Comparison

Beat Station vs CR

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

Head to head
About

Beat Station

This app provides a versatile drum machine for musicians, offering realistic drum sets and extensive loop libraries. It allows for real-time control of song sections and hands-free operation via a Bluetooth MIDI pedalboard, enhancing practice, production, and live performance.

Highlights
  • Realistic drum sets
  • Extensive drum loop library
  • Multiple control modes (Loop, Pedal, Song)
  • Bluetooth MIDI pedalboard support
  • Inter-App Audio and background audio
  • Export songs as audio files
  • MIDI implementation and DAW integration
Features
Read full description

The Beat Station is a rhythm machine for practicing guitar, bass, keyboard, or any type of instrument, and also brings to production and live performance the ease of not requiring live drums and a drummer. You can control verse, chorus, transition, fill, intro, and outro sections using different modes of operation. Connect Bluetooth MIDI Pedalboard lets you control all sections hands-free. When you hear the rhythm patterns and start to control them live, it is truly like a versatile drummer playing along with you. LOOP MODE Easily play rhythm patterns with loop pads. Each rhythm style includes 12 rhythm patterns: intro, verse, chorus, six fills, two transitions, and outro. You can switch rhythm patterns in real-time as needed during your performance. PEDAL MODE You can use the Pedal mode to play rhythm patterns with four footswitches. By using a Bluetooth MIDI pedalboard, you can perform operational tasks without having to take your hands off of your instrument. SONG MODE You can connect rhythm patterns to create a complete drum track that's appropriate for your own song, and play it automatically. Features • 6 ultra-realistic drum sets • Over 1700 drum loops, 136 rhythm styles in 15 genres • Easily play rhythm patterns with three modes • Inter-App Audio support • Audio background mode • Export your songs as audio files • Full MIDI implementation • MIDI Controller support • MIDI Learn • Send MIDI to DAW or other apps • Ableton Link integration • Keep your projects up to date across all devices using iCloud -------- Beat Station Pro Subscription - Get All Genres of Rhythm (Over 1700 Drum Loops) - Unlimited Projects - Export Audio - MIDI Output • $2.99(USD)/Month  • $22.99(USD)/Year Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. PRIVACY POLICY: https://sonarmusic.app/beatstation/privacy/ TERMS OF USE: https://sonarmusic.app/beatstation/terms/

About

CR

This app transforms your device into a pocket beat-making companion, inspired by the simplicity and raw heritage of eighties analog drum machines. It offers a pure interface with high-quality samples, combinable patterns, and various arranger variations for creating rhythms.

Highlights
  • 12 Original high quality double-samples
  • 24 Combinable preset patterns
  • 8 Preset fill-ins
  • 7 Arranger variations
  • Shuffle mode (3/4 signature)
  • Background audio playback
  • Audiobus V3 and InterApp audio support
Features
Read full description

Holding the simplicity of eighties instruments and carrying their raw heritage to you, it turns your device into a pocket beat making companion. I believe that designing a pure interface, simply displaying your machine without any distraction, was the best way to reflect the spirit of the period it was born. Main characteristics : - 12 Original high quality double-samples - 24 Combinable preset patterns - 8 Preset fill-ins - 7 Arranger variations - 2 Rhythm memory registers - Shuffle mode (3/4 signature) - Separated voice section volumes - Adjustable instruments accentuation - Full machine state auto-save - Background audio playback enabled - Audiobus V3 - InterApp audio - AudioUnit - Midi - Bluetooth LE Bonuses accessible in your device settings : - Alter the way the patterns are played simultaneously - Alternative « Rock » drum kit with integrated effects - Built-in instruments effects : « Stereo pan » and « Jungle tune » - Built-in audio effects : « Equalizer » and « Distortion » - Built-in global effects : « Delay » and « Reverb » - Mute any instrument - Prevent any instrument from being affected by accents - 3 Synchronized register auto-switching modes I hope you will enjoy it as much as I love it ;-)

Screenshots

Beat Station4 screens
CR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Beat Station at Free against CR's $1.99. Beat Station also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (500 vs 10). CR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and rating (4.9 vs 4.5). On ads 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

Beat Station is free to download; CR costs $1.99 up front. Beat Station sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. CR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CR holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beat Station has 500 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Beat Station's written reviews are positive against 75% of CR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Beat Station ships an update every 5 weeks, CR every 8 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Beat Station versus CR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeat StationCR
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.5 (500 ratings)4.9 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.9% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings500 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionPaid — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSonar MultimediaDavid Rochaix

Customer experience

Beat Station

All ratings496 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews144 reviews
Positive63.9%
Neutral13.9%
Negative22.2%

CR

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%

Bugs and requests

Beat Station

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Subscription issues (unable to restore purchases)
  • App freezing or closing unexpectedly
  • Blank tutorial screens
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between beats

Requested features

5 requests
  • More beat variety (Latin, jazz, waltz, etc.)
  • Ability to import custom drum samples
  • Tempo and style changes within a song
  • Midi export option
  • Better tutorial and customer support

CR

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Beat Station

Subscriptions2
  • Beat Station Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Beat Station Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$22.991 Year
One-time1
  • Beat Station Pro (Lifetime)$59.99
None

CR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Beat Station free?
Beat Station is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CR free?
CR costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Beat Station or CR?
CR is rated higher. Beat Station averages 4.5 out of 5 from 500 ratings, while CR averages 4.9 from 10 ratings.
Do Beat Station or CR have ads?
Neither Beat Station nor CR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Beat Station or CR?
Beat Station ships an update every 5 weeks, and CR every 8 months. Most recently, Beat Station was updated on November 11, 2026 and CR on November 11, 2026.

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