Xkey Plus vs VB3m
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Xkey Plus
This app enhances the functionality of ESI Xkey musical keyboards on mobile devices. It allows users to update firmware, customize velocity curves, and configure key sensitivity and timings for an advanced user experience.
- Check for new Xkey firmware
- Velocity curves editor
- Configure Xkey sensitivity & timings
- Access all Xkey parameters
- Configure key & button assignments
- Access Xkey documentation & support
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◆◆◆ Xkey Plus ◆◆◆ This app is dedicated to ESI Xkey musical keyboard. It is an ideal companion to your mobile keyboard. FEATURES ◆ Check for new Xkey firmware ◆ Velocity curves editor ◆ In-depth configuration of Xkey sensitivity & timings (advanced users) ◆ Access to all Xkey parameters (advanced users) ◆ Possibility to configure new assignments to all keys & buttons (requires Fw 1.2+) ◆ Direct access to Xkey documentation & support REQUIREMENTS ◆ Xkey musical keyboard ◆ USB cam kit or lightning cable ◆ Compatible with iPad (iOS 7 or later) Do not hesitate to contact us if you find any problem on this app. If you like this app, don't forget to write a positive review ! ESI
VB3m
This app is a virtual tonewheel organ emulator, meticulously recreating the sound and functionality of the classic Hammond B3. It offers advanced features like dual manuals, pedalboard, physical modeling, and a versatile rotary speaker effect, all controllable via MIDI.
- Dual manuals and pedalboard
- Physical modeling engine
- Rotary speaker effect
- Tube overdrive simulation
- MIDI CC mapping
- AUv3 plugin support
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GSi VB3m simulates the famous american tonewheel organ better known as the Hammond Organ B3. Main features: - Two manuals plus pedalboard - Two sets of 9 drawbars each for upper and lower manual - Two drawbars for the pedalboard - Physical modeling engine with full polyphony (91 tonewheels) - Rotary speaker effect with two variations plus one static amp - Virtual microphone positioning - Tube overdrive simulation - Two band equalizer - Digital reverb - Program bank with 32 memory locations - On screen keyboard (upper manual only) - Split function - Pedal-to-lower function - Pedal String Bass decay - Global tuning between A=430 Hz and A=450 Hz - Fully customizable Midi CC Mapping with Midi Learn function - Reverse all drawbar CC option - Sustain pedal support for sustaining notes - User selectable Midi channels - Freely assignable Program Change numbers - Low latency Core Audio support - IAA support - AUv3 plugin extension included - Background audio option - Free Cloud service to easily exchange Programs and Midi Maps Please note: to connect a USB-Midi controller, please use Apple's Camera Connection Kit (Lightning to USB-A). Don't connect your recharge cable to a USB host port, that won't transfer Midi data. For better performance, make sure your battery is fully charged or power your device wherever possible. For more details, please read this Q&A article: https://lnx.gsidsp.com/help/knowledgebase.php?article=1
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Xkey Plus at Free against VB3m's $14.99. Xkey Plus also leads on iOS requirement (9.3 vs 12.0). VB3m's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 2.9) and review sentiment (78% vs 36%). On 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
Xkey Plus is free to download; VB3m costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VB3m holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 40 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Xkey Plus's written reviews are positive against 78% of VB3m's.
Xkey Plus ships an update every 3 months, VB3m fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on June 6, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Xkey Plus | VB3m |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 2.9 (13 ratings) | 4.5 (40 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 35.7% of reviews | 78.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 40 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.3 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ESI Audiotechnik GmbH | Genuine Soundware |
Customer experience
Xkey Plus
VB3m
Bugs and requests
Xkey Plus
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
VB3m
Reported bugs
14 issues- Sound gets stuck
- Non funziona più (stops working)
- Non riesco più a sentire il suono (no sound after iPad update)
- Sounds get stuck, developer not responding
- UI is pixelated and needs a refresh
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Graphics are very low res (needs fixing!)
- Blurry graphics on iPad Pro 12”
- Problems recording with GarageBand iOS
- Difficulty connecting with MIDI keyboard and audio interface on iPad 9th gen
- App screen goes dark and no sound when connected to MIDI/audio interface
- Minor bug: sometimes the app seems to lose track of the (swell) expression pedal
- Problema GarageBand: not working as Audio Unit with native GarageBand keyboard
- Latency issues on older iPhone models
- Battery drains when in background
Requested features
30 requests- Add parametric EQ
- Adjustable sustain
- Adjustable Leslie transition speed
- Save drawbar registrations
- Reverse color keys for quick access
Show 25 moreShow fewer
- Toggle setting for rotary control
- Increase UI size
- Add sustain pedal triggers bass note
- Add percussion volume control
- Add black keys to keyboard view
- Add up/down selector buttons for presets
- Option to save parameters globally or per preset
- Add MIDI learn
- Clean setting on drive knob
- Leslie speed switch on organ page
- More presets
- Integrate half moon Leslie directly on organ screen
- Add mute function for use with other apps
- Option to decide buffer size
- Transpose +2 octaves for lower split
- More Leslie tweaks (speed, ramp-up times, amp models)
- Add reverse color keys to keyboard page
- Allow rotary control to have 'toggle' setting
- Increase UI size
- Add user saved presets
- Add MIDI learn
- Clean setting on drive knob
- Leslie speed switch on organ page
- More presets
- Expression pedal mapping improvement
In-app purchases
Xkey Plus
No in-app purchases
VB3m
No in-app purchases
