Comparison

EchoSketch vs Porthole Audio

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

Head to head
About

EchoSketch

Shape delay and reverb effects in real-time with a playable X/Y performance surface. Explore four distinct delay types and multiple reverb options, with extensive parameter control for unique sound morphing. Works as a standalone app or an Audio Unit plugin.

Highlights
  • X/Y performance surface for real-time sound shaping
  • Four distinct delay types: digital, analog, reverse, ping-pong
  • Spring, plate, and hall convolution reverb
  • Modulation and tone control for echoes
  • HOLD, LIFT, FREEZE, and MOTION performance gestures
  • Standalone app and AUv3 plugin compatibility
Features
Read full description

EchoSketch turns delay and reverb into a live, playable instrument. Shape your sound in real time using a responsive X/Y performance surface designed for intuitive touch expression. At its core are four great-sounding delays: digital, analog, ping-pong, and reverse. The range for each parameter and the XY axes direction can be set independently, allowing you to easily morph between sounds. It works as an Audio Unit plugin or standalone — iOS or Mac. Comprehensive Delays • Digital (patterned after a legendary '80s rack delay), Analog (warm, with tape-style pitch glide), Reverse, and Left/Right Ping-Pong • Delay times can sync to tempo or be set in milliseconds • Feedback features delay-dependent tone shaping — bright for short delays and darker for long ones Convolution Reverb • Stereo or mono Spring, Plate, and Hall • Reverb path is separate from the delay (same as vintage tape echo units), so repeats don’t get washed out Modulation and Filter • Analog-style modulation for chorused, warbly pitch echoes • Tone control — darken or brighten delays, with a center detent for flat Designed for Hands-On Performance • HOLD / LIFT — leave the XY cursor in place, or touch the pad for momentary delay sounds • FREEZE — set the current feedback into an infinite loop and play over it • MOTION — record a gesture on the XY pad and loop it Presets and More • Presets are transferable between hosts • Two looks — light "Trail" and dark "Glow" • Works standalone with live audio or as an AUv3 plugin • Universal — iPad/iPhone also gets you the Mac version — one purchase • Mac: after installing, open EchoSketch once to use it as a plugin in your DAW • Works in AUM, AudioBus, GarageBand, Logic, and other AUv3 hosts

About

Porthole Audio

This app captures system audio from your device and routes it into audio plug-ins. It allows you to host AUv3 plug-ins and use the app itself as an instrument within other music applications.

Highlights
  • Capture system audio
  • Route audio to plug-ins
  • Host AUv3 plug-ins
  • Use as an AUv3 instrument
  • Cross-app audio capture
Currently charting
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Porthole is a simple way to get sounds from other apps into your music. Capture audio straight into an AUv3 sampler, without saving a video or moving files around. - Open an AUv3 sampler right inside Porthole and capture into it. - Prefer your existing setup? Load Porthole as an AUv3 instrument in your favorite host. - Keep capturing while you switch between apps. - On iOS and iPadOS 27.2 and later, hear the plug-in while you capture. Hear a sound you like? Get it into your sampler in a few taps.

Screenshots

EchoSketch4 screens
Porthole Audio3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: EchoSketch at every 2 days against Porthole Audio's every 10 days. EchoSketch also leads on iOS requirement (17 vs 27.0). Porthole Audio's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $7.99) and chart position (#88 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

EchoSketch costs $7.99 and Porthole Audio $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for EchoSketch against 5.0 for Porthole Audio. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EchoSketch ships an update every 2 days, Porthole Audio every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
EchoSketch versus Porthole Audio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEchoSketchPorthole Audio
Price$7.99$4.99 — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#88 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17 — better27.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAvi BortnickFeras Alnatsheh

Customer experience

EchoSketch

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Porthole Audio

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

EchoSketch

No in-app purchases

None

Porthole Audio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is EchoSketch free?
EchoSketch costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Porthole Audio free?
Porthole Audio costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, EchoSketch or Porthole Audio?
EchoSketch and Porthole Audio are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do EchoSketch or Porthole Audio have ads?
Neither EchoSketch nor Porthole Audio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EchoSketch or Porthole Audio?
EchoSketch ships an update every 2 days, and Porthole Audio every 10 days. Most recently, EchoSketch was updated on October 14, 2026 and Porthole Audio on October 10, 2026.

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