# iVCS3 vs Phase84

The clearest difference is rating: iVCS3 at 4.9 against Phase84's 3.8. iVCS3 also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 57%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 26 months). Phase84's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and price ($12.99 vs $19.99). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

iVCS3 costs $19.99 and Phase84 $12.99 up front. iVCS3 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Phase84 asks for nothing beyond the download.

iVCS3 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iVCS3 has 206 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of iVCS3's written reviews are positive against 57% of Phase84's.

iVCS3 ships an update every 2 months, Phase84 every 26 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iVCS3 | Phase84 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **$12.99** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivcs3/id665703927/reviews)** | [3.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phase84/id940880314/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **206** | 41 |
| Positive reviews | **90.7% of reviews** | 56.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 26 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 107 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [apeSoft](https://appshunter.io/developer/464660782) | [Retronyms Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/307726643) |

## What reviewers say

### iVCS3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivcs3/id665703927)

This application emulates the iconic EMS VCS3 synthesizer, a pioneering portable synthesizer from 1969. It recreates the original's unique sound generation capabilities, including its oscillators, filters, and patch matrix, allowing users to explore its distinctive sonic palette.

**Highlights:** Official EMS VCS3 emulation, Three oscillators (2 VCOs, 1 LFO), Noise generator, Voltage controlled low pass filter (VCF), Patch board matrix, Joy-stick controller, Voltage controlled spring reverb

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Red Sky Lullaby - 180 Presets | Free | one-time |
| Singe Difficile by RUST(i)K | Free | one-time |
| RUMBLE | Free | one-time |
| OLD GRIT - COLLECTION | Free | one-time |
| JEC 2018 Iconic PinkFloyd | Free | one-time |
| JEC EMS-50 | Free | one-time |
| SINAPSYA - Under The Dust | $2.99 | one-time |
| LALA - Sonic Pleasures | $3.99 | one-time |
| JEC Mega Bank | $4.99 | one-time |
| Essential EMS Modifications | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faithful recreation of the original
- 👍 Powerful and versatile sound
- 🎨 Gorgeous vintage interface
- 💡 Additional features beyond the original
- 🎛️ Excellent integration with MIDI and other apps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🤔 Steep learning curve
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate the matrix

**Reported bugs**

- Presets not loading
- Crashes on iOS 15.04
- Sampler not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Mac compatibility
- Improved preset management
- Expanded sampling capabilities


### Phase84

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phase84/id940880314)

This app is a powerful phase distortion synthesizer that blends digital grit with analog warmth. It offers over 100 presets for various sounds and integrates with other music apps for a modular workflow.

**Highlights:** Over 100 presets, MIDI support, Inter-App Audio support, Tabletop Ready App integration, Advanced Keyboard section, Expressive Perform Mode, Stereo delay with loss modeling

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iVCS3 free?

iVCS3 costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Phase84 free?

Phase84 costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iVCS3 or Phase84?

iVCS3 is rated higher. iVCS3 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while Phase84 averages 3.8 from 41 ratings.

### Do iVCS3 or Phase84 have ads?

Neither iVCS3 nor Phase84 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iVCS3 or Phase84?

iVCS3 ships an update every 2 months, and Phase84 every 26 months. Most recently, iVCS3 was updated on October 14, 2026 and Phase84 on October 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*