# Synthecaster vs VAPolyWest

The clearest difference is update cadence: Synthecaster at every 2 months against VAPolyWest's every 10 months. Synthecaster also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 75%) and price ($0.99 vs $3.99). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Synthecaster costs $0.99 and VAPolyWest $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Synthecaster against 5.0 for VAPolyWest. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 5 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Synthecaster's written reviews are positive against 75% of VAPolyWest's.

Synthecaster ships an update every 2 months, VAPolyWest every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Synthecaster | VAPolyWest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthecaster/id705067086/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vapolywest/id6587550154/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **90.0% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 4 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Resnick](https://appshunter.io/developer/705067089) | [Ryo Togawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474193056) |

## What reviewers say

### Synthecaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthecaster/id705067086)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### VAPolyWest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vapolywest/id6587550154)

This app is a polyphonic synthesizer inspired by 1960s California west coast synthesis. It features wave folding, lowpass gates, and step sequencers for generative music creation. It functions as a standalone app or an AudioUnit Extension across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

**Highlights:** Virtual analog west coast style polyphonic synthesizer, Wave folder and lowpass gate, Step sequencer and envelope generators, Up to 8 voice polyphony, Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support, MIDI 2.0 support, Audio export options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Synthecaster free?

Synthecaster costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VAPolyWest free?

VAPolyWest costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Synthecaster or VAPolyWest?

VAPolyWest is rated higher. Synthecaster averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while VAPolyWest averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Synthecaster or VAPolyWest have ads?

Neither Synthecaster nor VAPolyWest shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Synthecaster or VAPolyWest?

Synthecaster ships an update every 2 months, and VAPolyWest every 10 months. Most recently, Synthecaster was updated on October 29, 2026 and VAPolyWest on October 26, 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.*