Comparison

Scissor Hands vs Epicycle

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

Head to head
About

Scissor Hands

This powerful audio effect offers dual high-pass and low-pass filters with adjustable steepness and extensive modulation options. Shape clean tones or create extreme sonic destruction with internal saturators and versatile modulation sources.

Highlights
  • Dual high-pass and low-pass filters
  • Four independent modulation sources
  • Internal saturators up to +36 dB
  • Morph settings for smooth transitions
  • Standalone app with trial and license purchase
  • HQ mode with 4x oversampling
Read full description

Scissor Hands is a dual filter with internal drive and modulation to boot. High-pass and low-pass filters in series, four modulation sources, and internal saturators you can push up to +36 dB. It may look straightforward, but this little filter is extremely capable, equally useful for clean tone shaping and brutal sonic destruction. Dual Filters - High-pass and low-pass filters in series - Selectable steepness per filter - Drive internal saturators up to +36 dB. At 0 dB, perfectly clean and linear - Per-filter Q-Gain Compensation for taming output at high resonance settings - Updated drive gain compensation for louder output at high settings Modulation - Stereo LFO with nine waveforms, warp, and swing - Envelope follower with optional sidechain input - Eight-step sequencer - Self FM, filter audio output to cutoff for spicy audio-rate modulation - Freely mixable modulation sources per filter - Repeatable Random engine for consistent bounces Core Features - Morph Settings for smooth transitions between two complete configurations - Auto Bypass saves CPU when input is silent - AB settings comparison - HQ mode with 4x oversampling - One-click loudness matching - All parameters automatable with precise playback - Light and dark interface modes - Internal undo/redo - Standalone app includes support, manual links and in-app purchase options for license purchase Two-week trial included, one-time purchase for full unlock. Unlock your plug-in via in-app purchase from the standalone app or activate in the plug-in using an existing desktop license. Your in-app purchase activates the plug-in on all of your iOS devices. Owners can claim a crossgrade code in the standalone app to receive a discount on a desktop license. Check out our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sketchaudio Read the manuals: https://sketchaudio.com/manuals/

About

Epicycle

Create complex rhythms and polymeters using Euclidean rings on your iPhone or iPad. Explore generative patterns with a built-in sound engine. Unlock advanced features like MIDI output and export for external hardware synchronization.

Highlights
  • Euclidean ring rhythms
  • Up to eight simultaneous tracks
  • Polymeter generation
  • Built-in sound engine
  • Scene saving and launching
  • MIDI out and clock sync
  • .mid file export
Features
Read full description

Epicycle is a MIDI sequencer for iPhone and iPad. Every rhythm is a Euclidean ring, and each track's parameters generate its pattern. Layer rings of different lengths for polymeter, and hear them on the built-in sound engine with no external gear. EUCLIDEAN RINGS Each track is a ring, and you can run up to eight at once. A track's pattern follows from its parameters, so you see the rhythm as a shape. POLYMETER Give tracks different lengths and they play together. Loop-lock protects one track's pattern while you change the others. SCENES Save pattern states as scenes and launch them with quantize. FREE TO PLAY Epicycle is free to download. The full sound engine and every creative feature are free, up to eight tracks, with no time limit. MIDI OUT, CLOCK AND EXPORT A one-time lifetime unlock adds live MIDI out, MIDI clock in and out, and .mid export, so you can drive and sync external hardware and apps. Requires iOS 18 or later. VoiceOver is supported.

Screenshots

Scissor Hands2 screens
Epicycle4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Epicycle at every 2 days against Scissor Hands's every 3 weeks. Scissor Hands's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Scissor Hands sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Epicycle sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Scissor Hands against 5.0 for Epicycle. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 6 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scissor Hands ships an update every 3 weeks, Epicycle every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Scissor Hands versus Epicycle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScissor HandsEpicycle
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (6 ratings)
Number of ratings36 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSketch Audio, LLCOuthaul

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Scissor Hands

One-time2
  • Two-week TrialFree
  • Full Unlock$6.99
1 purchases

Epicycle

One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlock$24.99

Questions

Is Scissor Hands free?
Scissor Hands is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Epicycle free?
Epicycle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Scissor Hands or Epicycle?
Scissor Hands and Epicycle are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 6 ratings respectively.
Do Scissor Hands or Epicycle have ads?
Neither Scissor Hands nor Epicycle shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scissor Hands or Epicycle?
Scissor Hands ships an update every 3 weeks, and Epicycle every 2 days. Most recently, Scissor Hands was updated on October 31, 2026 and Epicycle on October 31, 2026.

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