# KORG iM1 vs kontakt smart controller

The clearest difference is price: kontakt smart controller at $14.99 against KORG iM1's $29.99. kontakt smart controller also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). KORG iM1's advantage is ratings volume (1K vs 1) and update cadence (every 7 months vs every 25 months). On ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

KORG iM1 costs $29.99 and kontakt smart controller $14.99 up front. KORG iM1 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. kontakt smart controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

kontakt smart controller holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KORG iM1 has 1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

KORG iM1 ships an update every 7 months, kontakt smart controller every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KORG iM1 | kontakt smart controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $29.99 | **$14.99** |
| Rating | [4.7 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-im1/id966030326/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kontakt-smart-controller/id1560447225/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 25 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#117** | #190 |
| Size | 200 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [KORG INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363714046) | [9390-0801 Quebec inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1517759983) |

## What reviewers say

### KORG iM1

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

**Currently charting:** #117 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

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


### kontakt smart controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kontakt-smart-controller/id1560447225)

**Currently charting:** #190 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Control your music software's sound banks, transpose, octave, and pitch bend directly from your mobile device. Offers an intuitive interface for managing up to 128 sounds per bank.

**Highlights:** Control bank sounds (128 per bank), Transpose control, Octave control, Pitch bend control, Scale control, Intuitive graphic interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KORG iM1 free?

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

### Is kontakt smart controller free?

kontakt smart controller costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, KORG iM1 or kontakt smart controller?

kontakt smart controller is rated higher. KORG iM1 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while kontakt smart controller averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do KORG iM1 or kontakt smart controller have ads?

Neither KORG iM1 nor kontakt smart controller shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KORG iM1 or kontakt smart controller?

KORG iM1 ships an update every 7 months, and kontakt smart controller every 25 months. Most recently, KORG iM1 was updated on September 27, 2026 and kontakt smart controller on September 8, 2026.

### Which is more popular, KORG iM1 or kontakt smart controller?

KORG iM1 currently peaks at #117 in the App Store charts, and kontakt smart controller at #190. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*