Comparison

dot Melody vs moodscaper

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

Head to head
About

dot Melody

Create intricate melodies, bass lines, and drum beats by manipulating dots on a multidimensional grid. This app offers a powerful sequencer, chord and pattern manipulation, and built-in effects for dynamic music creation.

Highlights
  • Graphic arpeggiator and sequencer
  • Create melodies, bass lines, and drum beats
  • On-the-fly chord and pattern switching
  • Delay and reverb effects
  • MIDI Out and Audiobus support
  • Ableton Link and MIDI Clock Sync
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

dot Melody is a multidimensional graphic arpeggiator, sequencer, and drum machine from the creator of the critically acclaimed music apps Patterning & Chordion. Move dots around to create intertwining melodies, bass lines, and drum beats. Switch chords and patterns on the fly. Process your instruments through delay and reverb effects. Featured on the App Store “Best New Apps” list. Best with headphones or over AirPlay. • iOS 8 and Above • •• Sequencer •• Tap or drag anywhere to create new dots. Move dots horizontally to change pitch within the current chord. Move dots vertically to change duration/rhythm. Tap a dot to make it a rest. Double tap to delete it. •• Chords •• Switch chords/scales on the fly to change the notes in your pattern. Unlimited number of chords Choose from suggested chords or create your own. •• Patterns •• Unlimited number of patterns, each with 3 instrument layers. Copy, reverse, clear, randomize, and generate functions. Easily re-order patterns. •• Instruments •• 3 instrument at a time : lead, bass, and drums. 23 mod-wheel enabled sounds to choose from. Independent volume controls with the mixer. Independent delay effect sends. •• Effects •• Tempo-synced delay with feedback and low pass filter. Reverb with mix and decay controls. •• Tempo & Time Signature •• Tap Tempo function Choose from a range of time signatures for pattern syncing. Use x/x time signature to enter “free mode” and let your instruments create phase patterns. •• MIDI Out •• Each instrument layer can use independent MIDI ports and channels. Mod Wheel support included. Advanced MIDI timing implementation using MIDI timestamps. •• File Management •• Create new files from templates in any key Easily duplicate or re-name files •• Audiobus •• Use dot Melody as an Audiobus source! See http://audiob.us for more information. •• Sync •• Ableton Link, MIDI Clock Sync, and Inter-App Audio Sync.

About

moodscaper

This app generates unique, evolving ambient music for relaxation, study, or sleep. It can also function as a creative instrument for crafting atmospheric pads and effects, offering a dynamic and evocative soundscape.

Highlights
  • Generative atmospheric sample-based instrument
  • Sleep timer
  • Five scale-based moods
  • Variable dynamics
  • Four loopers with optional sync
  • Realtime auto-accompaniment
  • Effects section (filter, delay, reverb)
Read full description

"Part instrument, part interactive ambience, part subtly-changing New Age album, moodscaper's autoplay button is a wonderful introduction to its charms. With a single touch, it generates a musical artwork that's different every time." "A worthy and lush-sounding musical companion." ​ Sound On Sound Magazine - Aug 2016 Moodscaper is a generative music app and a great personal companion for studying, providing non-intrusive headphone music at work, relaxing, meditating and even sleeping. Just launch the app, tap automatic play, and moodscaper will produce melodic, atmospheric and evocative ambient music in a “light”, “dark”, “space”, "happy" or “sad” mood. Moodscaper is also an easy to use instrument for creating epic-sounding pads and effects as part of a larger iPad-based music-making setup. Main features: · Unique generative atmospheric sample-based instrument · Simple user interface · Sleep timer · Five scale-based moods · Variable dynamics - from mellow and sparse to full-on drama! · Four loopers with optional sync · Provides tasteful auto-accompaniment to your playing in realtime or in loops · Hints displayed on keys that should sound good with root notes or chords · Samples are randomly stacked for a bigger sound with more variation · Effects section with filter, dual-delay and reverb · Effects tweaks can be recorded in loopers · Additional 20 key instrument for each mood · IAA support (as a generator) with no special setup required *** Please note that this app is now in maintenance / bug fixes only mode as it relies on "deprecated" (by Apple) technology such as IAA. ***

Screenshots

dot Melody4 screens
moodscaper1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: moodscaper at every 2 weeks against dot Melody's every 4 months. moodscaper also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 85%) and price ($1.99 vs $3.99). dot Melody's advantage is chart position (#195 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On rating, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

dot Melody costs $3.99 and moodscaper $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for dot Melody against 4.8 for moodscaper. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 29 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of dot Melody's written reviews are positive against 94% of moodscaper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

dot Melody ships an update every 4 months, moodscaper every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
dot Melody versus moodscaper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterdot Melodymoodscaper
Price$3.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.7 (43 ratings)4.8 (29 ratings) — better
Positive reviews84.7% of reviews94.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings43 — better29
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#195 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB247 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOlympia Noise Co.Rob Jackson

Customer experience

dot Melody

All ratings43 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral2.3%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive84.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative10.2%

moodscaper

All ratings29 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral6.9%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive94.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative2.0%

In-app purchases

None

dot Melody

No in-app purchases

None

moodscaper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is dot Melody free?
dot Melody costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is moodscaper free?
moodscaper costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, dot Melody or moodscaper?
moodscaper is rated higher. dot Melody averages 4.7 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while moodscaper averages 4.8 from 29 ratings.
Do dot Melody or moodscaper have ads?
Neither dot Melody nor moodscaper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, dot Melody or moodscaper?
dot Melody ships an update every 4 months, and moodscaper every 2 weeks. Most recently, dot Melody was updated on September 22, 2026 and moodscaper on September 21, 2026.

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