Comparison

G.ROUND vs Retro Pocket Synth

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

Head to head
About

G.ROUND

Features
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G.ROUND is a generative performance instrument built for musicians who want to create grooves, chord progressions, basslines, and evolving synth textures from one expressive interface. At the center of G.ROUND are two harmonic wheels: choose a chord, shape its color, change its mode, and instantly turn musical ideas into playable progressions. Every engine follows the other: drums, bass, synth, arpeggiator, recorder, and MIDI output stay locked together while you perform. Build a beat with the drum sequencer, design each drum voice with layered synthesis and modulation, generate basslines that follow your harmony, then shape a four-voice synth with oscillator, filter, envelopes, glide, LFO, delay, reverb, and advanced voicing controls. G.ROUND is not just a sequencer. It is an instrument that reacts to harmony. Record a chord performance, edit it as musical information, then keep changing the sound around it. Swap drum patterns, reshape the bass, alter the synth, enable the arpeggiator, change presets, or send MIDI to external gear without losing the progression that started the idea. Features: β€’ Dual-wheel harmonic performance interface β€’ Chromatic and diatonic chord control β€’ Chord extensions, harmonic colors, and β€œNerd Mode” options β€’ Four-voice polyphonic synth engine β€’ Arpeggiator with multiple rates, swing, gate, octave range, chord patterns, and variation β€’ Monophonic bass synth with root, pattern, walking, melodic, acid, riff, and blues-style behaviors β€’ Drum sequencer with kick, snare, and hi-hat lanes β€’ Two-layer drum voice design with oscillator/noise, envelopes, filter, tone, and level controls β€’ Per-drum modulation synced to tempo or free-running in Hz β€’ Harmonic performance recorder with bar-synced recording and playback β€’ Detailed MIDI track editor for recorded chord progressions β€’ Up to 99 complete session presets β€’ Global mixer with synth, bass, drums, and master volume control β€’ Delay and reverb for synth textures β€’ Voice-leading, strumming, modulation, and pitch-bend performance controls β€’ MIDI output via cable, Bluetooth MIDI, IDAM, and CoreMIDI destinations β€’ Multiple visual themes and adjustable internal sample rate Whether you are sketching a new track, exploring harmony, designing electronic grooves, or controlling external instruments, G.ROUND gives you a fast, tactile way to turn one gesture into a complete musical system. Start with a chord. Let the machine move. Shape everything. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.paulgiorgi.com/privacy/g-round

About

Retro Pocket Synth

Features
Read full description

Turn your iPad or iPhone into a stylish retro pocket synthesizer. Retro Pocket Synth combines a playable 24-note keyboard with expressive sound controls, visual feedback, and a collection of classic-inspired designs. Tap or glide across the keys to create melodies, experiment with sound, and enjoy a unique instrument designed for quick musical exploration. Features: β€’ Play a responsive 24-note virtual keyboard β€’ Shape your sound with Envelope, LFO, Delay, and Filter controls β€’ Adjust volume with dedicated controls β€’ Enjoy animated speaker feedback while playing β€’ Record your performances with a countdown timer β€’ Save, play, manage, and share your recordings β€’ Choose from Classic, Modern Cyberpunk, Polished Wood, and Retro Orange themes β€’ Customize the stylus with colorful skins β€’ Enable haptic feedback for a more tactile playing experience β€’ Use built-in presets to quickly explore different sounds Whether you are creating a melody, experimenting with synth tones, or simply looking for a fun musical instrument, Retro Pocket Synth brings a compact studio-inspired experience to your pocket. No musical experience required. Just play, create, and enjoy.

Screenshots

G.ROUND4 screens
Retro Pocket Synth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Retro Pocket Synth at none against G.ROUND's 2. Retro Pocket Synth also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). G.ROUND's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. G.ROUND sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Retro Pocket Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
G.ROUND versus Retro Pocket Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterG.ROUNDRetro Pocket Synth
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsβ€”
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS26.015.6 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size32 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPaolo Giorgiasywalul fikri

In-app purchases

2 purchases

G.ROUND

Subscriptions1
  • G.ROUND Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • G.ROUND Lifetime$19.99
None

Retro Pocket Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is G.ROUND free?
G.ROUND is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Retro Pocket Synth free?
Retro Pocket Synth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do G.ROUND or Retro Pocket Synth have ads?
Retro Pocket Synth shows ads; G.ROUND does not.

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