Comparison

polybeat vs WoodTroller

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

WoodTroller

This app functions as a multi-touch bar MIDI controller for MPE and MIDI V2. It offers customizable rotary controls and buttons to manage various parameters and send MIDI commands, with iCloud syncing for presets.

Highlights
  • MPE touch bar with individual pitch shift, pressure, and CC74 control
  • 8 customizable rotary controls for sending multiple CC messages
  • 8 programmable buttons for sending various MIDI commands
  • User-definable rotary and button names, colors, and ranges
  • Preset storage and automatic syncing via iCloud
  • Stand-alone app and AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

WoodTroller is NOT an app to annoy people. It’s an MPE and midi V2 multi touch bar keyboard and midi controller : The MPE touch bar supports multiple notes with individual pitch shift (horizontal movement), pressure and cc74 (vertical movement). WoodTroller has 8 general purpose rotary controls : - Each can send 6 different CC messages to different channels. - Each of the 6 command values can be mapped differently to the full rotary range. - So 1 rotary can control several parameters on the same or on different instruments. - Rotary names, colour, unit, range can all be user set. WoodTroller also has 8 general purpose on-off or push buttons : - Each button can send up to 8 different midi commands (CC, PC, NoteOn, …) to different channels. - This allows to quickly switch multiple midi instruments or devices to another program or to other settings. - Each midi command’s data value can be auto incremented/decremented. - All button names, colour, type can be user set. All settings can be stored in presets in iCloud which yield automatic preset syncing between several WoodTrollers on different devices. WoodTroller is available as stand-alone app and as AUv3 plugin.

Screenshots

polybeat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WoodTroller at none against polybeat's 2. WoodTroller also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 72%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). polybeat's advantage is price ($7.99 vs $9.99) and ratings volume (20 vs 6). On update cadence, 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 WoodTroller $9.99 up front. polybeat sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. WoodTroller asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WoodTroller holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of polybeat's written reviews are positive against 100% of WoodTroller's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
polybeat versus WoodTroller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpolybeatWoodTroller
Price$7.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.5 (20 ratings)4.8 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20 — better6
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad, Mac
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCorne DriesprongWoodman's Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio

Customer experience

polybeat

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

WoodTroller

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

polybeat

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

WoodTroller

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is polybeat free?
polybeat costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is WoodTroller free?
WoodTroller costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, polybeat or WoodTroller?
WoodTroller is rated higher. polybeat averages 4.5 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while WoodTroller averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.
Do polybeat or WoodTroller have ads?
Neither polybeat nor WoodTroller shows ads.
Which is updated more often, polybeat or WoodTroller?
polybeat ships an update fortnightly, and WoodTroller fortnightly. Most recently, polybeat was updated on September 25, 2026 and WoodTroller on October 6, 2026.

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