Comparison

synthQ vs Briiks

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

Head to head
About

synthQ

This music creation tool for iPad offers a unique module queuing system and a customizable interface for dynamic sound design. Create complex sounds with virtual cables, a resizable keyboard, and a wide array of modules for production, performance, and education.

Highlights
  • Customizable module queuing system
  • Virtual cable-based modulation
  • Resizable multi-octave keyboard
  • Extensive module library (oscillators, envelopes, filters, FX)
  • Ableton Link support
  • MIDI input/output
  • Preset sharing and import
Features
Read full description

Introducing the queuing synthesizer for iPad. SynthQ has been designed from the ground up with the touchscreen interface in mind. SynthQ is a subtractive synthesizer with a customizable interface. A unique module queuing system, resizable multi-octave keyboard, and intuitive cable-based modulation controls offer a truly dynamic music-making experience for iOS. Each part of the synth is separated into units called modules. Each module snaps into place along a scrollable surface above the keyboard. Control the number of modules shown on the screen at any time. Control which modules appear for each sound. Tap a button on the module menu to launch a module and add it to the queue. Drag a module up and release to remove it from the queue. Drag a module down to move it within the queue. Add variability to your sound by connecting different modules using virtual cables. Alter the sound with synthQ's movable keys. SynthQ provides an intuitive and engaging way to get started creating your own sounds, and is ideal for production, performance and music education environments. Full feature list: MODULES: —three oscillators — sine, triangle, saw, square, pulse and resonant noise waves —three adsrs — amp, filter and modulation envelopes —filter with lowpass, hipass, bandpass, band-reject and peak filter modes —glide —frequency modulation oscillator —ring modulation oscillator —eight modulation bays with virtual cables enable interactions between modules —three tempo-syncable LFOs with sine, triangle, saw, reverse saw, square, random curve and random step waves —two XY matrix pads —XY keys module turns the keyboard's movable keys into modulation sources —sequencer module with Ableton Link support and built-in arpeggiator mode —vocoder using microphone or Inter-App Audio Effect input —two FX slots with chorus, flanger, phaser, reverb, tremolo, distortion, delay and bitcrush —analog simulation with soft clipping and random pitch wavering —midi module with pitch bender, modwheel and velocity —master volume control INTERFACE: —multi-octave resizable keyboard with 10-voice polyphonic, monophonic and legato modes —optional "sticky keys" mode locks each key to your finger after being pressed —when used as a modulation source, sound can be altered by moving the keys in different directions —unique rearrangeable module queuing area defines which controls are present per preset —fully featured preset menu system with options to share and import via e-mail or iTunes File Sharing —import presets directly from iOS mail by tapping and holding the attachment and pressing "Open in synthQ" —functional graphic design and layout eliminates screen switching by keeping the control modules and keyboard in constant view OTHER FEATURES: —Audiobus 3 support with Inter-App Audio —A=432Hz, A=440Hz and A=444Hz tuning modes —44100k Hz, 32000 Hz and 22050 Hz sampling rate modes —MIDI input and output per channel —basic recording feature to save, play, loop, and share recordings —import .WAV files from iTunes File Sharing for playback —parallax motion effects Follow @synthQ on Twitter for latest announcements and free preset packs, updated regularly! Share your presets with the developer for a chance to get them added to an official update!

About

Briiks

Manipulate audio loops non-destructively with this sampler. Rearrange, combine, and modify slices on the fly using various tools for pitch, time, and position adjustments. Features include multiple tracks, a built-in mixer, and bus effects.

Highlights
  • Non-destructive sample slicing
  • Rearrange and combine loops
  • On-the-fly modification of slices
  • Up to 6 tracks
  • Built-in mixer
  • Delay and compressor on buses
Features
Read full description

AUv3 and standalone sample-loops manipulator.  BRIIKS is non destructive sample slicer, you can rearrange and combine your loops on the fly. Modify start points, slice length, pitch, time stretch on the fly. - Up to 6 tracks to rearrange slices. - Built in mIxer. - 4 busses and main output. - Delay and compressor on every bus. 6 tools: - SELECT Change slice position, start point and length. Change slice track. - STRETCH Change pitch and time stretch by dragging start and end point. - HAND Change sample start point without change the slice position. - SLICER Chop from the source sample or form the selected slice. - PENCIL Replicate selected slice, Snap to slice and zero cross.

Screenshots

Briiks3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Briiks at Free against synthQ's $5.99. Briiks also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and device support (3 vs 1). synthQ's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). On review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

Briiks is free to download; synthQ costs $5.99 up front. Briiks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. synthQ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Briiks holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 20 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of synthQ's written reviews are positive against 73% of Briiks's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

synthQ ships an update every 3 months, Briiks every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
synthQ versus Briiks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametersynthQBriiks
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (13 ratings)4.7 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better72.7% of reviews
Number of ratings1320 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size78 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChris NivenLuis Rivas

Customer experience

synthQ

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral25.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative8.0%

Briiks

All ratings20 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

None

synthQ

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Briiks

One-time1
  • Briiks Complete$6.99

Questions

Is synthQ free?
synthQ costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Briiks free?
Briiks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, synthQ or Briiks?
Briiks is rated higher. synthQ averages 4.2 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Briiks averages 4.7 from 20 ratings.
Do synthQ or Briiks have ads?
Neither synthQ nor Briiks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, synthQ or Briiks?
synthQ ships an update every 3 months, and Briiks every 7 months. Most recently, synthQ was updated on October 1, 2026 and Briiks on October 2, 2026.

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