Comparison

EduSynth vs PocketTone

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

Head to head
About

EduSynth

Explore the world of subtractive synthesis with an interactive educational tool. Learn about oscillators, filters, and envelopes through hands-on experimentation and guided lessons. Connect MIDI controllers or use your keyboard to play and create sounds.

Highlights
  • Interactive subtractive synthesis engine
  • Three oscillators with multiple waveforms
  • Classic Moog-style ladder filter
  • Dual ADSR envelopes
  • Built-in learning modules
  • MIDI controller support
Read full description

EduSynth is an educational synthesizer for iOS and macOS that teaches you the fundamentals of subtractive synthesis — by letting you play one. Built around a real-time C++ DSP engine modeled after the classic Moog architecture, EduSynth gives you three oscillators, a 24dB/octave ladder filter, dual ADSR envelopes, an LFO, and a mixer — all with a clean, intuitive interface designed for learning. PLAY & EXPLORE • Three oscillators with saw, square, triangle, and sine waveforms • Classic Moog ladder low-pass filter with resonance and self-oscillation • Separate filter and amplitude ADSR envelopes • LFO with multiple shapes and modulation targets (pitch, filter, amplitude, PWM) • Portamento with off, on, and legato modes • 10+ factory presets to get you started instantly LEARN AS YOU GO • Built-in Learn window with chapters covering signal flow, oscillators, filters, envelopes, LFO, and more • Interactive info popovers on every section explaining what each knob does • Visual signal flow strip showing how sound moves through the synth • Chapters on digital audio fundamentals and real-time audio programming CONNECT & PERFORM • Full MIDI support — connect any MIDI controller • MIDI settings window with per-device enable/disable and live activity monitor • Computer keyboard input — play notes without any hardware • Autoplay mode with selectable demo melodies DESIGNED FOR LEARNING EduSynth is perfect for music production students, audio programming enthusiasts, sound design beginners, and anyone curious about how synthesizers actually work. Every parameter is explained in plain language, and the Learn window goes deeper into the theory and code behind the sound. Available in English and Italian.

About

PocketTone

This app recreates the experience of a hand-drawn, retro pocket synthesizer. It features a vintage LCD display, slide switches, and chunky buttons, allowing users to play various retro voices, program custom sounds, and jam along to built-in rhythms. Users can also record and share their musical creations.

Highlights
  • Five retro voices (Piano, Flute, Violin, Fantasy, Guitar)
  • Program custom synth voices
  • Ten built-in rhythms
  • Sound shaping controls (octave, volume, balance)
  • Tape-style Delay and lo-fi Crush effects
  • Record and share audio
  • Melody memory (Auto-Play, One-Key play)
Features
Read full description

PocketTone is a hand-drawn, retro pocket synthesizer you can play anywhere. Tap the keys and a tiny lo-fi synth comes to life — complete with a green LCD, slide switches and chunky buttons, all lovingly hand-drawn. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Play five retro voices — Piano, Flute, Violin, Fantasy and Guitar. • Program your own voice the way the original did it — an eight-digit code typed on the calculator keys: waveform, envelope, vibrato, tremolo. • Jam over ten built-in rhythms — March, Rock, Bossa, Samba and more. • Shape the sound with octave, volume and a melody/rhythm balance. • Add tape-style Delay and lo-fi Crush effects. • Record what you play and share the audio with anyone. • Use the melody memory — Auto-Play, One-Key play and a built-in demo tune. • Flip to calculator mode… then play the keypad as a melody. The classic pocket-toy party trick, faithfully recreated. POCKETTONE PRO A single one-time purchase unlocks everything: all voices, all rhythms, recording & sharing, the melody memory, and the effects. No subscription — yours forever. Made as a love letter to the pocket musical toys of the 80s.

Screenshots

EduSynth3 screens
PocketTone4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: EduSynth at 100% against PocketTone's 0%. EduSynth also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads 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

Both are free to download. PocketTone sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. EduSynth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EduSynth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of EduSynth's written reviews are positive against 0% of PocketTone's.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
EduSynth versus PocketTone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEduSynthPocketTone
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better2.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequency—Every 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavide FiorinoChih Han Lin

Customer experience

EduSynth

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

PocketTone

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

EduSynth

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PocketTone

One-time1
  • PocketTone Pro$3.99

Questions

Is EduSynth free?
EduSynth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PocketTone free?
PocketTone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, EduSynth or PocketTone?
EduSynth is rated higher. EduSynth averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while PocketTone averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do EduSynth or PocketTone have ads?
Neither EduSynth nor PocketTone shows ads.

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