Pro vs Starrypad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pro
This app emulates the sound of an iconic analog poly synthesizer, offering a wide range of sonic possibilities from warm pads to soaring leads. It features advanced modeling, multiple filter styles, and extensive customization options for musicians.
- 10-voice polyphonic analog synth emulation
- Authentic Poly-Mod and filter modeling
- Dual filter styles: Classic Stepped and Modern Smooth
- Extensive preset library with 600+ sounds
- Microtonality panel with 150 curated scales
- AUv3 plugin support for DAWs
- Vintage-style step sequencer and arpeggiator
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PRO-A5 (10-Voice Analog Synth) Experience the warm organic sound of the most iconic analog poly synth ever made. From Lush Brass, Silky Pads and Basses to Soaring Leads, this is the sound that defined Music Icons from the 80s to Radiohead. MAKE THE MUSIC YOU LOVE "SOUNDS AMAZING!" – Jim Sheridan, Live Band on "Name that Tune" TV Show on Fox Indie, Hip Hop, Pop, Funk, 80s, Synthwave, Rock, Lo-Fi, EDM, Ambient.. your sound awaits! "Sounds Authentic and Beautiful" – Synth Anatomy PURE SYNTH POWER! 2 FILTERS: Classic "REV 3" Inspired Stepped Filter Grit with Beautiful Stepping & Modern Smooth options Powerful Oscillator Sync, Poly Mod, Per-voice Analog Panning, Poly Unison stacks... "Pro-A5 synth is bonkers!!! Great job!!" – Kennard Garrett, Grammy-winning producer Plus a magic “Tune Rez” button that instantly tunes the filter self-oscillation so you can play the filter “I’m speechless. My most favorite analog synth on iPad ever. Unbelievable 70s / 80s feel” – Jay Zen, Producer "Fantastic! I've got at least 100 synths, yet Pro-A5 has impressed me. Great emulation and sounds unique. Genius!" – DMT Cymatics "This thing sounds totally insane. Makes me want to put wooden sides on my iPad" – Bri Kup "It has that warmth that other digital synths don't have" – Fieldtone Audio WATCH VIDEOS TO HEAR IT IN ACTION: audiokitpro.com/proa5 FEATURES • Desktop-VST Quality 10-Voice poly synth • NEW Sound Engine with advanced analog-modeling DSP • Authentic Poly-Mod with Filter ENV & OSC B as sources • Professionally modeled filter with self-oscillation • MICROTONALITY Panel + 150 Curated Scales (Microtonal, Indian, 12-tone, and more) • 600+ Exclusive Presets included (more to come) • 2 Filter styles: Classic Stepped "REV 3" Inspired and Modern Smooth • Magic “Tune Rez” button to instantly tune self-oscillation • 10 voices x 5 unison voices = almost a P-50?! You know the sound. If you need more details: • Raw, gritty Oscillator Sync • Accurate PWM engine with unique hardware-style Poly Mod behavior • Per-Voice Analog Panning • Single Note Polyphony for mono and poly sounds • 2x oversampling for more analog-style lows and highs • Original Hardware controls fit on one screen on iPad! • Aftertouch with 60+ possible destinations • 3 LFOs with 60+ destinations • LFO Shapes use analog resistor-mix behavior with soft-limiting • Dual assignable Touch Pads for real-time performance control • Classic Arpeggiator • Vintage-style Step Sequencer • NEW Cascading Reverb • FX: Rage Limiter, Analog Tape Delay, Chorus, Crush, and more • MIDI keyboard support + MIDI Learn • Universal app for iPhone and iPad • 432 Hz and selectable A-Tuning • Choose a key like Cm, Bb, Fm, and more. Select from Major, Minor, Blues, Pentatonic, and other scales you know and love! • Bonus Filter panel with slopes, envelope inversions, and extra goodies • No ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases WORKS AS A PLUG-IN Use PRO-A5 as an AUv3 instrument in Logic for iPad, GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, and more. WORKS BY ITSELF No other apps required. Play it standalone, connect a MIDI keyboard, map your controls with MIDI Learn, and start making music right away. EXPRESSIVE CONTROL PRO-A5 is built for performance. Use velocity, aftertouch, touch pads, LFOs, Poly Mod, MIDI Learn, and real-time FX control to make sounds move, breathe, and evolve. FREE UPGRADES MPE and Polyphonic Aftertouch are planned as a FREE future upgrade. PRO-A5 brings classic poly synth magic into the future. LEGAL NOTICES PRO-A5 is an original AudioKit instrument created to celebrate music-making and classic analog synthesis. It is not an official emulation, clone, or recreation of any specific hardware instrument. “REV 3” is used descriptively to refer to a revision-style sound character and does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by Sequential or any other third-party manufacturer. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Starrypad
Transform your device into a versatile music creation tool. Record and import audio, then assign it to velocity-sensitive pads for playback. Create loops, add layers, and export your work as WAV or MIDI.
- 16 velocity-sensitive pads
- Built-in drum kits and synth phrases
- Microphone and audio import
- Loop recording and layering
- WAV and MIDI export
- USB MIDI controller support
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Starrypad turns your iPhone into a drum pad, looper and sampler. Play sixteen velocity-sensitive pads with acoustic drums, 808 sounds and original synth phrases. The C Synth kit follows your tempo while keeping note pitch independent. Shape each pad with level, pan and tuning in the Mixer. Record from the microphone or import audio from a video you choose, trim the sound and assign it to a pad. Record loops, add layers and undo the latest pass. Switch from recording to playback without stopping the loop. Play along with music from another audio app. Background playback depends on the other app and your audio route. This does not import or record protected streaming audio. Export loops as WAV or MIDI. Connect an optional class-compliant USB MIDI controller. No controller, account or subscription is required. Settings and help support English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese. Familiar performance legends stay in English. Audio processing and your recordings stay on the device. Salamander Drumkit by Alexander Holm (CC BY 3.0) TR-808 Sound Sample Set by Michael Fischer via TidalCycles (CC0 1.0) Additional percussion from FreePats (CC0 1.0) Original synthesized rhythm phrases by Starrypad
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Starrypad at Free against Pro's $7.99. Starrypad also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Pro's advantage is ratings volume (78 vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 10 days). On review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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
Starrypad is free to download; Pro costs $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Starrypad holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pro has 78 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of Pro's written reviews are positive against 100% of Starrypad's.
Pro ships an update every 4 days, Starrypad every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pro | Starrypad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (78 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 95.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 78 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 10 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #41 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AudioKit Pro | Ryo Ijuin |
Customer experience
Pro
Starrypad
In-app purchases
Pro
No in-app purchases
Starrypad
No in-app purchases









