Comparison

polybeat vs BrainBud

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

BrainBud

This app acts as a central controller for other music creation applications, allowing you to manage keys and scales simultaneously. It integrates with a variety of Bud apps via MIDI, enabling synchronized changes and broadcasting of musical parameters. Experiment with randomization and automate settings through its AUv3 plugin.

Highlights
  • Centralized key and scale control
  • MIDI out to multiple Bud apps
  • Budcast for parameter broadcasting
  • Randomize musical parameters
  • AUv3 plugin for automation
  • Requires other Bud apps to function
Features
Read full description

BrainBud controls the keys and scales of the Bud apps all at once. Connect BrainBud’s MIDI out to MIDI inputs of: - SnakeBud - PolyBud - MelodyBud - ShiftBud - ScaleBud 2 - In Theory - Textquencer - Binarhythmic - Auto Bass - BounceBud - MuseBud - Kebarp - FuncBud - Note to Be You can also broadcast the current key/scale to the newly connected apps with Budcast button. If you’d like to experiment, you can try the randomise button. With the AUv3 plugin, you can change the BrainBud's parameters or even automate them with AU parameters. For using the AUv3 plugin make sure you have an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Cubasis, Nanostudio, apeMatrix. BrainBud is a MIDI based app and requires other Bud apps present in order to work right. If you don't have any other Bud apps mentioned above, you can't make a use of BrainBud.  BrainBud doesn't produce any kind of sound on its own.

Screenshots

polybeat4 screens
BrainBud4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BrainBud at 5.0 against polybeat's 4.5. BrainBud also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 72%). polybeat's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (20 vs 2). On ads, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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 BrainBud $2.99 up front. polybeat sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. BrainBud asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BrainBud holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: polybeat has 20 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of polybeat's written reviews are positive against 100% of BrainBud's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

polybeat ships an update fortnightly, BrainBud every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
polybeat versus BrainBud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpolybeatBrainBud
Price$7.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.5 (20 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB15 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%

BrainBud

All ratings2 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

BrainBud

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is polybeat free?
polybeat costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is BrainBud free?
BrainBud costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, polybeat or BrainBud?
BrainBud is rated higher. polybeat averages 4.5 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while BrainBud averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do polybeat or BrainBud have ads?
Neither polybeat nor BrainBud shows ads.
Which is updated more often, polybeat or BrainBud?
polybeat ships an update fortnightly, and BrainBud every 2 months. Most recently, polybeat was updated on September 25, 2026 and BrainBud on September 21, 2026.

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