Synthecaster vs Pianola
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Pianola
This app turns your MIDI-capable piano into an interactive music player. Connect wirelessly or via USB to play your MIDI files, control tempo and pitch, and organize your music library. It's designed for an intuitive and effortless musical experience.
- Wireless Bluetooth MIDI connection
- USB MIDI support
- Library and playlist management
- Adjustable tempo and pitch
- Background playback
- Includes a starter MIDI library
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Pianola transforms your MIDI-capable piano into an effortless musical experience. Whether you have a digital piano or an acoustic piano outfitted with a PianoDisc, QRS PNOmation, or Yamaha Disklavier system, Pianola makes playing your favorite songs as easy as do-re-mi. Connect iPhone or iPad to your piano wirelessly via Bluetooth or with a USB MIDI adapter, browse your MIDI file collection, and let the music play! Key Features • Wireless Bluetooth MIDI — Connect to any BLE-MIDI compatible device with a single tap. • USB MIDI Support — Connect using a USB to MIDI adapter or a USB OTG cable on supported devices. • Simple Library Management — Browse MIDI files from your device, iCloud, or network storage. Create playlists to organize your music. • Tempo Control — Speed up or slow down playback. • Velocity Curves — Fine-tune the dynamics to suit your piano and room acoustics. • Pitch Adjustment — Transpose playback in real-time. Great for vocalists who want to sing along. • Background Playback — Music keeps playing while you use other apps. • Ready to Play — Includes a MIDI library to get the party started. Designed for Everyone Pianola offers an interface that feels familiar and intuitive. Large, clear controls. No hidden menus. No overwhelming options. Just the features you need, right where you expect them. Transform your piano into the jukebox it was meant to be!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Synthecaster at 4.9 against Pianola's 4.0. Synthecaster also leads on ratings volume (14 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). Pianola's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and chart position (#195 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Synthecaster costs $0.99 and Pianola $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Synthecaster holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Synthecaster has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 90% of Synthecaster's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pianola's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Synthecaster ships an update every 2 months, Pianola weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Synthecaster | Pianola |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (14 ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #195 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 110 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Daniel Resnick | Darrel Farris |
Customer experience
Synthecaster
Pianola
In-app purchases
Synthecaster
No in-app purchases
Pianola
No in-app purchases









