# Fishtail vs Rithmatic

The clearest difference is price: Rithmatic at Free against Fishtail's $14.99. Rithmatic also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Fishtail's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 4.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Rithmatic is free to download; Fishtail costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Fishtail holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

Fishtail ships an update every 3 days, Rithmatic every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fishtail | Rithmatic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $14.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fishtail/id6790423528/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rithmatic-fm-synth/id6794107110/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 37 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AMY NICOLA MCBRIDE](https://appshunter.io/developer/6790423530) | [MADE WITH BEST PRACTICE LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6779338119) |

## What reviewers say

### Fishtail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fishtail/id6790423528)

This app generates complete musical forms using algorithmic composition based on music theory. Users can shape, perform, and rearrange these compositions, routing seven musical channels to their chosen instruments via MIDI. It offers extensive control over keys, modes, and expressive elements.

**Highlights:** Algorithmic music generation, Multi-section compositions, Seven-channel MIDI output, Retain, reorder, and perform Takes, Multiple intonation systems, AUv3 MIDI plug-in support, Ableton Link integration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Rithmatic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rithmatic-fm-synth/id6794107110)

This app is an FM synthesizer featuring a vast library of classic voices. It allows users to explore, learn, build, and blend sounds using an intuitive interface and an AUv3 plugin for DAWs. It offers a comprehensive synthesis engine and various playback options.

**Highlights:** 36,118 classic DX7 voices included, AUv3 plugin for DAWs, Patch Builder to learn FM synthesis, Sound blending feature, On-screen and MIDI keyboard support, Arpeggiator and latch function, WAV export

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fishtail free?

Fishtail costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Rithmatic free?

Rithmatic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Fishtail or Rithmatic?

Fishtail is rated higher. Fishtail averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Rithmatic averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Fishtail or Rithmatic have ads?

Neither Fishtail nor Rithmatic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fishtail or Rithmatic?

Fishtail ships an update every 3 days, and Rithmatic every 2 days. Most recently, Fishtail was updated on October 17, 2026 and Rithmatic on October 13, 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.*