Comparison

LK vs TouchOSC

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

Head to head
About

LK

This application acts as a remote control for Ableton Live and MIDI devices, enhancing electronic music production and live performance. It offers deep integration with Ableton Live and extensive MIDI capabilities for controlling software and hardware. The app is modular, with features available as separate in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Ableton Live integration
  • MIDI device control
  • Clip launching and sequencing
  • Device parameter control
  • Virtual MIDI and AUv3 support
  • Modular in-app purchases
Features
Read full description

LK is a flexible remote control application for Ableton Live and MIDI devices, providing a wide range of features and functionality to enhance the production and live performance of electronic music. LK offers tight integration with Ableton Live using our free UBRIDGE desktop application, providing access and control of Ableton Live projects, with both wired and wireless connection options. LK has extensive MIDI capabilities too, allowing for communication and control of any MIDI compliant software or hardware, even apps running on the same device thanks to virtual MIDI support and AUv3 integration too. LK is split into six unique modules, each available as a separate in-app purchase, offering great value that you can tailor to your specific needs. LK is also capable of connecting with USB MIDI interfaces which allows you to interact with external gear. To connect LK to your host computer you will need to download and install a free software utility called UBRIDGE on your computer. It is available for Windows and macOS and it can be downloaded from Imaginando website. See our setup guide for further details in LK’s product page. MATRIX MODULE - Live Mode - In Live mode, you can control almost every aspect of Ableton Live directly from LK. The app mirrors your session view, allowing you to launch clips, add tracks and scenes, arm, solo, and mute tracks, and adjust track monitoring, volume, pan, and cue settings on the master track. You can create and edit clips with the powerful built-in clip composer, featuring tools like scales, swing, humanize, horizontal and vertical mirroring, time-shifting notes, pitch swapping, transposing, and even chord and melody generation within a defined range. LK also enables device control within each track, offering a range of generic layouts for quick access and instant parameter adjustments, so you can modify settings without needing to interact directly with your computer. - MIDI Mode - In MIDI mode, LK enhances workflow with a flexible, independent sequencing environment for streamlined composition and arrangement. Users can create and manage MIDI clips per track, arrange scenes, and send MIDI to other software or hardware. When loaded as an AUv3 in hosts like AUM, LK sequences and coordinates various instruments, perfect for complex setups and live performances. Essential editing tools like signatures, scales and transformative tools simplify MIDI editing, while automation and generative tools enable dynamic compositions. Follow actions and probability settings further smooth transitions, making performance arrangements seamless and spontaneous—all within a single, powerful interface. PADS MODULE - Get the MPC feel on your touchscreen with PADS, featuring an arpeggiator and a chorder. When working in Ableton Live mode it automatically maps drum rack pad names to each pad on the app - never miss a pad again. Use it in MIDI mode to quickly play other synth apps. CONTROLLER MODULE - Extensive control of 128 parameters with CONTROLLER. Use assignable and customisable knobs, faders, buttons and pads to control MIDI hardware, desktop and mobile DAWs - now with the power of AUv3 integration too. X/Y MODULE - Three dimensional parameter tweaking with X/Y PAD. This module can work with CC or NOTE events. In CC mode, a CC can be assigned per axis. In NOTE mode, X is pitch, Y is velocity and Z is Note ON/ Note OFF. CHORDER MODULE - Play chords like never before with the CHORDER module. Use this chord generator to build chords and lay them out according to your needs. KEYBOARD MODULE - KEYBOARD features 3-axis expression capabilities with scale and range controls. It also allows the possibility of mapping any Live or MIDI CC parameters to be controlled by the X and Y position within each of the keys, providing additional expression to the performance. It also has an MPE mode so you can use it with your favorite MPE compatible synths.

About

TouchOSC

This app provides a powerful and flexible modular control surface for MIDI and OSC messages. It features a GPU-powered editor for creating complex layouts, cross-network synchronized editing, and a scripting engine for deep customization. It's designed for musicians and audio professionals seeking advanced control over their digital audio workstations and other compatible software.

Highlights
  • Modular control surface
  • Powerful integrated editor
  • MIDI and OSC message support
  • Cross-network synchronized editing
  • Scripting engine for customization
  • Wired & wireless MIDI connections
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Brand-new app. Brand-new powerful editor. We've listened for the past 10 years and we've re-written the application from the ground up - with speed, features and usability in mind. A GPU-powered, fast and advanced integrated editor is part of TouchOSC on all platforms - create the most complex of control layouts with ease and precision. MIDI, OSC and more... TouchOSC supports sending and receiving any number of MIDI and OSC messages on many connections simultaneously. On top of OSC over UDP & TCP, we support every type of wired & wireless MIDI connection your device can offer, including MIDI over USB. Cross-Network. Synchronized editing. Multiple instances of TouchOSC can be connected on the network for synchronized editing. Use the precision of your desktop's mouse and keyboard for fine-grained, detailed editing - test-drive and preview in real-time on all connected touch-screen devices at the same time. Scripting and local messages. A lightweight and fast scripting engine allows deep access to all aspects of your controller and enables limitless customization and interactivity. For less complex tasks we've added local messages - simply wire up controls to transmit or display values; no need to break out the big (code) guns. Easy. This is only the beginning... We've supported and updated TouchOSC Mk1 for more than 10 years and we're planning to do the same for this new version. We've already got a whole bunch of features cooking that were just not quite ready yet. There is so much more to come... Welcome to the next generation!

