Comparison

Synthecaster vs Xoraphone

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

Head to head
About

Synthecaster

This app offers a unique polyphonic instrument that blends guitar and keyboard elements, allowing for diverse playing styles and sound generation. It features intuitive controls, motion modulation for expressive performance, and a powerful synth engine with extensive customization options.

Highlights
  • Polyphonic synth engine
  • String-like key rows
  • Motion Modulation for expressiveness
  • MIDI controller functionality
  • Built-in effects (flanger, chorus, delay)
  • Customizable synth presets
  • Inter-App Audio and Audiobus support
Read full description

Synthecaster fuses elements from guitars and keyboards into a full range polyphonic instrument that is intuitive, accommodates a wide variety of playing styles, and generates an even wider variety of sounds. The instrument allows for technical playing styles such as shredding and complex chord formation and can be used as a MIDI controller. Now with Motion Modulation, Synthecaster is more expressive than ever. - Keys are arranged in string-like rows (tuned in perfect fourths by default) - Sliding across keys in a row results in legato sliding or portamento gliding from note to note - Sliding a key up or down will bend its pitch in the same direction - Several notes can be played on the same row simultaneously - Simultaneously play up to 10 notes on iPad Pro, 7 notes on iPad, or 5 notes on iPhone - The entire keyboard spans over 6 octaves (not including the range added by oscillator tuning) - Tune each row individually - Highlight or show only the notes from any scale How Motion Modulation works: - Any slider-based synth parameter with blue or green text can be tapped to view its motion settings - The parameter can be modulated by the device's roll (tilting vertically clockwise or counterclockwise) or pitch (tilting upward or downward) - The position of the parameter's slider is the base setting for the parameter - Tilting the device modulates the value either from its base setting to its minimum or maximum setting depending on the tilt, the modulation amount, and the modulation direction. Synthecaster's audio is generated by a powerful and highly configurable polyphonic synth engine: - Dual oscillators with individual tuning - Filter with envelope sweeping - Amplifier ADSR envelope - Soft clip, hard clip, bitcrush, and downsampling distortion - LFO assignable to amplitude, filter cutoff, or oscillator tuning - Stereo flanger, chorus, and delay effects - Over 55 preloaded synth presets including 7 motion presets - Create custom presets and share them using AirDrop or Mail - High quality stereo audio output - Inter-App Audio support - Audiobus compatibility with state saving Synthecaster is Core MIDI compatible as a MIDI controller. In Multi Channel mode, MIDI messages are output in OMNI mode, where each MIDI channel represents a synth voice (channels 1-7 on the iPad, 1-5 on the iPhone). To best replicate Synthecaster’s polyphonic expressiveness, try setting a separate instrument voice for each channel. The following MIDI messages are supported: - Note on/off events, by touching and releasing keys - Pitch wheel change, by sliding a key up or down - Polyphonic legato ties by sliding across keys. Compatible with a variety of apps including Animoog and ThumbJam. - Legato pedal on/off for legato ties, by sliding across keys For best results, play through speakers or headphones. Note: Not recommended for iPhone 4 due to performance issues.

About

Xoraphone

Experience a unique musical instrument that replicates the human voice. Explore 7 notes from Indian classical music, perfect for musicians, students, and music enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Human voice sound simulation
  • 7 Indian classical music notes (swara)
  • Suitable for musicians
  • Ideal for classical music students
  • Interactive music exploration
Features
Read full description

“Every musical instrument has tried to attain a human sound” - Unknown Artist Finally, for the first time in history, there is Xoraphone, a musical instrument that sounds like the human voice! Xoraphone consists of 7 notes (swara) from Indian classical music. Whether you are a musician, a student of classical music, or someone who has an interest in music, you are going to love playing the Xoraphone. Give It A Try! Music is a vast ocean and Xoraphone is a tiny attempt in that ocean. Please explore and give us your feedback to help us further sail through this incredible discovery!

Screenshots

Synthecaster4 screens
Xoraphone2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Xoraphone at Free against Synthecaster's $0.99. Xoraphone also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). Synthecaster's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (90% vs 50%). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Xoraphone is free to download; Synthecaster costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Synthecaster holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Synthecaster's written reviews are positive against 50% of Xoraphone's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Synthecaster ships an update every 2 months, Xoraphone daily. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Synthecaster versus Xoraphone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSynthecasterXoraphone
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (14 ratings) — better4.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel ResnickAlphabing LLC

Customer experience

Synthecaster

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral7.5%
Negative2.5%

Xoraphone

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Synthecaster

No in-app purchases

None

Xoraphone

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Synthecaster free?
Synthecaster costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Xoraphone free?
Xoraphone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Synthecaster or Xoraphone?
Synthecaster is rated higher. Synthecaster averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Xoraphone averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.
Do Synthecaster or Xoraphone have ads?
Neither Synthecaster nor Xoraphone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Synthecaster or Xoraphone?
Synthecaster ships an update every 2 months, and Xoraphone daily. Most recently, Synthecaster was updated on October 21, 2026 and Xoraphone on October 24, 2026.

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