Comparison

TinyTone vs Gelato Synth

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

Head to head
About

TinyTone

Create professional synth patches for music production and live performance. Design sounds in real-time with a powerful synthesizer engine, dual oscillators, and extensive modulation options. Export and import patches, and use it as an AUv3 plugin in DAWs.

Highlights
  • Powerful synthesizer engine
  • Dual oscillators with FM synthesis
  • Real-time audition with touch pads
  • External MIDI keyboard support
  • Unlimited user patch storage
  • AUv3 Audio Unit support
  • JSON export/import for patches
Features
Read full description

TinyTone is a full-featured synthesizer sound source for iPhone sound design, stage performance, and recording. Using the on-screen controllers and a MIDI keyboard, you can design and monitor professional synth patches in real time. In addition to standalone app use, ToneEditor can also be loaded as an AUv3 Audio Unit into DAWs such as GarageBand and used as a sound source. It also works as a sound editor for its sister app, TinyTone, allowing you to reproduce consistent sounds with the same sound engine. <Features> ・Powerful Synthesizer Engine Equipped with dual oscillators, envelopes, filters, modulation, delay, limiter, and more. Enables complex sound design. Dual Oscillators with FM Synthesis, switch between Mix and Chain modes for rich tonal possibilities. ・Real-Time Audition Play single notes, chords, and transposition using touch pads. Hear sound changes instantly as you adjust sliders. External input via MIDI keyboard is also supported. ・Preset Management Unlimited user patch storage. ・JSON Export / Import Export patches as JSON. Share via Files app or clipboard. ・AUv3 Support Can be embedded as an AU instrument in DAWs like GarageBand. Reproduces consistent sounds with the same synthesis engine. <How to Use> 【Standalone】 1. Select a preset or start creating from a new patch. 2. Play sounds using the test pad at the bottom of the screen; adjust parameters with sliders to confirm real-time sound changes. 3. Save your created patch to a user slot. 【Using with DAWs (GarageBand, etc.)】 1. Add TinyTone (AU) to a track. 2. Select a factory preset or saved patch from the AU preset selection screen. 3. Play the DAW keyboard to output sound. <Important> ・When using simultaneously with camera or audio apps, noise may occur depending on your environment. Please be careful with output volume. ・Listening to loud audio for extended periods can affect your hearing. When using headphones or speakers, always check your surroundings and volume level. ・Some DAWs (e.g. Ableton Live 11) may not detect iOS-app AUv3 plug-ins. Logic Pro, MainStage, and GarageBand are recommended. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://flicker-jp.com/privacy

About

Gelato Synth

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Gelato Synth is a chunky, friendly synthesizer for iPhone. Pick a sound, tap the big pads, and it sounds good straight away, because every note is already in key. NEVER PLAY A WRONG NOTE Choose a key and a scale and the pads rebuild themselves. Every button is a note that fits. Slide across them, hold them, stack them. You cannot hit a clunker. MAKE A SOUND THAT IS YOURS Real FM synthesis with two oscillators, noise, an envelope, a filter, an LFO and effects, all on big sliders you can understand. Watch the wave change on the scope as you move them. Start from one of 52 sounds or from a blank slate. PLAY CHORDS WITH A BUTTON Switch to Chords and the pads become the chords of your key: triads, sevenths, ninths, sus and power chords. Whole chords under every finger. RECORD YOUR IDEA Tap record for a quick take, or set a tempo and a beat and loop it. Add another layer on top with +1, up to eight, each with its own sound. Mute, balance and share the mix. BUILD YOUR LIBRARY Save the sounds you make into My Sounds and they are there next time. Drop your own drum hits into the Files app and the beats use them. WHAT IS FREE Notes mode with every scale, a handful of sounds in each category with all the sliders, and quick record. THE FULL LIBRARY One purchase, yours forever: chord buttons, every sound, the loop recorder with beats and layers, and saving your own sounds. No subscription, no ads, no account. Gelato Synth is made by a tiny team who wanted a synth their friends could pick up without a manual. Questions and ideas: hello@gelatoaudio.com

Screenshots

TinyTone3 screens
Gelato Synth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TinyTone at none against Gelato Synth's 1. Gelato Synth's advantage is update cadence (daily vs weekly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Gelato Synth sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TinyTone asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TinyTone ships an update weekly, Gelato Synth daily. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
TinyTone versus Gelato Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTinyToneGelato Synth
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKEISUKE TONECerrone LLC

In-app purchases

None

TinyTone

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Gelato Synth

One-time1
  • Full Gelato Synth$4.99

Questions

Is TinyTone free?
TinyTone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gelato Synth free?
Gelato Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do TinyTone or Gelato Synth have ads?
Neither TinyTone nor Gelato Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TinyTone or Gelato Synth?
TinyTone ships an update weekly, and Gelato Synth daily. Most recently, TinyTone was updated on October 10, 2026 and Gelato Synth on October 3, 2026.

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