Metronome vs Impulse
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Metronome
This application provides a highly accurate metronome with nanosecond precision. It supports background playback, allowing you to continue using it while multitasking or with your screen off.
- Nanosecond precision timing
- Background playback support
- High accuracy algorithms
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1. Use new algorithms to keep the metronome high precision. 2. Support playing in background mode.
Impulse
This app provides a highly accurate and customizable metronome for musicians. It allows users to program complex beat patterns, including subdivisions and rests, with a clear visual interface to understand rhythmic structures. Ideal for serious musicians looking to refine their timing and explore intricate rhythms.
- Visual subdivision editor
- Complex beat pattern programming
- Up to 100 beats per measure
- 20 subdivisions per beat
- Tempo range 10-600 BPM
- Sample-level accuracy
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Impulse is the metronome that lets you program virtually any combination of downbeats, upbeats, subdivisions, and rests. The UI shows you exactly where each beat and subdivision is located in time, helping you better understand complex rhythms. Impulse is also accurate to 0.00002 seconds, making it one of the most stable metronomes on iOS. Impulse is the ideal choice for the serious musician who wants to take their rhythm game to the next level. Features: - Visual subdivision editor - Up to 100 beats per measure and 20 subdivisions per beat - Program virtually any beat pattern & time signature you can think of - Tempo range of 10 - 600 BPM - Accurate to 0.00002 seconds (sample-level accuracy) - Tap for tempo - Simple & easy to understand
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Impulse at none against Metronome's 1. Impulse also leads on ratings volume (945 vs 89) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Metronome's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and 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
Both are free to download. Metronome sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Impulse asks for nothing beyond the download.
Impulse holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Impulse has 945 ratings behind it against 89, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Metronome's written reviews are positive against 92% of Impulse's.
Metronome ships an update every 2 months, Impulse monthly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.
| Parameter | Metronome | Impulse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (89 ratings) | 4.7 (945 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.2% of reviews | 91.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 89 | 945 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 海 林 | Coda Labs Incorporated |
Customer experience
Metronome
Impulse
Bugs and requests
Metronome
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Impulse
Reported bugs
3 issues- Fourth beat type not changing sound properly
- Metronome stops working when switching apps
- No sound on some devices
Requested features
7 requests- Ability to create and name custom presets
- Different colors for downbeats
- Quick toggle for sound on/off
- Support for odd time signatures
- Ableton Link/MIDI sync
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- Ability to import custom sounds
- Countdown timer before metronome starts
In-app purchases
Metronome
- Metronome$1.99
Impulse
No in-app purchases
