# iSymphonic Orchestra vs SWAM Viola

The clearest difference is price: iSymphonic Orchestra at $9.99 against SWAM Viola's $29.99. iSymphonic Orchestra also leads on ratings volume (103 vs 6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). SWAM Viola's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and rating (4.3 vs 3.8). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

iSymphonic Orchestra costs $9.99 and SWAM Viola $29.99 up front. iSymphonic Orchestra sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. SWAM Viola asks for nothing beyond the download.

SWAM Viola holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iSymphonic Orchestra has 103 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of iSymphonic Orchestra's written reviews are positive against 100% of SWAM Viola's.

iSymphonic Orchestra ships an update every 2 months, SWAM Viola every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iSymphonic Orchestra | SWAM Viola |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$9.99** | $29.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (103 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isymphonic-orchestra/id892220800/reviews) | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swam-viola/id1458130582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **103** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 1.3 GB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte](https://appshunter.io/developer/428367741) | [Audio Modeling](https://appshunter.io/developer/1326331126) |

## What reviewers say

### iSymphonic Orchestra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isymphonic-orchestra/id892220800)

This app provides sophisticated, realistic orchestral sounds for musicians. Connect a MIDI keyboard to your device to access a wide range of instruments for live performance or composition. It supports advanced audio and MIDI connections with other apps.

**Highlights:** Realistic orchestral instrument sounds, MIDI keyboard connectivity, Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio support, Low latency audio engine, Integrated effects with presets, MIDI recording and playback

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arpa Sound Set | $8.99 | one-time |
| Vento Sound Set | $8.99 | one-time |
| Pro Sound Set | $11.99 | one-time |
| Canto Sound Set | $11.99 | one-time |
| Boato Sound Set | $11.99 | one-time |
| Voce Sound Set | $11.99 | one-time |
| Varia Sound Set | $11.99 | one-time |
| Aulos Sound Set | $11.99 | one-time |
| Corda Sound Set | $16.99 | one-time |
| Keys Sound Set | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Exceptional sound quality and realistic orchestral samples
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🎹 Highly responsive to MIDI keyboard input and expression controls
- 🔌 Seamless integration with DAWs like GarageBand, Cubasis, and AUM
- 🎼 Wide variety of articulations and instrument combinations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases for additional sound packs
- 🐛 Crashes when used as AU plugin with multiple instances
- ⚠️ Random loud distortion artifacts at unpredictable times
- 🎹 On-screen keyboard is too small and difficult to use
- 🔊 Inconsistent volume levels across different notes and instruments

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when using multiple AU instances in AUM
- GarageBand integration fails during export and audio merging
- Audio cuts out or plays only partially during export
- Track deletion causes complete app crash and data loss
- Reverberation artifacts on specific notes (C4, C5)

**Requested features**

- Ability to hide unowned sound packs for easier navigation
- Zoom function for keyboard section
- Adjustable attack and release envelope controls
- Filter to show only owned sounds
- Dedicated save/record/play controls on main screen


### SWAM Viola

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swam-viola/id1458130582)

This virtual instrument uses physical modeling to generate realistic string performances in real-time, responding dynamically to your playing style. It offers advanced spatial control with a built-in room simulator and can be used standalone or as an AUv3 plugin. Designed for expressive control, it's suitable for various musical styles and accessible to visually impaired users.

**Highlights:** Physical modeling sound generation, Real-time dynamic response, Built-in Room Simulator (Ambiente), Standalone and AUv3 plugin support, Intuitive interface for all users, MPE and MIDI controller support, Customizable timbre, vibrato, and dynamics

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iSymphonic Orchestra free?

iSymphonic Orchestra costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is SWAM Viola free?

SWAM Viola costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iSymphonic Orchestra or SWAM Viola?

SWAM Viola is rated higher. iSymphonic Orchestra averages 3.8 out of 5 from 103 ratings, while SWAM Viola averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do iSymphonic Orchestra or SWAM Viola have ads?

Neither iSymphonic Orchestra nor SWAM Viola shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iSymphonic Orchestra or SWAM Viola?

iSymphonic Orchestra ships an update every 2 months, and SWAM Viola every 5 weeks. Most recently, iSymphonic Orchestra was updated on November 11, 2026 and SWAM Viola on November 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.*