Comparison

Retro Synth vs PocketMonitor

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

Head to head
About

Retro Synth

Create authentic retro music with this vintage-inspired synthesizer app. Explore sound design with tone controls and vibrato, or upgrade for premium waveforms and studio effects. Designed for instant musical creativity, it offers a portable music-making experience.

Highlights
  • Authentic vintage sound recreation
  • Tone control for sound shaping
  • Vibrato effect for musical expression
  • Zero latency real-time response
  • Premium waveforms (Sine, Sawtooth, Triangle)
  • Studio effects (Reverb, Delay)
  • MIDI export
Features
Read full description

Play a real pocket stylophone — then plug it straight into GarageBand. Retro Synth · Syntophone turns your device into a vintage touch-keyboard synthesizer, and now works as an AUv3 instrument inside GarageBand, Logic Pro, and AUM. Slide your finger across the keys and a warm, authentic square-wave synth comes to life. Learn built-in songs with light-up "follow the key" tutorials, record your ideas, and drop the instrument into your favorite music app — all from one tiny synth. Like the original, it plays one note at a time: one stylus, one note. Curious about Pro? Tap any locked sound and hear it free for 30 seconds. FREE FEATURES (Included at no cost): • Authentic Vintage Sound: faithfully recreates that iconic square-wave tone with modern precision. • Song Mode: learn songs with light-up "follow the key" tutorials, hold-to-repeat for repeated notes, and a star rating when you finish (2 songs free). • My Recordings: a full library to play back, rename, share, and delete your takes. • Metronome: a sample-accurate click with adjustable BPM and an accented downbeat to keep you in time. • AUv3 Instrument: use Syntophone as a plug-in inside GarageBand, Logic Pro, AUM and other AUv3 hosts. • Sound Controls: shape your tone from thin and bright to thick and warm, and add expression with vibrato. • Real-time Response: instant, zero-latency audio as you play. • Clean, minimalist design inspired by vintage hardware. SYNTOPHONE PRO (subscription): Upgrade to unlock the full studio: • Premium Waveforms: Sine, Sawtooth, and Triangle. • Studio Effects: high-quality Reverb and Delay. • Pro Sound Panel: a second detuned oscillator for a fatter analog tone, hands-on delay time & feedback controls, and live MIDI output — play GarageBand and other synth apps as a virtual MIDI keyboard. • 12 more built-in songs to learn. • MIDI Export: save and share your recordings as .mid files. WHY SYNTOPHONE? No setup, no menus to fight — open the app and make music immediately. Then, when you're ready, it becomes a plug-in in your studio. Note: The app includes an auto-renewable subscription (Syntophone Pro) for premium features. For Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

PocketMonitor

Stream your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) audio to your phone in real-time over Wi-Fi. Monitor your mix on a mobile device while you work, adjust output volume, and switch between audio sources with ease. Requires a companion sender plugin for your computer.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio streaming
  • Wi-Fi connection to desktop sender
  • Monitor signal activity
  • Adjust output volume
  • Switch between audio sources
  • Requires desktop sender plugin
Features
Read full description

PocketMonitor lets you stream your DAW audio to your phone over local Wi-Fi, so you can quickly check your mix on a real mobile device while you work. Use PocketMonitor to: • Listen to your mix on your phone in real time • Connect to your desktop sender plugin over the same Wi-Fi network • Monitor signal activity and adjust output volume • Switch between available desktop sources with a simple tap To use PocketMonitor, you’ll also need the PocketMonitor sender plugin on your computer. Download the PocketMonitor sender plugin from SHFTDAudio.com Available for: • macOS: VST3, AU • Windows: VST3 How it works: 1. Install the PocketMonitor sender plugin on your Mac or Windows computer 2. Put your computer and phone on the same Wi-Fi network 3. Load the plugin on your DAW master/output channel 4. Open the PocketMonitor app and connect PocketMonitor is built for fast, practical mix checking on the device your audience uses every day. Website: SHFTDAudio.com Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Retro Synth4 screens
PocketMonitor3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PocketMonitor at 5.0 against Retro Synth's 4.2. PocketMonitor also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Retro Synth's advantage is ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Retro Synth sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and PocketMonitor sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PocketMonitor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retro Synth has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Retro Synth ships an update every 2 months, PocketMonitor every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Retro Synth versus PocketMonitor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetro SynthPocketMonitor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKerem ERSUJake Phillips

Customer experience

Retro Synth

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

PocketMonitor

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Retro Synth

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove ads$2.99
2 purchases

PocketMonitor

Subscriptions1
  • PocketMonitor Pro3 Days trial$4.991 Month
One-time1
  • PocketMonitor Pro$29.99

Questions

Is Retro Synth free?
Retro Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PocketMonitor free?
PocketMonitor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Retro Synth or PocketMonitor?
PocketMonitor is rated higher. Retro Synth averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while PocketMonitor averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Retro Synth or PocketMonitor have ads?
Neither Retro Synth nor PocketMonitor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Retro Synth or PocketMonitor?
Retro Synth ships an update every 2 months, and PocketMonitor every 6 weeks. Most recently, Retro Synth was updated on October 17, 2026 and PocketMonitor on October 14, 2026.

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