# DRM vs Pulsar

The clearest difference is rating: Pulsar at 4.3 against DRM's 3.7. Pulsar also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 38%). DRM's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $4.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

DRM costs $0.99 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 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of DRM's written reviews are positive against 67% of Pulsar's.

DRM ships an update every 7 months, Pulsar every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DRM | Pulsar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.7 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drm-16/id1489333688/reviews) | **[4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsar-es-drum-machine/id1661825756/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 38.5% 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 |
| Best chart rank | — | **#188** |
| 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

### DRM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drm-16/id1489333688)

This app emulates a vintage 1978 drum machine, offering a pocket beat-making companion with a pure, distraction-free interface. It includes original samples, preset patterns, and various instrument and audio effects.

**Highlights:** 8 original high-quality double-samples, 16 preset patterns, Selective instrument deletion modes, Commutable 'Spacedrum' instrument, Full machine state auto-save, Background audio playback, Audiobus V3 and InterApp audio support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pulsar

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

**Currently charting:** #188 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

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 DRM free?

DRM costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pulsar free?

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

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

Pulsar is rated higher. DRM averages 3.7 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Pulsar averages 4.3 from 7 ratings.

### Do DRM or Pulsar have ads?

Neither DRM nor Pulsar shows ads.

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

DRM ships an update every 7 months, and Pulsar every 3 weeks. Most recently, DRM was updated on September 10, 2026 and Pulsar on September 18, 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.*