# DRC vs Viking Synth

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Viking Synth at none against DRC's 13. Viking Synth also leads on price ($3.99 vs $8.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). DRC's advantage is ratings volume (657 vs 41) and review sentiment (84% vs 71%). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

DRC costs $8.99 and Viking Synth $3.99 up front. DRC sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Viking Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for DRC against 4.7 for Viking Synth. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DRC has 657 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of DRC's written reviews are positive against 71% of Viking Synth's.

DRC ships an update every 2 months, Viking Synth every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DRC | Viking Synth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **$3.99** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (657 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drc-polyphonic-synthesizer/id973055710/reviews)** | [4.7 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viking-synth/id1085274012/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **657** | 41 |
| Positive reviews | **83.8% of reviews** | 71.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 132 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Imaginando Lda](https://appshunter.io/developer/895445015) | [Blamsoft, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1051938244) |

## What reviewers say

### DRC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drc-polyphonic-synthesizer/id973055710)

This virtual analog synthesizer offers classic analog sound design with a user-friendly interface. Explore rich sonic textures and create unique patches with its versatile oscillators, filters, and built-in effects. Compatible with popular music production apps.

**Highlights:** AUv3 compatible, Up to 8 voices, Multi-wave oscillators, 4 pole self resonant low pass Ladder Filter, Stereo Tape Delay, Lush Stereo Reverb, Arpeggiator

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Sonic Alchemy | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pop Essentials | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Factory Expansion | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Sounds From Outer Space | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Iconic Sounds Vol. 1 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Iconic Sounds Vol. 2 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Iconic Sounds Vol. 3 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Constellations Toolkit | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Iconic Sounds Vol. 4 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Electric Sheep Dreams | $3.99 | one-time |
| Timeless And Untamed | $3.99 | one-time |
| Dynamic Resonant Cycles | $7.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Synth Engine | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Incredible sound quality
- 🔒 Stable and reliable
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Versatile and powerful
- 👍 Excellent preset library

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases required for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent behavior when restoring purchases
- Compatibility issues with some iOS versions or devices

**Requested features**

- Bluetooth MIDI support
- More advanced modulation options
- Improved preset management and organization


### Viking Synth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/viking-synth/id1085274012)

This app emulates a classic monophonic analog synthesizer with advanced DSP technology. It features three variable wave oscillators, dual ladder filters, an LFO, and two modulation busses for versatile sound design.  An intuitive interface and extensive preset library make it ideal for creating thick bass and rich lead sounds.

**Highlights:** Three continuously variable wave oscillators, Dual ladder filters (Lowpass/Highpass), Multi-wave LFO, Two modulation busses, Intuitive user interface with expandable controls, 228 presets including Bass, Lead, and Synthwave, State-of-the-art DSP for authentic sound

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Great sound quality
- 💡 Versatile sound options
- 💰 Excellent value (free)
- 💻 Lightweight and efficient
- 🎹 Good for learning synthesis

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❓ Preset issues
- 🔌 Not a standalone app
- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 💾 Settings not saving
- 🤷‍♂️ Difficult to find/use

**Reported bugs**

- Presets not showing up
- Presets disappear
- App not showing in AUv3 menu
- Settings not saving after iOS 14 update
- Crashes when opening presets browser

**Requested features**

- More subtle drive mode
- Categorized preset browser
- Polyphony option
- Dark mode
- More apps from developer


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DRC free?

DRC costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Viking Synth free?

Viking Synth costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DRC or Viking Synth?

DRC is rated higher. DRC averages 4.7 out of 5 from 657 ratings, while Viking Synth averages 4.7 from 41 ratings.

### Do DRC or Viking Synth have ads?

Neither DRC nor Viking Synth shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DRC or Viking Synth?

DRC ships an update every 2 months, and Viking Synth every 4 months. Most recently, DRC was updated on October 22, 2026 and Viking Synth on October 20, 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.*