# CR vs Pulsar

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pulsar at every 3 weeks against CR's every 7 months. Pulsar also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and price ($4.99 vs $5.99). CR's advantage is review sentiment (90% vs 67%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

CR costs $5.99 and Pulsar $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Pulsar holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 90% of CR's written reviews are positive against 67% of Pulsar's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CR ships an update every 7 months, Pulsar every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CR | Pulsar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **$4.99** |
| Rating | [4.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cr-8k/id1441966351/reviews) | **[4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-es-drum-machine/id1661825756/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **90.0% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 23 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Rochaix](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441966350) | [Dmytro Kiro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621893756) |

## What reviewers say

### CR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cr-8k/id1441966351)

This app transforms your device into a pocket beat-making companion, inspired by the simplicity and raw heritage of 1980s instruments. It offers a pure interface for creating rhythms with a variety of samples, patterns, and effects.

**Highlights:** 13 original high-quality double-samples, 24 combinable preset patterns, 8 programmable patterns, Shuffle mode (3/4 signature), Background audio playback, Audiobus V3 and InterApp audio support, Built-in instrument and audio effects

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pulsar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-es-drum-machine/id1661825756)

This music app provides a virtual drum machine with 8 pads for improvising and playing along to built-in rhythm presets. It features real-time rhythm switching, tempo control, and various effects. It also supports Ableton Link and MIDI for seamless integration with other music software and hardware.

**Highlights:** 8-pad drum machine, Built-in rhythm presets, Real-time rhythm switching, Tempo and accent control, Drive, reverb, and filter effects, Ableton Link synchronization, MIDI In/Out support, AUv3 compatibility

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CR free?

CR costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pulsar free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CR or Pulsar?

Pulsar is rated higher. CR averages 4.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Pulsar averages 4.3 from 7 ratings.

### Do CR or Pulsar have ads?

Neither CR nor Pulsar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CR or Pulsar?

CR ships an update every 7 months, and Pulsar every 3 weeks. Most recently, CR was updated on October 13, 2026 and Pulsar on October 17, 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.*