Comparison

PdParty vs plugdata

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

Head to head
About

PdParty

This app allows users to run Pure Data patches on iOS devices, enabling custom digital signal processing. It supports OSC, MIDI, and game controller input, offering a WYSIWYG experience for creating multimedia applications.

Highlights
  • Run Pure Data patches on iOS
  • Supports OSC, MIDI, and game controller input
  • Native Pd GUI objects for WYSIWYG
  • Built-in web server for patch management
  • General purpose digital signal processing platform
Features
Read full description

PdParty is an open-source iOS application for running Pure Data patches on Apple mobile devices using libpd. Directly inspired by Chris McCormick's PdDroidParty and the original RjDj by Reality Jockey, PdParty takes a step further by supporting OSC (Open Sound Control), MIDI, & MiFi game controller input as well as implementing the native Pd GUI objects for a WYSIWYG patch to mobile device experience. Various scene types are supported including compatibility modes for PdDroidParty & RjDj and both patches and abstraction libraries can be managed via a built-in web server. Unlike the rise of the single-purpose audio application, PdParty is meant to provide a platform for general purpose digital signal processing via Pure Data patches. Getting Started --------------- New users, check out the User Guide and download the PdParty Composer Pack which contains the abstractions you need when composing on your computer as well as scene type templates. See the PdParty webpage: http://danomatika.com/code/pdparty Who Is This App For? -------------------- PdParty is meant as a platform for running patches created in Pure Data, a graphical programming environment for multimedia. Related to Max MSP, Pure Data allows computer musicians and non-programmers to create custom DSP routines by connecting objects with virtual patch cables. If you don't intend to create your own PdParty scenes or run scenes provided by others, you may not find this app very useful. Please _do not_ download this app and give it a bad rating because you are unsure of what it's for or how to use it. How Can I Support PdParty? -------------------------- In the spirit of the open-source Pure Data community, PdParty is provided for free on the Apple App Store. If you wish to support its author and or PdParty development, consider having your institution sponsor a PdParty workshop, specific development, or a robotcowboy artist residency. Updating -------- See the changelog on the PdParty website for detailed version info. To update the included PdParty patch folders (lib, samples, tests) after installing a new version, use the buttons at the bottom of the Settings page.

About

plugdata

This app provides a visual programming environment for audio experimentation, prototyping, and education. It allows users to create and run audio patches on their mobile devices, enabling creative sound design on the go.

Highlights
  • Visual programming environment
  • Audio experimentation
  • Prototyping
  • Educational tool
  • Standalone application
  • Audio plugins
Features
Read full description

plugdata is visual programming environment for audio experimentation, prototyping and education. With plugdata for iOS, you can bring your plugdata patches with you everywhere you go. This app ships with a standalone application and audio plugins.

Screenshots

PdParty4 screens
plugdata2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PdParty at 5.0 against plugdata's 4.4. PdParty also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 67%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PdParty holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of PdParty's written reviews are positive against 67% of plugdata's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and July 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PdParty versus plugdata: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPdPartyplugdata
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (16 ratings) — better4.4 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings1617 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB147 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel WilcoxTimothy Schoen

Customer experience

PdParty

All ratings16 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%

plugdata

All ratings17 ratings
Positive82.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%

In-app purchases

None

PdParty

No in-app purchases

None

plugdata

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PdParty free?
PdParty is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is plugdata free?
plugdata is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PdParty or plugdata?
PdParty is rated higher. PdParty averages 5.0 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while plugdata averages 4.4 from 17 ratings.
Do PdParty or plugdata have ads?
Neither PdParty nor plugdata shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PdParty or plugdata?
PdParty ships an update every 3 months, and plugdata every 3 months. Most recently, PdParty was updated on September 21, 2026 and plugdata on July 20, 2026.

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