Comparison

SDS vs NA Tuner

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

Head to head
About

SDS

Create beats and play drum samples with this feature-rich drum machine app. It offers an intuitive sequencer, extensive sample manipulation, and professional audio output options. Suitable for beginners and experienced musicians alike.

Highlights
  • 30+ factory kits
  • Intuitive 16-step sequencer
  • Nearly 200 factory samples
  • Drag and drop sample loading
  • Mixer with FX
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • MIDI and Ableton Link support
Features
Read full description

SDS-x is the most fun you’ll have with a drum machine on iOS! SDS-x is a drum machine that makes it easy to play drum samples and fun to make beats. SDS-x is also extremely feature rich, with advanced controls for crafting your sound and building complex sequences. Whether this is your first iOS music app or you are an avid AUv3 enthusiast, SDS-x has something for you. SDS-x can be played by tapping the pads or by using the sequencer to program a beat. Highlights: - Get started quickly with one of the 30+ factory kits. - Program beats with a fun and unique sequencer. - Build kits from nearly 200 factory samples. - Drag and drop samples over pads to load sounds. - Mix your pads and add effects with intuitive controls. - Host SDS-x in your favorite iOS DAW as an AUv3 plug-in. - Play with others using MIDI and Ableton Link - Export pattern audio as WAV file to use in any DAW! (PRO) Features: Sequencer - Make a beat using the intuitive, sixteen-step sequencer. - Add variation with “per step” controls for velocity and note multiplier. - Get the feel right with swing and quantize parameters. - Switch things up with 16 patterns per kit. - Make a song by chaining up to 128 patterns. - Create complex polymeters with “per track” sequence length. Pads - SDS-x has nine pads, each with two sample layers. - Custom name and color for each pad. - Per sample controls for: pitch, pan, and level. - Per pad controls for: trigger mode, sample mode, loop, mono/poly, mute group, velocity, MIDI receive, MIDI send. - Trigger modes: one-shot, gate, toggle, and retrigger 8th to 64th triplet. - Sample modes: mix, rotate, random, velocity switch, velocity mix. - Global velocity modes: top, center, fixed, pressure. Samples - SDS-x comes fully loaded with nearly 200 samples, recorded and edited by Simple Drum Samples. - Import your own sounds from the Files app to expand your sample library. (PRO) Perform - Control pad levels, pan, mute, solo, and effects sends with the in-app mixer. - Five FX types: delay (send), reverb (send), high pass filter, low pass filter, and “master” effect for getting LOUD. - Full screen pads mode for improved experience on smaller devices. - Hard pan option for metronome to run click and samples to FOH on separate channels. Workflow - Use one of the 30+ factory kits. - Save your work as a user kit. (PRO) - Drag and drop samples from your in-app library onto a pad to load samples. - Intuitive XY pad for controlling FX parameters. - Double tap and long press actions for most controls to speed up workflow. - Dual menu view on iPad. Connect - Comes with AUv3 plugin. Play SDS-x alongside your other music apps! - Keep time with other devices using Ableton Link. - Connect wirelessly using Bluetooth MIDI. - Pads can send and receive MIDI, so you can play with external gear! - Share user kits via AirDrop, iMessage, and more. (PRO) Privacy Policy: https://www.audiosymmetric.com/privacy-policy.html EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

NA Tuner

This music app offers fast and accurate chromatic tuning with a clear, full-color LED display. It supports various tuning standards, drop/capo modes, and provides ultra-precise ±0.01 cent accuracy for musicians on the go.

Highlights
  • Full color LED display
  • Accurate tuning anytime, anywhere
  • Calibration to any pitch standard
  • Drop/Capo mode with auto-transpose
  • Ultra-precise ±0.01 cent accuracy
  • Standalone app and AudioUnit v3 effect
Features
Read full description

Compact Nembrini Audio Chromatic Tuner gives you fast, accurate tuning in a single plugin or app. - Big, bright full color LED display - Get perfect tuning anytime, anywhere with the iOS version for iPhone/iPad - Calibration To Any Pitch Standard - A=440 Default - Drop/Capo Mode: Nembrini Audio Tuner Will Auto-Transpose Notes Up Or Down To One Full Octave - Compact tuner gives you fast, accurate tuning and a high-quality tone tool in a single plugin - Ultra-precise tuner gives you ±0.01 cent accuracy for ultimate tuning performance Works as a standalone app, AudioUnit v3 effect

Screenshots

SDS4 screens
NA Tuner1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NA Tuner at none against SDS's 3. SDS's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 17 months) and review sentiment (90% vs 67%). On price, rating, 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. SDS sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. NA Tuner asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for SDS against 4.7 for NA Tuner. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 67 and 18 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of SDS's written reviews are positive against 67% of NA Tuner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SDS ships an update every 3 months, NA Tuner every 17 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SDS versus NA Tuner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSDSNA Tuner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (67 ratings) — better4.7 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews90.4% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings67 — better18
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyan RobinsonNembrini Audio

Customer experience

SDS

All ratings67 ratings
Positive98.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive90.4%
Neutral3.8%
Negative5.8%

NA Tuner

All ratings18 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

SDS

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Features Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Pro Features Yearly$4.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Features$12.99
None

NA Tuner

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SDS free?
SDS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NA Tuner free?
NA Tuner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SDS or NA Tuner?
SDS is rated higher. SDS averages 4.9 out of 5 from 67 ratings, while NA Tuner averages 4.7 from 18 ratings.
Do SDS or NA Tuner have ads?
Neither SDS nor NA Tuner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SDS or NA Tuner?
SDS ships an update every 3 months, and NA Tuner every 17 months. Most recently, SDS was updated on October 24, 2026 and NA Tuner on October 24, 2026.

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