Comparison

Soft Drummer vs Etherpad

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

Head to head
About

Soft Drummer

This app provides natural acoustic drum sounds and improvises musically with warm grooves for various genres. It offers multi-track MIDI export, live pad performance, and synchronization with other apps. Create rhythmic structures for songs quickly and control parameters via MIDI.

Highlights
  • Natural acoustic drum sounds
  • Improvise musically
  • Multi-track MIDI export
  • Live performance pads
  • Ableton Link synchronization
  • MIDI control and output
  • Song mode for rhythmic structures
Features
Read full description

Soft Drummer is your subtle session drummer, and now it works as an AUv3 plugin inside GarageBand, AUM, Loopy Pro or your favourite DAW. It doesn't loop. It improvises. With brushes, hot rods and hands, Soft Drummer generates warm, musical grooves for ballads, soft pop, jazz and latin, adapting in real time like a real session player. No patterns. No repetition. AUv3 Use Soft Drummer as a plugin in any AUv3 host. Send and receive grooves between Soft Drummer, Pop Drummer and iBassist. Sync everything in real time. SOUND More than 50 multilayer sounds with 3 hit types (ghost, accented, drag/open) × 3 Round Robin alternating samples for natural, authentic feel. 4 playing styles: Brushes, Hot Rods, Hands and Mallets. 4 Effects: Compressor/Gate, EQ, Delay and Reverb with individual track control. LIVE PERFORMANCE 8 assignable Live Pads for fills, intros and endings, playable live or with any MIDI controller (iRig Blueboard and 4-button compatible). Ableton Link sync for tight integration with your setup. SONG MODE Build your song structure in seconds. Arrange rhythmic sections and let Soft Drummer follow your song from intro to outro. MIDI MIDI Out, MIDI Sync (Legacy, recommended Ableton Link), Sound Module (Play individual sounds by MIDI In). ⏺ Assignable MIDI controls (default mapping): - Transport: Play: G2 · Fill: C2 · Fill + Play/Stop: A2 · Tap Tempo: Bb2 - LivePads: Pads 1–8: C1–G1 · Load LivePad: C3 · Previous LivePad: Db3 · Next LivePad: D3 · Select LivePad Set: Eb3 · Fill on LivePad Change: E2 - Performance: Toggle Hats/Ride: Db2 · Fill + Toggle Hats/Ride: D2 · Toggle Snare: Eb2 · Crash Cymbal: B2 · Random: B1 - Songs: Previous: Gb2 · Next: Ab2 - Continuous controls: Jam: CC1 · Intensity: CC2 · Master Volume: CC7 · Swing: CC11 · Progression: CC12 · Tempo Fader: CC20 · Reverb: CC91 - Sound selection: Bank: CC32 · Rhythm: CC0 · Soundset: Program Change All assignments are user-remappable. Note octave naming follows the Logic / Cubase / Ableton / Pro Tools convention (middle C = C3) and is adjustable in MIDI Setup → OCTAVE REFERENCE. Tempo Fader is standalone-only (host-driven in AUv3). EXPORT Multi-Track or Full Mix export in seconds. Audio, MIDI or with Effects , your choice. TRY FOR FREE Soft 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 more limitations. Unlock everything with a one-time purchase, no subscription.

About

Etherpad

Create evolving soundscapes and ambient textures with an intuitive touch-based music synthesizer. Explore generative music without needing music theory, perfect for relaxation or creative expression.

Highlights
  • Multi-touch synthesis
  • Multiple sound presets
  • Visual particle effects
  • Effect overlays
  • Scale selection
  • Landscape & portrait modes
  • Low-latency audio
Features
Read full description

Etherpad is an expressive touch-based music synthesis instrument for iPhone, iPad and your Mac. Sweep your fingers across the screen to create evolving soundscapes, ambient drones, and generative textures. (AUv3 support in Beta) Powered by the legendary Csound audio engine, Etherpad turns your device into a portable synthesizer that responds to every touch with rich, organic sound. No music theory required — just touch, listen, and explore. KEY FEATURES • Multi-touch synthesis — Each finger controls pitch and timbre independently • Distinct Soundscapes — Switch between evolving pad sounds and textures • Reactive Visuals — ripples, trails, rings, and column glow respond to every touch • 14 evolving sounds — from lush pads to Glass Choir, PWM Pad, and Morphwave • Advanced Scales & Tuning — Break out of standard keys and explore the Bohlen-Pierce scale, overtone series, pentatonics, and more • Jam Sessions — Load your own audio tracks directly into the app and play along with your creative flow • MIDI 2.0 — per-note expression and full MIDI support for connected controllers (Beta) • AUv3 plug-in — play Etherpad inside Logic Pro, GarageBand, AUM, and other hosts (Beta) • Ultra Low-latency audio — Built on Csound, the industry-standard audio engine PERFECT FOR • Ambient and drone musicians • Meditation and relaxation • Beginners exploring sound synthesis • Live performers and improvisers • Sound designers and experimental composers • Anyone curious about generative music Website: https://etherpad.app Touch the surface. Hear the universe.

Screenshots

Soft Drummer4 screens
Etherpad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Etherpad at none against Soft Drummer's 7. Etherpad also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Soft Drummer's advantage is ratings volume (509 vs 20). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Soft Drummer sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Etherpad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Etherpad holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Soft Drummer has 509 ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Soft Drummer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Etherpad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Soft Drummer ships an update every 2 months, Etherpad every 2 days. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Soft Drummer versus Etherpad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSoft DrummerEtherpad
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (509 ratings)4.9 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews91.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings509 — better20
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS16 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.3 GB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLumbeatDinesh Yadav

Customer experience

Soft Drummer

All ratings509 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral3.5%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews607 reviews
Positive91.3%
Neutral4.4%
Negative4.3%

Etherpad

All ratings20 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Soft Drummer

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Song mode issues, including crashes and missing features
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions and devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for time signatures beyond 4/4
  • Improve MIDI integration and control
  • Implement audio/MIDI export options
  • Provide preset management and organization

Etherpad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Soft Drummer

One-time7
  • Big & Low$3.99
  • Presence$3.99
  • Raw Brush$3.99
Show 4 more
  • Tight Control$3.99
  • Clayton$4.99
  • Joe$4.99
  • Soft Drummer Full Access$22.99
None

Etherpad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Soft Drummer free?
Soft Drummer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Etherpad free?
Etherpad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Soft Drummer or Etherpad?
Etherpad is rated higher. Soft Drummer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 509 ratings, while Etherpad averages 4.9 from 20 ratings.
Do Soft Drummer or Etherpad have ads?
Neither Soft Drummer nor Etherpad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Soft Drummer or Etherpad?
Soft Drummer ships an update every 2 months, and Etherpad every 2 days. Most recently, Soft Drummer was updated on September 22, 2026 and Etherpad on September 22, 2026.

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