push EVOLVE to generate controlled variations of the current motif. Keep what works, mutate what doesn't. Rhythm and pitch shift in musically coherent ways without losing the pattern's identity. FEEL Shape the musical foundation with Root, Scale, Timing, Steps, Octave range, Swing, Dynamics, and Density. 25 scales keep everything in key. Raise density to fill the grid or thin it out for space. EDIT & SLIDE Engage Pattern Lock to edit the authored pattern directly: rotate, move, and transpose notes, or undo and redo. The SLIDE knob adds per-note slides with 303-style legato, gliding between pitches for classic acid phrasing. Slides even carry across density-thinned notes. SCENES Capture complete musical setups in sixteen scene slots and chain them into full arrangements. Each scene remembers its pattern, archetype, feel settings, and slide amount. STANDALONE & AUV3 Use Locus as a standalone app or as an AUv3 MIDI effect. It runs in AUv3 hosts such as AUM, Logic, Cubasis, and Drambo, following host transport and clock. KEY FEATURES • Generative MIDI sequencer for melodic ideas • 13 archetypes: Groove, Cascade, Arc, Wander, Call & Answer, Chaos, Pulse, Even Pulse, Sparse Fractal, Interlock, Cluster, Puncture, Thump • Seed-derived generation, reproducible from your settings • Evolve, Feel, and Edit scopes for total musical control • Per-note slides with 303-style legato • 25 scales with snap-to-scale pitch • Swing, dynamics, and density shaping • Pattern Lock with rotate, move, transpose, undo/redo • 16 scenes with chain editor for full arrangements • AUv3 MIDI effect + standalone app • Host sync and MIDI routing to any instrument MANUAL & TUTORIALS • See the "Help" page in the app for the full manual and tutorials • Alternatively, visit https://terrarum.net/locus.html to read them online
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Locus at 5.0 against Pluck's 4.5. Pluck's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks) and ratings volume (8 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, 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
Pluck costs $3.99 and Locus $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Locus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pluck has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Pluck ships an update daily, Locus every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pluck | Locus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (8 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Murat Ayfer | Joe Topjian |
Customer experience
Pluck
Locus
In-app purchases
Pluck
No in-app purchases
Locus
No in-app purchases









