# modstep vs Phosphor 3

The clearest difference is rating: Phosphor 3 at 4.7 against modstep's 2.8. Phosphor 3 also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 46%) and price ($5.99 vs $9.99). modstep's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (39 vs 9). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

modstep costs $9.99 and Phosphor 3 $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Phosphor 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of modstep's written reviews are positive against 79% of Phosphor 3's.

modstep ships an update every 3 weeks, Phosphor 3 every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | modstep | Phosphor 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$5.99** |
| Rating | [2.8 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/modstep/id966990643/reviews) | **[4.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phosphor-3/id1499115553/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **39** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | **78.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 99 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Blomert](https://appshunter.io/developer/385949478) | [Audio Damage, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1248448317) |

## What reviewers say

### modstep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/modstep/id966990643)

Create music with a powerful MIDI sequencer for iPad. Control external hardware, IAA apps, and Audio Units. Features unlimited tracks, real-time editing, and integrated synths/samplers for on-the-go or studio production.

**Highlights:** Session-style MIDI sequencer, Unlimited tracks and scenes, Real-time editing and modulation, Integrated synth and sampler, IAA and Audio Unit integration, Ableton Link sync, MIDI and Audio export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎛️ Powerful MIDI sequencing capabilities
- 🎨 Clean and polished user interface design
- 🔗 Excellent integration with external hardware and IAA/AU apps
- 🎵 Ableton Live-like clip launching workflow
- 🎚️ Extensive automation and CC control options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- ⏸️ App appears abandoned with no recent updates
- 🔌 IAA/AU instrument loading causes crashes
- 📖 Poor documentation and lack of tutorials
- 🎚️ Confusing and unintuitive user interface

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when loading external IAA/AU instruments
- Constant clicking sound with metronome off
- Projects fail to load or require multiple restart attempts
- MIDI input routing ignores channel settings
- Track names change when using 'save as' function

**Requested features**

- Undo/redo functionality
- MIDI import capability
- Pre-roll for recording
- Dedicated mixer with send/returns
- Audio loop recording and playback


### Phosphor 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phosphor-3/id1499115553)

This app recreates a vintage digital synthesizer, offering a faithful emulation of a classic sound engine. It includes modern features like MPE, extensive modulation, and a new UI for sonic exploration.

**Highlights:** Vintage digital synthesizer emulation, Additive synthesis engine, MPE support, Extensive modulation routing, Preset manager, Tuning tables

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is modstep free?

modstep costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Phosphor 3 free?

Phosphor 3 costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, modstep or Phosphor 3?

Phosphor 3 is rated higher. modstep averages 2.8 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while Phosphor 3 averages 4.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do modstep or Phosphor 3 have ads?

Neither modstep nor Phosphor 3 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, modstep or Phosphor 3?

modstep ships an update every 3 weeks, and Phosphor 3 every 11 months. Most recently, modstep was updated on June 10, 2026 and Phosphor 3 on July 6, 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.*