Comparison

Nostalgia FX vs VAPolyFMv2

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

Head to head
About

Nostalgia FX

Transform your audio with a collection of retro effects inspired by vintage gaming consoles and analog gear. Add warmth, texture, and character to your mixes with unique reverbs, tape echoes, and modulation.

Highlights
  • Console Reverb with vintage gaming spaces
  • Tape Cassette Echo with warble and loop controls
  • BBD Chorus for analog-style modulation
  • EFX Module with Bit Crusher and Noise Machine
  • Global controls for quick shaping
  • Freeze button for creative effects
Features
Read full description

Playfully Retro Nostalgia is a quick, easy way to transform your sound — from spacious and dreamy to gritty lo-fi chaos. Inspired by vintage gaming consoles, cassette decks, and classic analog gear, it delivers instant character without the fuss. Just load it up, slide some faders, and your clean mix becomes something with warmth, texture, and personality. …an Audio Arcade Console Reverb gives you unique spaces inspired by vintage gaming consoles and the different vibe of each era. Tape Cassette Echo is an imaginative spin on analog tape delay — the kind you might’ve rigged up in your bedroom long before plugins existed. BBD Chorus takes you back with that warm, warbly magic, that started your FX obsession. The EFX Module packs everything you need to turn your sound into a retro lo-fi dream — with warmth, space, and a character that’s hard to find anywhere else. Features -Console Reverb with four distinct eras of vintage gaming spaces -Tape Cassette Echo with warble, tape spike, and loop length controls -BBD Chorus for warm, warbly, analog-style modulation -EFX Module with Speaker Output, Noise Machine, Tune & Tone, and Bit Crusher -Global controls for quick overall shaping -Freeze button for creative stutter and hold effects -Fully compatible with VST3, AAX, AU, AUv3, and Stand-alone

About

VAPolyFMv2

This modular FM synthesizer offers 8 operators with spectral form and pitch EG, supporting standalone use or as an AUv3 extension. It includes built-in effects, a step sequencer, and extensive MIDI and Ableton Link integration for music creation across Apple devices.

Highlights
  • 8 Operator Modular FM Synthesizer
  • Built-in effects (delay, chorus, reverb, etc.)
  • Analog style step sequencer
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
  • Ableton Link and MIDI 2.0 integration
  • Cross-platform iCloud Drive project sharing
Features
Read full description

VAPolyFM V2 is modular FM synthesizer inspired by modern FM Synthesizers. V2 features 8 operators, 4 oscillator spectral form and pitch EG per operators. VAPolyFM operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. Built-in Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Main Features 8 Operator Modular FM Synthesizer. 4 Spectral Form. Pitch EG per Operators. Modular Operator Routing. Eight Assignable Controllers with Global Offset Parameters for Performance. Analog Style Step Sequencer. 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 230 Factory Presets, 40 Effects Presets and 5 Macro 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. UI Color can be selected from black, navy or gray. 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

Nostalgia FX3 screens
VAPolyFMv24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nostalgia FX at 100% against VAPolyFMv2's 50%. Nostalgia FX also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and price ($9.99 vs $14.99). VAPolyFMv2's advantage is ratings volume (6 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

Nostalgia FX costs $9.99 and VAPolyFMv2 $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nostalgia FX holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VAPolyFMv2 has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Nostalgia FX's written reviews are positive against 50% of VAPolyFMv2's.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Nostalgia FX versus VAPolyFMv2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNostalgia FXVAPolyFMv2
Price$9.99 — better$14.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.5 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better
Update frequency—Every 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOSC AudioRyo Togawa

Customer experience

Nostalgia FX

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VAPolyFMv2

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Nostalgia FX

No in-app purchases

None

VAPolyFMv2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nostalgia FX free?
Nostalgia FX costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VAPolyFMv2 free?
VAPolyFMv2 costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nostalgia FX or VAPolyFMv2?
Nostalgia FX is rated higher. Nostalgia FX averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while VAPolyFMv2 averages 4.5 from 6 ratings.
Do Nostalgia FX or VAPolyFMv2 have ads?
Neither Nostalgia FX nor VAPolyFMv2 shows ads.

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