Comparison

PatchRig FX vs Tonic Synths

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

Head to head
About

PatchRig FX

Features
Read full description

PatchRig FX turns sound ideas into playable, editable effects rigs for guitar, bass, keys, vocals, drums, and reference audio. Start with 500 generated pedalboards, 500 generated pedals, 60 super pedals, built-in audition performances, and 31,777 bundled song-tone profiles. Create a board from a sound description, a song-title trait profile, or an imported recording/reference loop. Then audition it, edit pedals, amps, voices, MIDI tools, and DSP blocks, save favorites, export audio, sync privately, or share playable patches. Create fast: - Play through a ready pedalboard. - Describe a sound and generate an editable rig. - Create an inspired board from bundled song-tone traits. - Import local audio and build around guitar, bass, keys, vocals, drums, or the full mix. - Design individual pedals, amps, preamps, vocal tools, instrument voices, and safe Open DSP patches. - Preview pedals, amps, voices, and DSP blocks before adding them. - Compare, tune, rename, save, export, sync, and share. For live use and auditioning, PatchRig works with standard USB Audio Class compliant USB or USB-C audio interfaces and Core Audio compatible devices supported by iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Use an interface with instrument, line, or microphone inputs for guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals, or other sources, then monitor through the interface outputs or a supported system output. On Mac, registered Audio Unit effects can be validated and used when they are available through the system Audio Unit host path. PatchRig does not require a specific hardware brand and does not download executable plug-in code at runtime. The free app includes a polished starter set, built-in audition sounds, prompt-created board preview, designer preview, and basic import/reference analysis. PatchRig Pro unlocks the full 500-board library, the full generated pedal catalog, 60 super pedals, amp and DSP designers, MIDI and instrument voices, unlimited saved creations, export, sharing, iCloud sync, and community publishing. PatchRig includes loop audition, richer built-in reference performances, A/B comparison, meters, spectrum views, bypass controls, graph editing, inline pedal/amp insertion, recent boards, rename/save flows, and shareable preview audio for community items. PatchRig is honest about audio boundaries. Song and artist requests create original boards inspired by broad tone traits, not exact recording, preset, artist, amp, cabinet, IR, or clone claims. PatchRig only uses built-in safe audio blocks and bundled resources; it does not download executable plugin code at runtime. Unsupported or design-only requests fail visibly instead of silently substituting something else.

About

Tonic Synths

This app offers a portable music studio with 14 unique synthesizers for creating and sculpting audio. Users can draw sounds, program melodies, and apply effects like reverb and compression. Recordings can be exported as WAV files for use in other projects.

Highlights
  • 14 unique synthesizers
  • XY pad sound sculpting
  • 8-step melody programming
  • Resonant filter sculpting
  • Reverb and compressor effects
  • 60-second audio recording
  • WAV file export
Features
Read full description

Tonic Synth puts a studio full of synthesizers in your pocket. 14 unique synths. All live. All real. Draw sound with your finger on the XY pad. Twist an FM drone into alien textures. Program an 8-step melody. Sculpt noise through resonant filters. Drown everything in reverb. Every control changes the sound instantly — no presets, no menus, just your hands on the instrument. Hear something you love? Hit record. You get 60 seconds. Export it as a WAV file and take it anywhere — into your DAW, your sample library, or share it straight from the app. SYNTHS INCLUDE - FM Drone - XY Speed Pad - Delay Sequencer - Step Sequencer - Filtered Noise - Reverb - Compressor - Bandlimited Oscillator - Sine Sum - Stereo Delay - and more! Free. No ads. No in-app purchases. Just sound.

Screenshots

PatchRig FX4 screens
Tonic Synths4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tonic Synths at none against PatchRig FX's 1. Tonic Synths also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). PatchRig FX's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 days). On price, 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. PatchRig FX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Tonic Synths asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PatchRig FX ships an update every 3 days, Tonic Synths every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
PatchRig FX versus Tonic Synths: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPatchRig FXTonic Synths
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size428 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRob RightmyerUpTech Works, LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PatchRig FX

One-time1
  • PatchRig Pro$39.99
None

Tonic Synths

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PatchRig FX free?
PatchRig FX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tonic Synths free?
Tonic Synths is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PatchRig FX or Tonic Synths have ads?
Neither PatchRig FX nor Tonic Synths shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PatchRig FX or Tonic Synths?
PatchRig FX ships an update every 3 days, and Tonic Synths every 11 days. Most recently, PatchRig FX was updated on October 10, 2026 and Tonic Synths on October 1, 2026.

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