# KQ Tixie vs Retromulator

The clearest difference is price: KQ Tixie at $8.99 against Retromulator's $19.99. KQ Tixie also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 50%). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

KQ Tixie costs $8.99 and Retromulator $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for KQ Tixie against 5.0 for Retromulator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of KQ Tixie's written reviews are positive against 50% of Retromulator's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | KQ Tixie | Retromulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$8.99** | $19.99 |
| Rating | [5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kq-tixie/id6754209839/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retromulator/id6764767449/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **71.4% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 6 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ryouta Kira](https://appshunter.io/developer/862984358) | [DiscoDSP LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465262828) |

## What reviewers say

### KQ Tixie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kq-tixie/id6754209839)

This app is a 4-operator FM synthesizer for iOS devices, recreating the iconic sounds of 1980s hardware. It offers a modern interface with MPE support and AUv3 compatibility, allowing for deep sound editing and layering up to eight sounds.

**Highlights:** 4-operator FM synthesis recreation, MPE and AUv3 support, Import SysEx data, Thousands of patches included, Layer up to 8 sounds, Real-time performance controls, Built-in effects

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Retromulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retromulator/id6764767449)

This app recreates legendary vintage synthesizers, samplers, and keyboards through accurate emulation. It functions as a standalone application or an AUv3 plugin, offering classic electronic music hardware sounds on iOS devices.

**Highlights:** Cycle-accurate hardware emulation, AUv3 plugin support, Standalone app functionality, Full MIDI control, ROM firmware loading, Background audio support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KQ Tixie free?

KQ Tixie costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Retromulator free?

Retromulator costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, KQ Tixie or Retromulator?

KQ Tixie and Retromulator are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do KQ Tixie or Retromulator have ads?

Neither KQ Tixie nor Retromulator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KQ Tixie or Retromulator?

KQ Tixie ships an update every 3 days, and Retromulator every 3 days. Most recently, KQ Tixie was updated on October 24, 2026 and Retromulator on October 24, 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.*