# PhonoPaper vs Polywave

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PhonoPaper at none against Polywave's 1. PhonoPaper also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Polywave sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PhonoPaper asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for PhonoPaper against 4.7 for Polywave. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 34 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of PhonoPaper's written reviews are positive against 80% of Polywave's.

PhonoPaper ships an update every 4 months, Polywave every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhonoPaper | Polywave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonopaper/id865947553/reviews) | **[4.7 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **45** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | **82.7% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alexander Zolotov](https://appshunter.io/developer/324462547) | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) |

## What reviewers say

### PhonoPaper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonopaper/id865947553)

This app decodes images containing encoded sound, allowing you to play back audio embedded within visual patterns. You can also record your own sounds and convert them into these unique visual codes. It's designed for creative audio messaging and artistic expression.

**Highlights:** Decode images with encoded sound, Create sound codes from recordings, Offline decoding capability, Analogue code for distortion resilience, Real-time, hand-controlled playback, Draw codes for unique sounds

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Polywave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polywave-wavetable-synth/id1579538271)

Create unique, evolving sonic experiences with a novel wavetable sequencer inspired by vintage synths. Draw your own waveforms, explore a vast library, and connect to external keyboards or DAWs. Record your creations directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Wavetable sequencer, Custom waveform drawing, Expansive waveform library, 100+ factory presets, MIDI and Audio Unit support, Live recording module, 8-voice polyphony

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhonoPaper free?

PhonoPaper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Polywave free?

Polywave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PhonoPaper or Polywave?

Polywave is rated higher. PhonoPaper averages 4.6 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Polywave averages 4.7 from 34 ratings.

### Do PhonoPaper or Polywave have ads?

Neither PhonoPaper nor Polywave shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PhonoPaper or Polywave?

PhonoPaper ships an update every 4 months, and Polywave every 3 months. Most recently, PhonoPaper was updated on September 27, 2026 and Polywave on October 2, 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.*