Comparison

apeFilter vs Phase84

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

Head to head
About

apeFilter

This app offers advanced audio equalization with up to 36 peak filters and spectral grid compilers for precise sound sculpting. It supports various audio input methods and includes effects like reverb and delay.

Highlights
  • 36 Peak Filters
  • Spectral Grid Compilers
  • AudioUnit V3 & Inter-App Audio Support
  • Built-in Stereo Sampler
  • ClassicVerb and Delay FX
  • MIDI Control
Features
Read full description

apeFilter is a sophisticated Equaliser, the DSP is based on the Biquad/Cascade filters, very fast! The graphical interaction provides a great tool to design an extremely precise and smooth frequency response by directly manipulating up to 36 Peaks Filters. The Spectral Grid compilers increase the complexity and coherence between the filters bandwidth space. You can create your pitch space by the way of four different criteria of construction by determining a pitches grid: Fibonacci, Harmonic, Geometric and Scalar. Use apeFilter for sculpt your sound through the embedded sampler or LIve from Audiobus or Inter-Audio-App Input. Among the FX chain, an amazing ClassicVerb is available. + AudioUnit V3 (FX) + Inter-App Audio (FX) + Audiobus (Full) + Ableton Link + Audio Interface support + Microphone input + 72 Peak Filters for Spectral Grid Compilers + 4 Spectral Grid Compilers: Fibonacci, Harmonic, Geometric and Scalar + 6 Common Filters: Lowpass, Hipass, Bandpass, Notch, Lowshelf, Hishelf + MIDI Note On/Off messages, for playing Filters Frequency and Filters Peaks Gain + Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support (sender and FX) + Built In Stereo Sampler with varispeed + Control Manager LFO for Parameters + Midibus, Virtual Midi and Network: 14 bit NRPN controllers + File Manager, sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox and AudioCopy + Snapshot Presets Morphing Pad + Post Fx Chain: Stereo Delay, Amazing ClassicVerb and Dynamic compressor/expander

About

Phase84

This app is a powerful phase distortion synthesizer that blends digital grit with analog warmth. It offers over 100 presets for various sounds and integrates with other music apps for a modular workflow.

Highlights
  • Over 100 presets
  • MIDI support
  • Inter-App Audio support
  • Tabletop Ready App integration
  • Advanced Keyboard section
  • Expressive Perform Mode
  • Stereo delay with loss modeling
Features
Read full description

Phase84 is a next generation phase distortion synthesizer. It fuses gritty digital sounds with traditional analog punch. +++++ Phase84 is a Tabletop Ready App. Combine Phase84 with drum machines, sequencers, effects, and more inside Tabletop — a free modular music app for iPad. +++++ Phase84 is an extremely capable synthesizer and features over 110 presets, containing all sorts of basses, leads, pads, bell tones, sweeps, atmospheric sounds, pseudo-realistic tones, and more. While you don't need to know much about synthesizers to get a lot out of Phase84, experienced synth tweakers will be thrilled at the sheer variety of unique sounds that can be produced with this incredibly versatile synth. So What's Phase84 All About? Phase84 is what's known as a Phase Distortion synthesizer. This form of waveshaping synthesis has its roots in Casio’s brilliant CZ line of digital synthesizers from the 80s. It is designed to have the warmth of a subtractive (analog) synthesizer, yet be capable of the squelchy tones and sharp attacks of an FM synth. Phase84 in particular can create warm pads, glitchy sounds, dirty basses, filthy sweeps, screaming leads, and anything in-between. For those familiar with the typical Moog-like (or iMini-like!) synthesis, think of the "shaper" as being synonymous with "brightness" or "filter cutoff”. Features: More than 100 presets. MIDI support. inter-App Audio support. Advanced Keyboard section. Expressive Perform Mode with Groove Gate. Tabletop Ready App. Precision Knob mode. Phat, naturalistic unison feature for super thick pads and sweeps. Oscillator Section: 9 Params, 2 General-Purpose Oscillators, 1 Formant Oscillator. Mix Section: 8 Params including Delay Amount and Pulse Width. Envelope Section: Amplitude and Shaper Envelopes. Fully visualized and interactive ADSR plus special Fade Param. Delay/Filter Section: Stereo delay with loss modeling and a punchy overdriven analog-style filter. 3 LFOs: More flexible than your average LFO, this has 4 waveforms, optional delay and repeat count, and can go into the audible frequency range.

Screenshots

apeFilter4 screens
Phase844 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: apeFilter at 100% against Phase84's 57%. apeFilter also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 26 months). Phase84's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). On ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

apeFilter costs $7.99 and Phase84 $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

apeFilter holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 41 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of apeFilter's written reviews are positive against 57% of Phase84's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

apeFilter ships an update every 2 months, Phase84 every 26 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
apeFilter versus Phase84: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterapeFilterPhase84
Price$7.99 — better$12.99
Rating4.8 (33 ratings) — better3.8 (41 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better56.5% of reviews
Number of ratings3341 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 26 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperapeSoftRetronyms Inc

Customer experience

apeFilter

All ratings33 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Phase84

All ratings41 ratings
Positive63.4%
Neutral12.2%
Negative24.4%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive56.5%
Neutral15.2%
Negative28.3%

In-app purchases

None

apeFilter

No in-app purchases

None

Phase84

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is apeFilter free?
apeFilter costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Phase84 free?
Phase84 costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, apeFilter or Phase84?
apeFilter is rated higher. apeFilter averages 4.8 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Phase84 averages 3.8 from 41 ratings.
Do apeFilter or Phase84 have ads?
Neither apeFilter nor Phase84 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, apeFilter or Phase84?
apeFilter ships an update every 2 months, and Phase84 every 26 months. Most recently, apeFilter was updated on October 11, 2026 and Phase84 on October 7, 2026.

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