Comparison

strng vs PolyPhase

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

Head to head
About

strng

This app generates plucked string sounds using a physical modeling synthesis engine. It offers polyphonic voices, a built-in keyboard, and MIDI control. Shape your sound with delay and resonant filters, and integrate with other music apps.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling string synthesis
  • 16 voice polyphony
  • Built-in 25-key keyboard with aftertouch
  • MIDI controller support (USB/Wi-Fi)
  • Stereo ping-pong delay
  • Two-channel resonant filter with LFOs
  • Audiobus, IAA, and AUv3 support
Features
Read full description

Strng is a string synthesiser inspired by the karplus-strong algorithm. The physical modelling starts with a short burst of noise that then guided by a tuned delay buffer and string tension filter, generates plucked string like sounds. No samples are used. Strng is 16 voice polyphonic and can be controlled with an in app 25 key chromatic keyboard or connect prefered midi controller through USB or Wifi. To further shape the sound two post effects are available, a ping-pong stereo delay and two channel resonant filter controlled by two LFOs. Connect to other apps through AudioBus, inter app audio or load in DAWs as AUv3. +++ String synthesis engine +++ 16 voice polyphonic +++ Audiobus, IAA and AUv3 +++ Core MIDI, bluetooth midi and limited MPE +++ 25 multitouch keyboard with aftertouch control +++ Factory presets, save and load your own settings, drag'n drop from files app +++ Aftertouch modulation for attack, sustain, bit crush, resonant filter and detune lfo +++ Stereo ping-pong delay +++ Two channel resonant low pass filter LFOs

About

PolyPhase

Create complex, interwoven melodies and rhythms with a generative sequencer. Control note generation, randomize sequences, and integrate with external MIDI hardware or the included wavetable synthesizer. Save and recall your creations with presets and snapshots.

Highlights
  • Generative melody creation with phase offsets
  • 8 independent sequencers with customizable properties
  • Draw own notes or use intelligent randomization
  • Wavetable synthesizer with FX
  • MIDI output and input support
  • Global Key/Scale filtering and Chord Masks
  • Save/Load presets and Snapshots
Read full description

PolyPhase is a generative sequencer! Melodies on a Master Track are created on the fly & copied, with phase offsets, to Follower Tracks. This structure, along with the interplay of various probabilities, leads to interwoven melodies and rhythms. You can disable the generation of notes & draw your own, or select some of the randomization functions Send MIDI to external hardware, other iOS instruments, or use the included wavetable synthesizer! - 8 independent Sequencers with their own rate, direction, transposition & other properties - Disable the generation of notes to draw your own, or use some of the intelligent functions provided - Random Euclid & Drum Sequences - The Wavetable Synth + FX lets you use PolyPhase even if you don't own any external Instruments - Filter notes to a Global Key / Scale and toggle Chord Masks - Save / Load Presets - Snapshots for install recall of your Sequences - Intelligently Randomize and Morph your Sequences & Synth sounds - Accepts external MIDI clock & can provide clock to other devices - Audiobus (Audio / State) & Inter-App Audio support - Link Support

Screenshots

strng4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: strng at $4.99 against PolyPhase's $19.99. strng also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 76%) and device support (3 vs 1). PolyPhase's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

strng costs $4.99 and PolyPhase $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for strng against 4.6 for PolyPhase. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 35 and 26 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of strng's written reviews are positive against 76% of PolyPhase's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

strng ships an update every 4 months, PolyPhase every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
strng versus PolyPhase: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterstrngPolyPhase
Price$4.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.7 (35 ratings) — better4.6 (26 ratings)
Positive reviews84.4% of reviews — better76.2% of reviews
Number of ratings35 — better26
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better10.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErik SigthMarcos Kohler

Customer experience

strng

All ratings35 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral8.6%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive84.4%
Neutral9.4%
Negative6.3%

PolyPhase

All ratings26 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral14.3%
Negative9.5%

In-app purchases

None

strng

No in-app purchases

None

PolyPhase

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is strng free?
strng costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PolyPhase free?
PolyPhase costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, strng or PolyPhase?
strng is rated higher. strng averages 4.7 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while PolyPhase averages 4.6 from 26 ratings.
Do strng or PolyPhase have ads?
Neither strng nor PolyPhase shows ads.
Which is updated more often, strng or PolyPhase?
strng ships an update every 4 months, and PolyPhase every 3 weeks. Most recently, strng was updated on October 7, 2026 and PolyPhase on October 7, 2026.

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