Comparison

Poly Metronome vs k

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

Head to head
About

Poly Metronome

Master rhythm with a precise metronome offering advanced features like subdivisions and polyrhythms. Create complex patterns, save setups, and train your timing with built-in tools. Visual, flash, and vibrate modes ensure you stay on beat in any environment.

Highlights
  • Subdivisions per beat
  • Polyrhythm creation
  • Programmable setlists
  • Coach Trainer with mute
  • Automator tempo progression
  • Visual, flash, and vibrate modes
Features
Read full description

Poly Metronome is a precise, modern practice tool for musicians who want more than just a click. Set any time signature, shape odd meters with accent groupings, layer polyrhythms, then save your setups as presets and setlists — or build up speed with practice sessions that track your progress. A clean interface scales from iPhone to iPad, with a live pulse ring that shows every voice and accent at a glance — and stays in sync with the sound on the speaker, headphones, AirPods or AirPlay. FREE FEATURES • Studio-grade timing engine, 1–800 BPM • Any time signature: 1–32 beats per bar, counted in quarter or eighth notes — 5/4, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8 and more • Accents and groupings such as 2+2+3 for odd meters • Two-voice polyrhythms such as 3:2 or 4:7 • Count-in before playback • Tap tempo and manual BPM entry • Vibration and LED flash on the beat (iPhone) • Foot pedal and Bluetooth keyboard control • Siri and Shortcuts: start, stop and set the tempo hands-free • Lock Screen, Dynamic Island and Control Center controls • AirPlay and Bluetooth speakers, with a latency notice • Searchable user guide with live examples • Ad-free, with dark, light or system theme PRO FEATURES — one-time purchase, Family Sharing supported • Up to 5 polyrhythm voices, each with its own sound, color, accents and pattern • 18 sound banks (10 metronome + 8 polyrhythm) • 16 built-in rhythm patterns and a custom pattern editor with real notation — even a different subdivision on every beat • Presets: create, edit and duplicate, with notes such as the key or capo shown on stage • Setlists: songs in order, each with its own tempo, notes and auto-advance on the downbeat — the app reopens on the same song if it closes mid-gig • Practice sessions: Coach mutes bars to test your inner time, Automator ramps the tempo by bars or seconds, and session goals keep you on track • Practice log: day streak, minutes per day and your top-tempo progress • Siri and Spotlight for your presets, practices and setlists • iCloud sync across all your devices Ideal for drummers, guitarists, pianists, singers, dancers and any musician serious about timing.

About

k

This metronome app helps users master complex rhythms by applying Karnatic rhythmic principles to Western music. It offers advanced features like tuplets, polyrhythms, and flexible sequence design for interactive practice.

Highlights
  • Tuplets (pulse divisions) from 2 to 13
  • Triplet phrasing and randomisation
  • Triplet groupings and accents
  • Fade feature for advanced polyrhythms
  • Nested tuplets
  • Flexible user sequence design
  • Polyrhythm chains (e.g., 4:5)
  • Video tutorials and keyboard shortcuts
Features
Read full description

The purpose of this metronome is to eventually eliminate the need for itself. The goal, of course, is to master the exercises without the help of an electronic aid. Until then, this tool may offer some support. Please keep in mind, however, that the primary function of the k-metronome is to facilitate the application of Karnatic (South Indian) rhythmic principles to Western music. # Features - Tuplets, or pulse divisions (gati or nadai), ranging from 2 to 13 - Tuplet phrasing (tuplet randomisation to help ultimately master the rhythm pyramid) - Tuplet groupings or accents applied to tuplets (jathis) - Fade feature to practise groupings or advanced polyrhythmic chains - Nested tuplets - Flexible user sequence design based on numbers, paving the way for various creative approaches to - practice - Polyrhythm chains, e.g. 4:5, 5:3, 20:3 - Video tutorials and how-tos - Keyboard shortcuts - Presets can be stored locally, exported and shared Please note that any parameter changes will take effect on the next beat. Combined with keyboard shortcuts, this feature offers great flexibility for interactive practice, distinguishing it from other metronome apps. This practice tool aims to be helpful for students of the "Applications of Karnatic (South Indian) Rhythm to Western Music" programme at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. It may also inspire other musicians who want to explore the intricate world of rhythm and enhance their skills through the solid methodology laid out in Rafael Reina’s book Applying Karnatic Rhythmical Techniques to Western Music (Routledge, 2015). Of course, the primary credit goes to the incredibly rich karnatic and Hindustani traditions and to the brilliant musicians who have shaped this unique musical art form. One of the most outstanding mridangam players and konnakol artists of his generation is B. C. Manjunath. He is also well known for his contributions to the worlds of jazz and contemporary music, for example through his work with Aka Moon, Riccardo Nova, and many others. At its core, k-metronome is designed from a Western pedagogical perspective, while drawing deeply on Karnatic rhythmic principles.

Screenshots

Poly Metronome4 screens
k4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: k at 100% against Poly Metronome's 23%. k also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Poly Metronome's advantage is ratings volume (204 vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. Poly Metronome sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. k asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

k holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Poly Metronome has 204 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Poly Metronome's written reviews are positive against 100% of k's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Poly Metronome ships an update every 5 days, k every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Poly Metronome versus k: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPoly Metronomek
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (204 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings204 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperImre ViragFunkyDrumTutor

Customer experience

Poly Metronome

All ratings204 ratings
Positive82.8%
Neutral1.0%
Negative16.2%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive22.6%
Neutral9.7%
Negative67.7%

k

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Poly Metronome

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • Beats lag
  • App stops when changing settings
  • Cannot keep a steady tempo
  • Rhythm is not aligned
  • Feedback keeps bugging
Show 13 more
  • Pulsation is not regular
  • No sound
  • Rhythm is not even
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Tempo is not precise
  • App freezes above 300 BPM when switching modes
  • App stops when changing accents
  • Sound stops working
  • Metronome stops at 4 bars and shows ad
  • App has to be restarted multiple times
  • Polyrhythm does not work in parallel for the whole bar
  • Have to re-enter time signature when switching tracks
  • Tones of polys are not well-matched

Requested features

7 requests
  • Ability to save different presets
  • Easier saving of different sessions
  • Option to disable beat 1 sound
  • Save different presets
  • Save different sessions more easily
Show 2 more
  • Ability to disable beat 1 sound
  • Tuner feature

k

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Poly Metronome

One-time1
  • Pro Version$4.99
None

k

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Poly Metronome free?
Poly Metronome is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is k free?
k is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Poly Metronome or k?
k is rated higher. Poly Metronome averages 4.3 out of 5 from 204 ratings, while k averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Poly Metronome or k have ads?
Neither Poly Metronome nor k shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Poly Metronome or k?
Poly Metronome ships an update every 5 days, and k every 2 weeks. Most recently, Poly Metronome was updated on November 2, 2026 and k on November 3, 2026.

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