# HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads vs Aether Synth

The clearest difference is rating: HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads at 5.0 against Aether Synth's 4.7. HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Aether Synth's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and chart position (#129 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads costs $4.99 and Aether Synth $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 10 respectively.

HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads ships an update weekly, Aether Synth every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads | Aether Synth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$0.99** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/housebud-midi-chord-pads/id6756273734/reviews)** | [4.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aether-synth/id6766131732/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **10** |
| Positive reviews | — | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#129** |
| Size | 8 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cem Olcay](https://appshunter.io/developer/523633853) | [Jacob Kirk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893697979) |

## What reviewers say

### HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/housebud-midi-chord-pads/id6756273734)

This app provides an intuitive chord instrument designed for immediate play, even without prior music theory knowledge. Its unique performance surface allows for expressive layering of octaves and utilizes a smart harmony engine to generate pleasing chord voicings. Explore, improvise, and create musical ideas quickly with its performance-focused features.

**Highlights:** Reinvented chord pads with multiple octave slices, Smart harmony engine with smooth voiced chords, Motion FX: Repeat, Arp, and Strum, MIDI input and output, AUv3 support, Built-in sampler

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Aether Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aether-synth/id6766131732)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This music creation app offers a professional synthesizer engine with dual-layer sound design and rhythmic motion. It can be used as a standalone workstation or as an AUv3 instrument within compatible iOS hosts for recording and production.

**Highlights:** AUv3 instrument support, Standalone synth workstation, Dual preset layering, Melodic and drum sequencers, Sampler tools, Multitrack audio workspace, Arpeggiator and motion controls

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads free?

HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Aether Synth free?

Aether Synth costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads or Aether Synth?

HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads is rated higher. HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Aether Synth averages 4.7 from 10 ratings.

### Do HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads or Aether Synth have ads?

Neither HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads nor Aether Synth shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads or Aether Synth?

HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads ships an update weekly, and Aether Synth every 5 days. Most recently, HouseBud MIDI Chord Pads was updated on November 5, 2026 and Aether Synth on November 5, 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.*