Comparison

Nanologue vs SynthMaster Player

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

Head to head
About

Nanologue

This app offers a versatile collection of sounds and professional sound effects with an intuitive multi-touch interface. It features a monophonic synthesizer and brings VST 3 technology to iOS devices, usable standalone or with other audio applications.

Highlights
  • Inspiring sounds and professional sound effects
  • Straightforward multi-touch interface
  • Great-sounding monophonic synthesizer
  • VST 3 technology on iOS
  • Inter-App Audio support
Read full description

Nanologue boasts a wide scope of inspiring sounds and professional sound effects, sporting a straightforward multi-touch interface and a great-sounding monophonic synthesizer. Used stand-alone and in connection with your iOS host application via Inter-App Audio, Nanologue brings the power of VST 3 technology to the iOS platform.

About

SynthMaster Player

This mobile synthesizer app provides a vast library of sounds for music production. It allows users to play presets, make limited edits, and access additional sound banks through in-app purchases. It integrates with other music apps and offers a built-in keyboard for immediate playability.

Highlights
  • Preset-based sound library
  • Limited parameter editing
  • XY pads for modulation
  • AUv3 and InterApp Audio support
  • Audiobus integration
  • Built-in keyboard with pitch/mod wheels
  • Scales functionality
Read full description

SynthMaster Player for iOS received "2016 Editor's Choice Award" from Electronic Musician Magazine! SynthMaster desktop version is voted as "The Best VST/AU Synth Plugin" by MusicRadar readers and also received "Gear of the Year" award from MusicTech Magazine for "Best Software Instrument" category. SynthMaster has received very positive reviews from acclaimed music technology magazines: "SynthMaster: The most powerful softsynth you may not have heard of" Keyboard Magazine "If ever there was a desert island synth, SynthMaster is it, covering all sonic bases with authority and a superb tone" Computer Music Magazine "Many developers say that they've produced the one and only synth you'll ever need, but we've always felt that was a dubious claim. In SynthMaster’s case, though, it’s one that rings true" MusicRadar INTRODUCTION SynthMaster Player for iOS is the MOBILE PLAYER VERSION of the award winning SynthMaster software synthesizer. It is targeted towards users who prefer to use presets rather than designing their own sounds during music production. Although it is a preset based player, users can edit the following preset parameters: 1) 8 easy parameters assigned by the sound designer 2) 2 XY Pads assigned by the sound designer 3) Effect bypass states and send amounts 4) Layer bypass states and volumes 5) Master volume, polyphony The free app comes with 100 factory presets. When users complete registration by entering their names and email addresses they receive another 100 factory presets as a bonus! After completing registration, users can upgrade to the Pro version of the app by purchasing the "Factory Presets" bank via In-App-Purchase (IAP). With the Pro Upgrade all of the 800 factory presets are loaded and also the following features are unlocked: 1. Users can save the changes they have made to the presets. 2. Users can purchase additional preset banks via In-App-Purchase (IAP). We currently have 28 additional preset banks that contain 1750 presets for various genres/styles. 3. Existing SynthMaster users can download their previously purchased SynthMaster preset banks inside the app, so that they don't have to purchase them again. 4. Existing SynthMaster users can export their own presets in SynthMaster v2.x and import them into SynthMaster Player for iPad using iTunes. AUv3 SynthMaster Player for iOS supports AUv3, you can add multiple instrument instances to your tracks. INTERAPP AUDIO SynthMaster Player for iOS acts as an source/instrument in InterApp Audio. We demonstrate in our user manual how to connect it to InterApp enabled DAW apps. AUDIOBUS SynthMaster Player for iOS acts as a source/instrument in AudioBus, with state saving enabled. We demonstrate in our user manual how to connect it to AudioBus enabled DAW apps. BUILT-IN KEYBOARD The built-in 2 octave keyboard with pitch and modulation wheels lets users play notes without having to connect an external MIDI controller to their iPad. With its Scale functionality, it shows the users the notes on the scale, and with its Chord functionality the user can play a certain chord by pressing a single note. MIDI SETTINGS SynthMaster Player for iOS supports CoreMIDI and also virtual MIDI. It acts as a virtual MIDI destination for other DAW apps. Midi input device, midi input channel, and receive midi beat clock settings can be adjusted from the MIDI Settings window. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Minimum Operating System Supported: iOS 9 Minimum Hardware Supported: iPad4, iPhone 5 and above Recommended Hardware: iPad Air and above, iPhone6 and above

Screenshots

SynthMaster Player3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nanologue at none against SynthMaster Player's 13. Nanologue also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 11.0). SynthMaster Player's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 49 months) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On price, ratings volume and ads 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

Both are free to download. SynthMaster Player sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Nanologue asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SynthMaster Player holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 82 and 55 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of Nanologue's written reviews are positive against 52% of SynthMaster Player's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nanologue ships an update every 49 months, SynthMaster Player every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Nanologue versus SynthMaster Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNanologueSynthMaster Player
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (82 ratings)4.4 (55 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.6% of reviews — better52.1% of reviews
Number of ratings82 — better55
Update frequencyEvery 49 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB308 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteinberg Media Technologies GmbHKV331 Audio

Customer experience

Nanologue

All ratings82 ratings
Positive73.2%
Neutral8.5%
Negative18.3%
Written reviews111 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral8.1%
Negative24.3%

SynthMaster Player

All ratings55 ratings
Positive85.5%
Neutral5.5%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews261 reviews
Positive52.1%
Neutral16.1%
Negative31.8%

Bugs and requests

Nanologue

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SynthMaster Player

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Purchased presets not loading
  • Stuck notes
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Audiobus and IAA issues

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to edit and create own sounds
  • Improved preset management
  • Better integration with DAWs and Audiobus
  • Background playback support
  • Larger on-screen keyboard
Show 1 more
  • More customization options

In-app purchases

None

Nanologue

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

SynthMaster Player

One-time13
  • Historical Synth Giants Vol 1$1.99
  • BigTone Signature Sounds Vol1$4.99
  • MK Expansion 2$4.99
Show 10 more
  • Nori Ubukata Art Rock Basics$4.99
  • Sounds of the World$4.99
  • Factory Presets (PRO Upgrade)$4.99
  • SynthMaster 2.7 presets$4.99
  • SynthMaster 2.8 Presets$4.99
  • Extra Factory Presets Bundle$9.99
  • SynthMaster EDM Bundle 1$13.99
  • Dawn Of Electronic Bundle$13.99
  • Synth Giants Bundle$13.99
  • Rob Lee EDM Bundle$19.99

Questions

Is Nanologue free?
Nanologue is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SynthMaster Player free?
SynthMaster Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nanologue or SynthMaster Player?
SynthMaster Player is rated higher. Nanologue averages 4.0 out of 5 from 82 ratings, while SynthMaster Player averages 4.4 from 55 ratings.
Do Nanologue or SynthMaster Player have ads?
Neither Nanologue nor SynthMaster Player shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nanologue or SynthMaster Player?
Nanologue ships an update every 49 months, and SynthMaster Player every 3 months. Most recently, Nanologue was updated on October 6, 2026 and SynthMaster Player on October 5, 2026.

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