Comparison

Rhythm Machine vs Pop Drummer

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

Head to head
About

Rhythm Machine

Features
Read full description

“Rhythm Machine” is a really helpful assistant for rehearsing music. Much better than a simple metronome, a drum machine plays complex rhythms you want to learn or delivers the perfect groove for your session: - With a few simple clicks you can program complex drum rhythms. - All time signatures from 6/8 to 6/4 are possible and combinable. - You can use four different patterns to make a song arrangement. These patterns can run one after the other or at the same time! - Arrangements can be loaded, saved and sent or imported via email! This is a really perfect tool for every music teacher. - High-quality audio samples produce a really authentic drum sound. (Best to use with earplugs or a hi-fi system) - A short video tutorial is included! The "Lite Version“ is free: Download now, try it and have fun!

About

Pop Drummer

This app provides realistic acoustic drum sounds and editable grooves for musicians and creators. It offers multiple drummer styles, live performance pads, and extensive customization options for creating and performing pop rhythms. Supports AUv3 and standalone use.

Highlights
  • Realistic acoustic drum kits
  • Editable and customizable grooves
  • Multiple drummer styles
  • Live performance pads
  • AUv3 and standalone compatibility
  • MIDI control and export
  • Song arrangement mode
Features
Read full description

Pop Drummer is your new virtual drummer for practicing, creating, and performing pop rhythms like never before. Designed for musicians, producers, and creators who want real acoustic drum sounds, loops, and total control, now with long-awaited AUv3 support. Discover authentic acoustic drum kits and fully editable grooves that play with the nuance and feel of a real drummer. Whether you’re rehearsing, jamming at home, or performing live, Pop Drummer becomes your personal drummer, tight, dynamic, and always ready to jam. Key Features: Standalone & AUv3 Compatible – Use Pop Drummer inside your favorite DAW or as a standalone app. Pop Drum Grooves – Hundreds of preloaded grooves organized by feel, making it easy to find and customize the perfect rhythm. Three drummers in one: Gover (Smooth Pop Precision), Cindy (Creative Flow), and Beaton (Raw British Energy). Each drummer brings a unique feel to improvisations, jams, and fills, no matter which rhythm you choose. Enjoy more variety and flexibility in your grooves. Switch styles to match your music or spark new ideas. Live Pads – Trigger fills, switch grooves, and jam in real time with on-screen pads or MIDI controls. Customizable Midi Controls - Assign any function to your MIDI controller for a personalized workflow. Easily adapt Pop Drummer to your studio setup or live rig. Jam – Add human feel and spontaneity to your grooves with dynamic variations and perfectly timed fills that match the groove’s feel. Jam Effects – Reverb and delay that jam with you, adding color and movement as they evolve with your chosen intensity. Drum Kit Customizable – A visual drum layout lets you select and mix acoustic sounds to create your perfect kit. AUv3 Sound Module – Use Pop Drummer as a professional drum sound source inside any AUv3-compatible host. Trigger its acoustic kits from your own MIDI tracks or electronic drum pads for ultimate flexibility. Send Reverb – Apply individual reverb to each drum element for precise space and depth control. Song Mode – Easily arrange full song structures using custom parts, combining grooves, jam levels, and jam effects for dynamic, expressive compositions. Humanize Velocity – Add natural dynamics and realistic human feel to every groove. Rhythm Editor – Create and tweak your own beats quickly. Export MIDI & Audio – Instantly export your grooves as full mix or multi-track audio, and get MIDI files to use your own sounds in any setup. Native iOS Instrument – Fully optimized for iPhone and iPad. Ableton Link – Sync effortlessly with other lumbeat drummers, apps and devices over Wi-Fi for tight, tempo-locked jamming and recording. Try for Free Pop Drummer is free to explore for 7 days with access to all features. Some actions are limited during the trial (exports, random grooves, sound changes and bars per session). After the trial, keep playing with limited features. Unlock the Full Version with a one-time purchase, no subscription. Studio Mix is sold separately.

Screenshots

Rhythm Machine4 screens
Pop Drummer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pop Drummer at fortnightly against Rhythm Machine's every 4 months. Rhythm Machine's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Rhythm Machine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pop Drummer sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rhythm Machine ships an update every 4 months, Pop Drummer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Rhythm Machine versus Pop Drummer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRhythm MachinePop Drummer
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (241 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—91.6% of reviews
Number of ratings—241 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better16
Further details — not scored
Size106 MB366 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoachim SendelbachLumbeat

Bugs and requests

Rhythm Machine

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pop Drummer

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • MIDI not working with some apps

Requested features

2 requests
  • Tap tempo MIDI control
  • Cross-stick MIDI control

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Rhythm Machine

One-time1
  • Rhythm Machine Pro$2.99
2 purchases

Pop Drummer

One-time2
  • Studio Mix$8.99
  • Pop Drummer Full Access$22.99

Questions

Is Rhythm Machine free?
Rhythm Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pop Drummer free?
Pop Drummer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Rhythm Machine or Pop Drummer have ads?
Neither Rhythm Machine nor Pop Drummer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rhythm Machine or Pop Drummer?
Rhythm Machine ships an update every 4 months, and Pop Drummer fortnightly. Most recently, Rhythm Machine was updated on October 26, 2026 and Pop Drummer on October 28, 2026.

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