Beat Station vs Cloudtape
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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/
Cloudtape
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Cloudtape turns the music folders in your Dropbox into a proper music library on your iPhone. Pick the folders, let it sync, and it all plays from the phone itself: on a plane, underground, anywhere. Nothing streams. Every track is downloaded before it plays, so there's no buffering and no data used while you listen. PLAYS FROM YOUR PHONE • Syncs only the folders you pick, and keeps them up to date in the background • Notices when you move or rename a folder in Dropbox, instead of downloading it all again • Plays MP3, AAC, M4A, ALAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF and audiobooks (M4B) • Disconnect Dropbox or let the trial run out, and everything already on the phone keeps playing PLAYS PROPERLY • Browse by album, artist and song, the way the Music app does • Picks up where you left off in long DJ sets and audiobooks, per file • A scrubber drawn from the track's own waveform • Playlists, lyrics from your files, a sleep timer and volume levelling STAYS OUT OF YOUR WAY • Only reads your Dropbox. It never writes, moves or deletes anything there • Shows the music already on your iPhone in the same library • Scrobbles to Last.fm if you want it, including plays made offline • No account, no ads, no tracking PRICE Free for 14 days, counted from your first sync. After that, one payment keeps syncing on for good. There's no subscription, and Family Sharing is included.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Cloudtape at every 2 days against Beat Station's every 5 weeks. Beat Station's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Beat Station sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Cloudtape sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Beat Station ships an update every 5 weeks, Cloudtape every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Beat Station | Cloudtape |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (496 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 63.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 496 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 209 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sonar Multimedia | Believe Labs |
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
Cloudtape
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Beat Station
- Beat Station Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Beat Station Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$22.991 Year
- Beat Station Pro (Lifetime)$59.99
Cloudtape
- Lifetime Unlock$2.99
Questions
Is Beat Station free?
Is Cloudtape free?
Do Beat Station or Cloudtape have ads?
Which is updated more often, Beat Station or Cloudtape?
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