# KORG iM1 vs FM Essential

The clearest difference is price: FM Essential at Free against KORG iM1's $29.99. FM Essential also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). KORG iM1's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and review sentiment (82% vs 40%). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

FM Essential is free to download; KORG iM1 costs $29.99 up front. KORG iM1 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. FM Essential asks for nothing beyond the download.

KORG iM1 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KORG iM1 has 1K ratings behind it against 70, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of KORG iM1's written reviews are positive against 40% of FM Essential's.

KORG iM1 ships an update every 7 months, FM Essential every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KORG iM1 | FM Essential |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $29.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-im1/id966030326/reviews)** | [3.0 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 70 |
| Positive reviews | **81.5% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 200 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KORG INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363714046) | [Yamaha Corporation of America](https://appshunter.io/developer/408058585) |

## What reviewers say

### KORG iM1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-im1/id966030326)

This app faithfully reproduces the legendary M1 synthesizer, offering its iconic sounds and expanded features for modern music creation. It provides a vast library of presets and intuitive performance tools, making it accessible to both experienced musicians and beginners.

**Highlights:** Faithful reproduction of original M1 sound, Expanded filter resonance and 18 effects, Gigantic library of 3,300 sounds, Intuitive KAOSS pad for performance, Smart Sound Browser for quick sound selection, Compatible with KORG Gadget

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| M1 Cards Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| T1 Cards Pack | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Authentic M1 sound reproduction
- 💰 Great value for money
- 🎹 Faithful recreation of the original hardware
- 🎨 Powerful sound customization options
- 🔗 Works well with MIDI controllers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or stability issues
- 🔇 Low output volume compared to other apps
- 🤔 Confusing UI for patch editing and saving
- 🔴 Missing AUv3 support for integration with DAWs

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing or missing purchased sound cards
- Bluetooth MIDI connectivity issues
- Compatibility problems with certain iOS versions or devices

**Requested features**

- Add AUv3 support for better DAW integration
- Improve preset management and saving capabilities
- Increase master volume control options
- Expand sound library with more cards/expansions


### FM Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614)

This app is an FM tone generator and synthesizer for iPhone and iPad, offering real-time performance capabilities and voice editing. It includes a variety of presets, arpeggiator patterns, chord pads, and scales, along with drum functionalities. The app also supports external hardware integration and advanced sound manipulation through effects, EQ, and a ball controller.

**Highlights:** FM tone generator, Real-time synth performance, Voice editing, Arpeggiator and chord pads, Effects and EQ edit, Ball controller for sound modulation, Step sequencer

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Fantastic sound quality
- 👍 Easy to use
- ✨ Amazing synth capabilities
- 💡 Great FM synth app
- 🎵 Wonderful, flexible, intuitive synth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔓 App locked by hardware
- 🔌 Connection issues
- 💸 Expensive hardware required
- ❓ Deceptive free app
- 😩 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Does not unlock with USB-C adapter
- App crashes when loading combinations
- Preset menus crash the app
- Combined Sounds no longer read from keyboard after iPad update
- Instruments stop working if effect filters are turned off

**Requested features**

- Unlock without hardware purchase
- Allow in-app purchase to unlock
- Bring back Tenori On apps
- Fix LFO delay parameter
- Add separate volume control for drums


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KORG iM1 free?

KORG iM1 costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is FM Essential free?

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

### Which has better reviews, KORG iM1 or FM Essential?

KORG iM1 is rated higher. KORG iM1 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while FM Essential averages 3.0 from 70 ratings.

### Do KORG iM1 or FM Essential have ads?

Neither KORG iM1 nor FM Essential shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KORG iM1 or FM Essential?

KORG iM1 ships an update every 7 months, and FM Essential every 15 months. Most recently, KORG iM1 was updated on October 30, 2026 and FM Essential on October 22, 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.*