Comparison

pttrN for drummers vs maxChord

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

Head to head
About

pttrN for drummers

This app generates and plays an infinite variety of one-bar drum grooves in various time signatures. Customize snare placement, note density, and add a virtual bass player for a complete rhythmic experience.

Highlights
  • Random pattern generation
  • Multiple time signatures (4/4, 3/4, 5/4, 12/8, 7/8)
  • Customizable snare placement
  • Adjustable note density
  • Virtual bass player
  • Auto-change for continuous grooves
Features
Read full description

« pttrN for drummers » is a random pattern generator. It creates and plays an infinite number of one bar grooves in 4/4, 3/4, 5/4, 12/8 and 7/8. Choose your Hi-Hat figure, pttrN takes care of everything else ! Settings : - You can add a snare drum on 2 and 4, or 3. In « FREE » mode, the snare placement is random. - You can choose the maximum number of notes in a row (2 by default). - Choose the level : « EASY » mode generates 8th note grooves. MEDIUM, NORMAL and HARD modes generate 16th note grooves with different note density in one bar. (« NORMAL » means that the probability for a snare, a kick or a silence is equal). PttrN plays the patterns, and for even more FUN, you can have a virtual bass player ! Set your own mix between the metronome, the drums sound and the bass. Don’t stop drumming : Use the AUTO-CHANGE and set the number of bars before pttrN generates a new groove ! Let’s groove !!

About

maxChord

Read full description

Chords under your thumb. maxChord turns chord progressions into something you play with one hand. The pads are laid out in whatever key you choose, so everything you touch is already in tune. Tap one to play it. Hold it and drag, and the chord morphs — sevenths, sus, diminished, extensions — each one a direction rather than a menu. Common notes keep ringing while the rest move, so a progression bends instead of jumping. Then build the song. PLAY • Eight chord pads, in key, labelled with roman numerals • Drag any pad in eight directions to morph it live • Chord Lock keeps a variation as the pad's new resting chord • Inversions, slash chords, and automatic voice leading • Three modes: Chords, Arpeggiator, and Lead SEQUENCE • Multi-track sequencer built from chord tiles, not a note grid • Split, resize, and drag tiles to build rhythm by feel • Sixteen patterns, chained into sections to arrange a whole song • Per-track instrument, octave, volume, arpeggiator rate, and effects • Record from the pads or from a MIDI controller in real time SOUND • Sampled instruments: grand piano, upright, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, vibraphone, harp, strings, brass, nylon guitar, church organ, and choir • A fifteen-voice analogue synth bank with real filter envelopes and oscillator detune • Eight effects — drive, filter, chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, delay, reverb — per track and across the whole mix, each swept with a single thumb CONNECT • MIDI in and out, including per-track output • Clock sync in both directions • Play maxChord from a controller, or drive Logic, Ableton, or GarageBand from it maxChord has no account, no ads, and no analytics. It does not collect your data, and it works entirely offline. Your songs live on your device and can be exported to a single file whenever you want them somewhere else. Made for people who hear the chord before they can name it. — maxChord Pro unlocks everything after a 3-day free trial: €1.99/month, €9.99/year, or €22.99 once for lifetime access. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends, and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://maximumschmidt.github.io/maxchord-site/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

pttrN for drummers4 screens
maxChord4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: maxChord at Free against pttrN for drummers's $4.99. maxChord also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 7 months). pttrN for drummers's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads 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

maxChord is free to download; pttrN for drummers costs $4.99 up front. maxChord sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. pttrN for drummers asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

pttrN for drummers ships an update every 7 months, maxChord every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
pttrN for drummers versus maxChord: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpttrN for drummersmaxChord
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB317 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDidier OttavianiMaximilian Schmidt

In-app purchases

None

pttrN for drummers

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

maxChord

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is pttrN for drummers free?
pttrN for drummers costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is maxChord free?
maxChord is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do pttrN for drummers or maxChord have ads?
Neither pttrN for drummers nor maxChord shows ads.
Which is updated more often, pttrN for drummers or maxChord?
pttrN for drummers ships an update every 7 months, and maxChord every 10 days. Most recently, pttrN for drummers was updated on October 24, 2026 and maxChord on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons