Comparison

Thesys vs Relic Flow

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

Head to head
About

Thesys

This app is a powerful and intuitive MIDI step sequencer for creating complex musical patterns. It offers extensive control over MIDI devices, enabling organic bass lines, leads, and pads for studio or live performance. Advanced features allow for real-time pattern manipulation directly from a MIDI keyboard.

Highlights
  • MIDI Step Sequencer
  • Pattern Creation
  • Live Performance Options
  • Real-time Pattern Manipulation
  • Integrated Synth
  • Action Section (Gatetime, Looper, Slowdown)
  • Ableton Link Support
Read full description

Thesys is an extremely powerful and intuitive MIDI Step Sequencer app, giving you control over just about all aspects of your favorite MIDI devices. Use Thesys to create varied and organic bass lines, screaming leads, pulsating chords, and organic pad sounds in the studio or on stage. For live musicians, Thesys provides an extremely versatile palette of performance options which can be triggered right from your MIDI keyboard: you can transpose, manipulate, twist up, mutate, and mangle your patterns without even getting near your iPad. No other MIDI sequencer plugin offers you the ease and power of Thesys. It is 100% MIDI compliant and therefore provides the ultimate MIDI sequencing solution. iPad Edition Features: • Integrated Synth • Action Section (Gatetime, Looper, Slowdown...) • Pattern Sequencer • Standalone & Audio Unit v3 • Ableton Link Support • MIDI file Export • MIDI Support (Virtual, Netzwerk, Extern, Bluetooth), MIDI Learn & Host Automation • MIDI Clock Sync (Master & Slave) • Preset iCloud Sync • Preset Share • Zoom

About

Relic Flow

Generate unique Lo-Fi rhythms, noise patterns, and drum loops using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sound samples with intuitive controls and real-time audio recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking endless creative possibilities.

Highlights
  • Lo-Fi rhythm and drum loop generation
  • Billions of unique sound samples
  • Real-time audio recording to WAV
  • Multiple input methods (on-screen, PC keyboard, MIDI)
  • Export to WAV, SunVox, and text clipboard
  • iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
Features
Read full description

Relic Flow is a generator of Lo-Fi rhythms, noise patterns and drum loops based on unique synthesis algorithms from NightRadio. More than 4 billion samples from the depths of the Mathematical Universe! Features: * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; each set of 12 sounds corresponds to a code of 8 characters; * three types of keyboards for live performing: on-screen buttons, PC keyboard, MIDI input; * several processing parameters + control via MIDI; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual samples - they will not change during the search for new sets; * iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.

Screenshots

Relic Flow2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Thesys at Free against Relic Flow's $1.99. Thesys also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 17 months) and ratings volume (85 vs 26). Relic Flow's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (93% vs 59%). On rating and ads 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

Thesys is free to download; Relic Flow costs $1.99 up front. Thesys sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Relic Flow asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Thesys against 4.8 for Relic Flow. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85 and 26 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Thesys's written reviews are positive against 93% of Relic Flow's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thesys ships an update every 3 months, Relic Flow every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on August 9, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Thesys versus Relic Flow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThesysRelic Flow
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.7 (85 ratings)4.8 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews93.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings85 — better26
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSugar Bytes GmbHAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

Thesys

All ratings85 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.4%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral11.1%
Negative29.6%

Relic Flow

All ratings26 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Thesys

One-time1
  • Thesys Full Version$19.99
None

Relic Flow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Thesys free?
Thesys is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Relic Flow free?
Relic Flow costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Thesys or Relic Flow?
Relic Flow is rated higher. Thesys averages 4.7 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while Relic Flow averages 4.8 from 26 ratings.
Do Thesys or Relic Flow have ads?
Neither Thesys nor Relic Flow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Thesys or Relic Flow?
Thesys ships an update every 3 months, and Relic Flow every 17 months. Most recently, Thesys was updated on August 9, 2026 and Relic Flow on September 17, 2026.

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