# PhaseRings vs AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PhaseRings at none against AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's 6. PhaseRings also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). On price and review sentiment there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AudioKit Digital D1 Synth sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. PhaseRings asks for nothing beyond the download.

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AudioKit Digital D1 Synth has 2K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of PhaseRings's written reviews are positive against 76% of AudioKit Digital D1 Synth's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PhaseRings ships an update every 5 months, AudioKit Digital D1 Synth every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 7, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhaseRings | AudioKit Digital D1 Synth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phaserings/id924795988/reviews) | **[4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-digital-d1-synth/id1436905540/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 76.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 6 MB | 636 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Charles Martin](https://appshunter.io/developer/560849533) | [Audiobus Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/672585101) |

## What reviewers say

### PhaseRings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phaserings/id924795988)

Create expressive music with intuitive touch gestures. Explore various sound schemes and generative composition tools to craft unique musical pieces. Supports MIDI and Audiobus for advanced integration.

**Highlights:** Expressive touch gesture music creation, Seven unique sound schemes, Generative composition engine, Customizable pitch compositions, Core MIDI support, AudioBus and Inter-App Audio support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### AudioKit Digital D1 Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-digital-d1-synth/id1436905540)

This app is a virtual analog and PCM synthesizer for iPad, inspired by the digital synthesizers of the 80s and 90s. It offers a vast library of presets, advanced synthesis features, and built-in effects for creating rich, retro-inspired sounds.

**Highlights:** 64-voice hybrid digital poly synthesis, 1GB+ of original samples, Stand-alone, IAA, and AUv3 support, Vintage-style arp/step sequencer, 3 LFOs with fun routings, Dual independent per-layer filters, Built-in FX suite

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly premium | $9.99 | per year |
| D1 PCM Expansion-01 | Free | one-time |
| Platinum Expansion PCM EXP-01 | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Excellent sound quality
- 🎹 Versatile and inspiring presets
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💰 Great value for the price
- 🔥 Cutting-edge digital synthesis

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Lack of Audio Unit (AUv3) support
- 🤔 Some presets not easily usable
- 🕰️ Slow loading times in certain DAWs

**Reported bugs**

- Presets not loading correctly
- MIDI note dropouts and latency
- Crashes when used with certain DAWs
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add Audio Unit (AUv3) support
- Improve MIDI integration and responsiveness
- Implement a built-in recording/sampling feature
- Expand preset library with more genres and styles
- Add more sound design controls and modulation options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhaseRings free?

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

### Is AudioKit Digital D1 Synth free?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PhaseRings or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth is rated higher. PhaseRings averages 4.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while AudioKit Digital D1 Synth averages 4.8 from 2K ratings.

### Do PhaseRings or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth have ads?

AudioKit Digital D1 Synth shows ads; PhaseRings does not.

### Which is updated more often, PhaseRings or AudioKit Digital D1 Synth?

PhaseRings ships an update every 5 months, and AudioKit Digital D1 Synth every 3 weeks. Most recently, PhaseRings was updated on July 7, 2026 and AudioKit Digital D1 Synth on September 25, 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.*