# SoftPads vs Drone Pad

SoftPads and Drone Pad both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 81% of SoftPads's written reviews are positive against 36% of Drone Pad's. SoftPads also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 18.0). Drone Pad's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and ratings volume (178 vs 41). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Drone Pad is free to download; SoftPads costs $4.99 up front. Drone Pad sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. SoftPads asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for SoftPads against 4.5 for Drone Pad. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 178 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of SoftPads's written reviews are positive against 36% of Drone Pad's.

SoftPads ships an update every 3 weeks, Drone Pad monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SoftPads | Drone Pad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softpads-background-loop-pads/id1362791362/reviews) | **[4.5 (178 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drone-pad-ambient-soundscape/id1642952073/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 41 | **178** |
| Positive reviews | **81.1% of reviews** | 35.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 216 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Forward Sounds, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362791361) | [TAQS.IM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457405202) |

## What reviewers say

### SoftPads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softpads-background-loop-pads/id1362791362)

This app provides ambient background loops for musicians to fill sonic gaps during performances. It offers a variety of high-quality pad sounds that can be layered and customized, with options to save and recall combinations for set lists. Enhance your live sound with a versatile and easy-to-use tool.

**Highlights:** 10+ ambient loop pad sounds, Selectable in 12 musical keys, Layer multiple sounds for unique combinations, Save and recall pad combinations, Create and save set lists, Customizable background colors, Enhanced stage viewing mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Drone Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drone-pad-ambient-soundscape/id1642952073)

Create immersive soundscapes with a vast library of atmospheric drone sounds and dynamic drum loops. Layer, customize, and enhance your audio with built-in effects and import your own sounds. Seamlessly integrate with DAWs and sync with Ableton Link for live performances.

**Highlights:** Expansive drone sound library, Drum loops for multiple genres, Layer, play, and customize sounds, Import custom sounds (KMP, SFZ), AUv3 support for DAWs, Advanced effects section, Ableton Link support, Record and share sessions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TAQS.IM Monthly Premium Access | $5.99 | per month |
| TAQS.IM Yearly Premium Access | $19.99 | per year |
| TAQS.IM Yearly PRO Access | $29.49 | per year |
| Rock Drum Beats & Grooves | $0.99 | one-time |
| Blues & Ballads Drum Loops | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cajon Conga Rhythms | $0.99 | one-time |
| Analog Pads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ethereal Voices | $2.99 | one-time |
| Drone Pad Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |
| Drone Pad Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SoftPads free?

SoftPads costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Drone Pad free?

Drone Pad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SoftPads or Drone Pad?

Drone Pad is rated higher. SoftPads averages 4.5 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Drone Pad averages 4.5 from 178 ratings.

### Do SoftPads or Drone Pad have ads?

Neither SoftPads nor Drone Pad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SoftPads or Drone Pad?

SoftPads ships an update every 3 weeks, and Drone Pad monthly. Most recently, SoftPads was updated on November 11, 2026 and Drone Pad on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*