# Retrocord vs Pixelsynth

The clearest difference is price: Pixelsynth at Free against Retrocord's $19.99. Pixelsynth also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Pixelsynth is free to download; Retrocord costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Retrocord ships an update every 3 weeks, Pixelsynth every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrocord | Pixelsynth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelsynth-auv3-visual-synth/id6804130647/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rocamr Labs, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1834237385) | [de Bastion, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871510214) |

## What reviewers say

### Retrocord

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrocord/id6762391432)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pixelsynth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelsynth-auv3-visual-synth/id6804130647)

This app transforms musical input into a vibrant visual experience, allowing users to see and shape their sound in real-time. It offers a playful and immediate way to create music, with all controls and feedback displayed on a single screen. Designed by a Deaf musician, it prioritizes visual feedback as an integral part of the instrument.

**Highlights:** Real-time visual sound shaping, Interactive 16-pad grid, Adjustable waveforms, filters, and envelopes, LFO, delay, and reverb effects, AUv3 instrument compatibility, Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrocord free?

Retrocord costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pixelsynth free?

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

### Do Retrocord or Pixelsynth have ads?

Neither Retrocord nor Pixelsynth shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retrocord or Pixelsynth?

Retrocord ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pixelsynth every 9 days. Most recently, Retrocord was updated on October 17, 2026 and Pixelsynth on October 11, 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.*