Comparison

WretchUp vs WoodStepper

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

Head to head
About

WretchUp

This app offers a unique audio manipulation experience, allowing users to create sonic mayhem with pitch-shifted delays, filters, and sampling. It's designed for live performance and studio use, enabling musicians and sound enthusiasts to generate wild noises and unique effects.

Highlights
  • Pitch-shifted delay with feedback and filter
  • Live performance-oriented controls
  • Gesture-based play
  • Record vocals and instruments
  • Sample and manipulate loops
  • Inter-App-Audio and Audiobus support
Features
Read full description

An effect instrument anyone can play - sonic anarchy in the palm of your hand. iOS Mars: "Barely controlled chaos“, "sonic extremes“, "well suited for live use“ Music App Blog: "if you like the occasional dose of sonic mayhem, then this is an app that will let you make it" WretchUp is the sonic instrument from the imagination of Mouse on Mars Instruments. Used by the duo in their live performances, it's a playable effect inspired by analog hardware. Sing into it, speak into it, plug in an instrument, sample sounds, and then make sonic mayhem. It's been tested in Mouse on Mars' live shows and used in studio albums. But now it's available to anyone - whether you're a musician wanting to create unique sounds or you just want to make some wild noises and frighten friends and enemies. // FEATURES - Pitch-shifted delay with feedback and filter - Unique controls, designed to be used in live performance and tested onstage - Play with gestures, even without looking closely at the screen - Record vocals or instruments from the built-in mic or another input - Sample loops and change their speed - Adjust the feedback loop, pitch, and filter for unique sounds - Make inputs by holding down your finger, or lock input for continuous sampling - Inter-App-Audio supported - Audiobus supported www.mouseonmars.com/mominstruments Features artwork by Rupert Smyth. Pure Data-based, open source patch created by Florian Grote and Peter Kirn with Mouse on Mars. App design by Oliver Greschke. Powered by free and open source software libpd. Note: like all mic-based effects, you need to enable microphone input. If you accidentally did not allow mic input, you can allow later via: Device settings, WretchUp, Data settings, Microphone, allow mic input.

About

WoodStepper

This app is a versatile music production tool that combines sequencing, synthesis, and sampling. It offers multiple independent sequencers that can be linked, and each can function as a synth. It supports both standalone use and as a plugin within a DAW.

Highlights
  • 4 independent 8-step sequencers
  • Synth mode for parameter automation
  • Sequencers can be linked for longer patterns
  • Audio and MIDI output
  • Built-in VCOs with modulation
  • Sampling from live input or files
  • Step-based pitch shifting and filtering
Features
Read full description

The WoodStepper is a sequencer/synthesizer/sampler having both audio and midi out. The audio sources can be the track audio, sampled audio (live/track recorded or from file) or the built-in VCO's. The VCO notes can also be set by the Chordulator which finds chord notes in a live stream or recorded track. It consists of 4 independent 8-steps sequencers which can be linked to a 16, 24 or 32 steps sequencer. Each sequencer can independently be set to Synth mode. So WoodStepper can be used in any combinations of sequencers, synths and looper/samplers. Each step can also send 4 midi messages (note on, CC, …) to 2 midi channels. The audio part for each sequencer has a pitch (down) shifter, (Moog lowpass) filter with A(D)SR envelope, saturator, amplitude A(D)SR envelope and delay line which can all be set independently per step. The VCO notes can be set by midi input and WoodStepper has a function to limit the notes produced by VCO + pitch shifters to a specified key and interval scale. The app can be used stand-alone (device audio input and output) or as a plugin in a DAW. The manual can be downloaded from : http://www.woodmansimmaculatemaplesyrupstudio.be/woodstepper/WoodStepperHelp.pdf - IOS plugin type : AUv3 effect, AUv3 instrument and stand-alone app.
 - Has 4 independent 8-steps sequencers.
 - Each of the 4 sequencers can be set to Synth mode, the steps can then be used to automate parameters while playing. - Sequencers can be linked to form 16, 24, or 32 steps sequencer(s).
 - Each sequencer can have a different timing.
 - Steps can be disabled for non 4/4 patterns.
 - Each step can send up to 4 midi messages (+ all previous notes off) on 2 midi channels
 - Audio sources can be the track audio, sampled audio or 3 VCO's (per sequencer).
 - Sampling (audio coming live or from the DAW track) can be armed (per sequencer) with a button or a midi in CC.
 - Samples can also be loaded from file (sample files should be in the WoodStepper iCloud folder) - Each sequencer has it’s own gain, clipping led and brick-wall limiter.
 - VCO’s have the usual waveforms and can be modulated in various ways. - Full polyphonic mode sends 4 subsequent note-ons to the 4 sequencers/synths. - Para-polyphonic mode (per sequencer) sends notes 2&3 to the sequencer/synth VCO's 2&3, giving max 12 voices. - Each sequencer/synth can set the range of receiving midi notes (which allows for up to 4 split keyboard regions). - Each step has a pitch down shifter (sequencer mode only). - Pitch shifters have a glide control.
 - Pitch shifters can be set to a random value (out of a list of scales).
 - Pitch values can be harmonically locked to the Just Scale or the Equally Tempered Scale.
 - VCO + Pitch can be limited to a specified key + interval scale (e.g. C Major Pentatonic) - Each step has a 4-pole Moog Lowpass filter with resonance and ASR (sequencer) or ADSR (synth) envelope.
 - Steps have an additional high-pass filter and a saturation control.
 - All steps have an ASR (sequencer) or ADSR (synth) amplitude envelope and a step gain.
 - Each step has its own delay line with independent timing, feedback, and filtering.
 - Step audio and delay can be panned independently per step.
 - Sequencers can be started manually, started with the DAW transport, start after receiving a midi note or start audio gated. - Sequencers can be stopped manually or after a number of bars have been played. - A “Play 1 Step” button allows to finetune step settings
 - An “All Steps” button allows to set the same parameter value in all steps.
 - Has a global Dry-Wet, Input gain and Output gain control.
 - Presets can be stored in iCloud Drive (makes them available on all your devices).
 - Presets can be switched with Midi Program Changes or with the "Next Preset" button when running. - Major controls can be set with Midi CC messages. - Ableton Link can synchronise tempo, phase and start-stop with other Ableton Link enabled apps.

Screenshots

WretchUp3 screens
WoodStepper1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: WoodStepper at 4.3 against WretchUp's 3.1. WretchUp's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 57%) and price ($4.99 vs $10.99). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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

WretchUp costs $4.99 and WoodStepper $10.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WoodStepper holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 12 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of WretchUp's written reviews are positive against 57% of WoodStepper's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
WretchUp versus WoodStepper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWretchUpWoodStepper
Price$4.99 — better$10.99
Rating3.1 (9 ratings)4.3 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews — better57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings912 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better11.4
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMoMinstruments GbRWoodman's Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio

Customer experience

WretchUp

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

WoodStepper

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

None

WretchUp

No in-app purchases

None

WoodStepper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WretchUp free?
WretchUp costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is WoodStepper free?
WoodStepper costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WretchUp or WoodStepper?
WoodStepper is rated higher. WretchUp averages 3.1 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while WoodStepper averages 4.3 from 12 ratings.
Do WretchUp or WoodStepper have ads?
Neither WretchUp nor WoodStepper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WretchUp or WoodStepper?
WretchUp ships an update every 3 weeks, and WoodStepper every 3 weeks. Most recently, WretchUp was updated on November 1, 2026 and WoodStepper on November 3, 2026.

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