Screenshots

LK4 screens
TouchOSC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LK at Free against TouchOSC's $19.99. LK also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (708 vs 232). TouchOSC's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On review sentiment, ads and device support 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

LK is free to download; TouchOSC costs $19.99 up front. LK sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. TouchOSC asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TouchOSC holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 708 and 232 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of LK's written reviews are positive against 72% of TouchOSC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LK ships an update fortnightly, TouchOSC every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
LK versus TouchOSC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLKTouchOSC
PriceFree — better$19.99
Rating4.3 (708 ratings)4.6 (232 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.3% of reviews71.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings708 — better232
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#102 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperImaginando LdaHexler LLC

Customer experience

LK

All ratings708 ratings
Positive82.6%
Neutral4.8%
Negative12.6%
Written reviews392 reviews
Positive64.3%
Neutral7.4%
Negative28.3%

TouchOSC

All ratings232 ratings
Positive90.1%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews99 reviews
Positive71.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative19.2%

User reviews

LK

From 708 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works perfectly
  • 🎹 Great for Ableton Live
  • 🎨 Powerful features
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 💯 Excellent app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🔌 Connection issues and unreliable wireless
  • 💰 Expensive with separate module purchases
  • 🤔 Confusing setup and documentation
  • 🔋 High battery drain

TouchOSC

From 232 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎛️ Highly customizable control surfaces
  • 💡 Powerful Lua scripting capabilities
  • 🔄 Cross-platform compatibility
  • ⚡ Stable and reliable performance
  • 🎨 Built-in editor for real-time design

Room to improve

  • 📖 Poor documentation and manual
  • 🎓 Steep learning curve for beginners
  • 🖱️ Clunky and unintuitive UI/UX
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and connection issues
  • 📱 Limited Bluetooth MIDI support on iOS

Bugs and requests

LK

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Clip renaming tool not working
  • Occasional MIDI note sticking
  • UI disappearing and requiring restart
  • Wireless connection randomly dropping
  • Exclusive track arming mode issues

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add MIDI CC mapping and automation
  • Implement vertical view for session mode
  • Allow saving and loading of custom settings
  • Improve MIDI note and velocity handling
  • Add MIDI transformers and generators
Show 1 more
  • Provide a discounted bundle for all modules

TouchOSC

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes and won't reopen
  • Connection drops between iPad and computer
  • OSC not transmitting despite showing connected
  • Screen goes blank when typing text
  • Document tree scrolling jumps erratically
Show 7 more
  • Pen input unresponsive on iPad
  • Control surfaces appearing upside down
  • Inconsistent mirror editing from desktop
  • MIDI over USB connection issues on Windows
  • Automatic 'untitled' file creation on connection
  • Studio One integration failures
  • Logic Pro mapping inconsistencies

Requested features

17 requests
  • Bluetooth MIDI support on iOS devices
  • VST/AU plugin version for DAWs
  • Better documentation and video tutorials
  • Cross-control scripting capabilities
  • Image and background customization
Show 12 more
  • Global variables for state management
  • Improved document tree navigation
  • Batch editing for multiple controls
  • Real-time cloud synchronization
  • Radial radio button controls
  • Audio analyzer for frequency/BPM detection
  • Background mode operation
  • Joycon controller support
  • NRPN MIDI support
  • Better grid snapping options
  • Position lock for interface elements
  • Standalone app compilation/export

In-app purchases

8 purchases

LK

One-time8
  • Unlock Chorder$4.99
  • Unlock MIDI Pads$4.99
  • Unlock MIDI Controller$4.99
Show 5 more
  • Unlock X/Y Pad$4.99
  • Unlock Keyboard$4.99
  • Unlock Step Sequencer$7.99
  • Unlock Matrix$9.99
  • All Modules Bundle$39.90
None

TouchOSC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LK free?
LK is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TouchOSC free?
TouchOSC costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, LK or TouchOSC?
TouchOSC is rated higher. LK averages 4.3 out of 5 from 708 ratings, while TouchOSC averages 4.6 from 232 ratings.
Do LK or TouchOSC have ads?
Neither LK nor TouchOSC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LK or TouchOSC?
LK ships an update fortnightly, and TouchOSC every 6 weeks. Most recently, LK was updated on October 18, 2026 and TouchOSC on October 16, 2026.

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