Iqa'at vs Darbuka Beats
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Iqa'at
Explore over 80 Arabic rhythms categorized by style, featuring authentic Middle Eastern percussion. Adjust tempo smoothly and practice loops. Includes a help section for musical notation.
- 80+ Iqa'a rhythms
- 6 rhythm categories
- Adjustable tempo
- Authentic percussion sounds
- Auto-looping practice
- Help page for notation
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- Contains over 80 Iqa'a grouped in categories. - Contains 6 Rhythm Categories: Sha'abi (Folk), Khaliji, Dabke, Taqsim, Muwashahat and Kuwaiti. - Ability to smoothly change the tempo of the playing rhythm without affecting its quality. - Rhythms played on different percussion instruments of the Middle East, like Derbake, Riqq, Bandir, Tabl Baladi, Tabl Bahri, Tar. - The selected rhythm will auto loop in order to practice it. - Contains a Help page for users who are not familiar with Staff notation or musical symbols. Note: - Most of the rhythms are showed and played in skeleton form as the goal of the app is to learn the Middle Eastern rhythms.
Darbuka Beats
This app provides authentic Middle Eastern and Oriental rhythms for musicians, producers, and dancers. It features a wide variety of traditional loops, dynamic performance tools, and custom loop import. Seamlessly integrate with DAWs and external controllers for live shows and studio production.
- Over 30 authentic Arabic, Middle Eastern, and Oriental rhythms
- Dynamic performance tools for live feel
- AUv3 and Ableton Link support
- Import custom WAV loops with iCloud backup
- Set lists for live performances
- MIDI Learn integration
- Built-in recording and sharing
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Darbuka Beats: Play Authentic Middle Eastern Rhythms at Your Fingertips Unleash the spirit of the Middle East with Darbuka Beats, the ultimate drum machine app for belly dancers, musicians, and producers! Dive into a vibrant world of authentic Arabic, Middle Eastern, and Oriental rhythms, expertly crafted for both practice and performance. Features: • Authentic Loops: Explore over 30 traditional and modern rhythms, including Maksoum, Saidi, Baladi, Ciftetelli, Ayoub, Rumba, Malfuf, Dabkeh, Samai, and many more. • Dynamic Performance Tools: Play intros, variations, fills, endings, and layer percussion elements for a live, humanized feel. • AUv3 Support: Seamlessly integrate with your favorite AUv3-compatible DAWs for a streamlined production workflow. • Custom Loop Import with iCloud Backup: Add your personal touch by importing your own WAV loops—and keep them safe with iCloud backup of your custom content. • Set Lists for Live Shows: Organize your songs and rhythms for flawless live performances. • MIDI Learn Integration: Map and control virtually every feature using your external MIDI controller. • Tap or Lock Tempo: Stay perfectly in sync with easy tempo tapping or locking. • Smooth Transitions: Fade in, fade out, insert breaks, and end rhythms cleanly for seamless transitions. • Ableton Link Support: Sync effortlessly with other apps and devices for collaborative sessions. • Record and Share: Capture your performances or studio sessions with built-in output recording. Rhythms Included: Fox, Maksoum, Zaffa, Ayoub, Ciftetelli, Gypsy, Wahda, Katakufti, Saidi, Balon, Malfuf, Dossary, Laff, Sama’i, Shrh, Waltz 3/4, Choby Dabkeh, Sirya, Adani, Haja3, Jerk, Rumba, Slow, Sodasi, Techno, Shaban, Chobi, Gorgina, Baladi, Rai, Masmudi, Swing Oriental, Tableh, Arabi, Setati, Tagil, Bandari, Iraqi, Samri, and more — including unique 3/4 Rai rhythms! Whether you're dancing, performing live, or producing music in the studio, Darbuka Beats gives you the authentic grooves you need to move and inspire. Download now and feel the rhythm of tradition — and innovation!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Iqa'at at 86% against Darbuka Beats's 40%. Iqa'at also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 18.0). Darbuka Beats's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, ratings volume, 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. Iqa'at sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Darbuka Beats sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Darbuka Beats holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 47 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Iqa'at's written reviews are positive against 40% of Darbuka Beats's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Iqa'at ships an update every 2 weeks, Darbuka Beats weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Iqa'at | Darbuka Beats |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (22 ratings) | 4.7 (47 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better | 40.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 22 | 47 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 308 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MuSikah, LLC | Sonic Market |
Customer experience
Iqa'at
Darbuka Beats
In-app purchases
Iqa'at
- Unlock 25 Muwashahat Rhythm$3.99
- Unlock 32 Kuwaiti Rhythm$7.99
Darbuka Beats
- Darbuka Beats Factory Rhythms$1.99
- Darbuka Beats Factory Rhythms$3.99
Questions
Is Iqa'at free?
Is Darbuka Beats free?
Which has better reviews, Iqa'at or Darbuka Beats?
Do Iqa'at or Darbuka Beats have ads?
Which is updated more often, Iqa'at or Darbuka Beats?
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