# GridStep vs Synesthesia Synth

The clearest difference is price: Synesthesia Synth at Free against GridStep's $3.99. On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Synesthesia Synth is free to download; GridStep costs $3.99 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 GridStep against 5.0 for Synesthesia Synth. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

GridStep ships an update every 2 weeks, Synesthesia Synth every 10 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | GridStep | Synesthesia Synth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gridstep/id6756443258/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synesthesia-synth/id6763379132/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 141 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joe Topjian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1860697112) | [MICHELE ZACCAGNINI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895288560) |

## What reviewers say

### GridStep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gridstep/id6756443258)

A professional MIDI step sequencer offering a focused grid-based workflow for clear, controlled, and predictable music creation. It functions as a standalone app and an AUv3 plugin, ideal for both live performance and composition.

**Highlights:** Grid-based MIDI step sequencing, Explicit edit modes for notes, velocity, slides, and mutes, Trigger-based step advance, Controlled pattern generation, AUv3 MIDI effect plugin, Standalone app functionality

**In-app purchases:** none


### Synesthesia Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synesthesia-synth/id6763379132)

An experimental audio-visual instrument that allows users to sculpt evolving spatial audio by manipulating floating capsules. Position, rotation, and pulse changes affect tone, texture, and synchronized particle generation. It's a visual synthesizer, not a game.

**Highlights:** Experimental audio-visual instrument, Sculpt evolving spatial audio, Manipulate floating capsules, Control tone, texture, and particles, Visual synthesizer

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GridStep free?

GridStep costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Synesthesia Synth free?

Synesthesia Synth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, GridStep or Synesthesia Synth?

GridStep and Synesthesia Synth are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do GridStep or Synesthesia Synth have ads?

Neither GridStep nor Synesthesia Synth shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GridStep or Synesthesia Synth?

GridStep ships an update every 2 weeks, and Synesthesia Synth every 10 days. Most recently, GridStep was updated on November 5, 2026 and Synesthesia 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.*