Comparison

polybeat vs PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

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

Head to head
About

polybeat

This advanced music production tool generates complex polyrhythmic and polymetric patterns. It offers extensive control over sequence length, step length, and step modulation for each drum voice. Requires an AUv3-compatible host or external sound source to produce audio.

Highlights
  • Configurable sequence and step length per drum voice
  • Modulation of sequencer steps (accent, ratchet, chance, offset)
  • Sample-accurate sequencing engine
  • Sequence transformation actions (shift, rotate, randomize)
  • AUv3 preset and state saving
  • Offline functionality
  • No ads or in-app purchases
Features
Read full description

polybeat is an advanced and extremely flexible drum and percussion sequencer able to generate complex polyrhythmic and polymetric rhythmic patterns. nb: polybeat does not make sound by itself, you will need to load it in an AUv3-compatible host (such as AUM, Audiobus, ApeMatrix, Nanostudio 2, etc.) or connect it to an external drum machine, synthesizer, computer or any other sound generating device. features: - independently configurable sequence length per drum voice (ranging from 1 to 32 steps) - independently configurable step length per drum voice (ranging from double whole notes to 64th notes, including tuplets and dotted notes) - every sequencer step can be modulated by the following attributes: - accent on/off - ratchet (note repeats) - skip (note every *n* loops) - chance - timing offset - sample-accurate sequencing engine - slick and responsive native UI - undo/redo - individual drum voices can be muted or solo'ed - sequences can be instantly transformed by the following actions: - shift left/right - rotate - randomize - mirror - reverse - double - bisect - full AUv3 preset- and state-saving - ability to copy and paste patterns between instances of the plugin - mapping presets for popular AUv3 drum apps and hardware drum machines - includes musical scale presets for polybeat to be used as a melodic sequencer - responds to MIDI input for switching and selecting patterns, as well as performing pattern transformations - works offline - no push notifications - no ads or in-app purchases - no third-party behavioural tracking tools ongoing development and support, many new features on the roadmap

About

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

Create complex musical sequences with multiple polyrhythmic tracks. Control note, velocity, gate, and MIDI CC parameters with independent step lengths and rates. Route MIDI output to your favorite synths and AUv3 hosts.

Highlights
  • Multitrack polyrhythmic MIDI sequencing
  • Note and MIDI CC tracks
  • Configurable step lengths per mode
  • Independent track rates
  • Assignable MIDI channels
  • Ramp value for CC smoothing
  • AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

PolyBud is a multitrack polyrhythmic AUv3 MIDI sequencer. You can add multiple note or MIDI CC tracks to the each pattern. The note tracks has the note, velocity, gate, ratchet, probability and randomisation modes. You can set different step lengths to the each mode which would introduce polyrhythmic variations immediately. Another great feature is the each track can run in a different rate which is great for creating unique polyrhythmic sequences. Also, you can assign different MIDI channels to the each track so that you can control multiple synths within a single PolyBud pattern. The MIDI CC tracks is great for modulating the synth parameters. You can introduce polyrhythmic modulations by setting the different step lengths and different rates to your MIDI CC tracks. Also, you can set a ramp value for smoothing up the CC value changes per step. If you set the ramp value to 0% then you can have the classic sample and hold modulation. PolyBud is a MIDI app and it don't produce any sound of its own. You need to route PolyBud's MIDI out to your audio apps in order to run PolyBud. For the AUv3 plugin, you need an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Cubase, NanoStudio, ZenBeats, BeatMaker, apeMatrix etc.

Screenshots

polybeat4 screens
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer at none against polybeat's 2. PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (100% vs 72%). polybeat's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On ratings volume, ads, monetization model 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

polybeat costs $7.99 and PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer $3.99 up front. polybeat sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of polybeat's written reviews are positive against 100% of PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

polybeat ships an update fortnightly, PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
polybeat versus PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpolybeatPolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer
Price$7.99$3.99 — better
Rating4.5 (20 ratings)4.9 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20 — better9
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCorne DriesprongCem Olcay

Customer experience

polybeat

All ratings20 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive72.2%
Neutral22.2%
Negative5.6%

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

polybeat

One-time2
  • Small tip$1.99
  • Big tip$5.99
None

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is polybeat free?
polybeat costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer free?
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, polybeat or PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer?
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer is rated higher. polybeat averages 4.5 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer averages 4.9 from 9 ratings.
Do polybeat or PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer have ads?
Neither polybeat nor PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, polybeat or PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer?
polybeat ships an update fortnightly, and PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer every 5 weeks. Most recently, polybeat was updated on September 25, 2026 and PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer on September 21, 2026.

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