# Aether Synth vs 1981 FM

The clearest difference is price: 1981 FM at Free against Aether Synth's $0.99. 1981 FM also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 71%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Aether Synth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On ads there is nothing between them.

1981 FM is free to download; Aether Synth costs $0.99 up front. 1981 FM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Aether Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

1981 FM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Aether Synth's written reviews are positive against 100% of 1981 FM's.

Aether Synth ships an update every 5 days, 1981 FM every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Aether Synth | 1981 FM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aether-synth/id6766131732/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1981-fm-80s-track-generator/id6805325447/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **10** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#154** | — |
| Size | 35 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jacob Kirk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893697979) | [Soft Brew Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/561703410) |

## What reviewers say

### Aether Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aether-synth/id6766131732)

**Currently charting:** #154 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This music creation app offers a professional synthesizer engine with dual-layer sound design and rhythmic motion. It can be used as a standalone workstation or as an AUv3 instrument within compatible iOS hosts for recording and production.

**Highlights:** AUv3 instrument support, Standalone synth workstation, Dual preset layering, Melodic and drum sequencers, Sampler tools, Multitrack audio workspace, Arpeggiator and motion controls

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none


### 1981 FM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1981-fm-80s-track-generator/id6805325447)

This app generates complete, unique musical tracks using chaotic mathematical principles. It offers various styles, modes, and keys, with customizable FM synth sounds and effects. Tracks can be recreated using seeds and exported via MIDI.

**Highlights:** Chaos-driven track generation, Four-operator FM synth engine, Multiple musical styles and modes, MIDI export and input, Customizable effects (chorus, delay, reverb), Offline functionality

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AUv3 Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Aether Synth free?

Aether Synth costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is 1981 FM free?

1981 FM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Aether Synth or 1981 FM?

1981 FM is rated higher. Aether Synth averages 4.7 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while 1981 FM averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Aether Synth or 1981 FM have ads?

Neither Aether Synth nor 1981 FM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Aether Synth or 1981 FM?

Aether Synth ships an update every 5 days, and 1981 FM every 2 weeks. Most recently, Aether Synth was updated on November 5, 2026 and 1981 FM on November 6, 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.*