Comparison

Pluck vs Locus

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • String plucking simulation
  • Draw custom strings
  • Compose original songs
  • Listen to classical music
  • Self-playing strings
  • Natural feel
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Pluck4 screens
Locus4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Pluck costs $3.99 and Locus $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pluck ships an update daily, Locus every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pluck versus Locus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPluckLocus
Price$3.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.5 (8 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better1
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMurat AyferJoe Topjian

Customer experience

Pluck

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%

Locus

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pluck

No in-app purchases

None

Locus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pluck free?
Pluck costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Locus free?
Locus costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pluck or Locus?
Locus is rated higher. Pluck averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Locus averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Pluck or Locus have ads?
Neither Pluck nor Locus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pluck or Locus?
Pluck ships an update daily, and Locus every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pluck was updated on June 10, 2026 and Locus on September 20, 2026.

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