# Donner Play vs Melodics

The clearest difference is rating: Melodics at 4.7 against Donner Play's 2.5. Melodics also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 29%) and ratings volume (587 vs 22). Donner Play's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Melodics sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per month. Donner Play asks for nothing beyond the download.

Melodics holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Melodics has 587 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Donner Play's written reviews are positive against 57% of Melodics's.

Donner Play ships an update monthly, Melodics weekly. Both last shipped on September 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Donner Play | Melodics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/donner-play/id1632150488/reviews) | **[4.7 (587 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melodics-drum-lessons-app/id6504540940/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **587** |
| Positive reviews | 29.4% of reviews | **56.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 154 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Donner LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630863971) | [Melodics Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091448213) |

## What reviewers say

### Donner Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/donner-play/id1632150488)

Learn and create music with interactive lessons and tools. Connect to Donner instruments for real-time feedback, practice with various songs, and access professional masterclasses. This app supports your musical journey from beginner to advanced.

**Highlights:** Real-time instrument interaction, Song practice with e-drum, Music creation with synthesizer, Berklee-certified masterclasses, Practice tools (tuner, metronome)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Melodics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melodics-drum-lessons-app/id6504540940)

Learn drums with interactive lessons and instant feedback on any drum kit or practice pad. Improve your rhythm and technique with structured exercises and a vast song library. Practice anytime, anywhere, and track your progress with this comprehensive drumming companion.

**Highlights:** Interactive drum lessons, Instant feedback on playing, Works with acoustic/electronic drums & practice pads, 500+ lessons and songs, Progress tracking tools, Structured learning system

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $34.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $179.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for learning drums
- 💡 Makes practice engaging
- 🚀 Instant feedback on precision
- 🎶 Fun way to learn
- 🥁 Helps improve timing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 UI needs work
- 🤔 Scoring system convoluted
- 📉 Disincentivizes playing
- 🚫 No songs available (premium)
- 🔌 Drum connection issues

**Reported bugs**

- Explore section always resets to Grade 1
- MIDI device connection feedback needed
- Snare drum not working
- App restarts when in the middle of a lesson
- App stops playing to headphones or won't pick up microphone

**Requested features**

- Full iPad support
- Add Donner Ded-80 support
- Left-handed option
- More well-known artists/songs
- Chinese version of the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Donner Play free?

Donner Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Melodics free?

Melodics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Donner Play or Melodics?

Melodics is rated higher. Donner Play averages 2.5 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Melodics averages 4.7 from 587 ratings.

### Do Donner Play or Melodics have ads?

Neither Donner Play nor Melodics shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Donner Play or Melodics?

Donner Play ships an update monthly, and Melodics weekly. Most recently, Donner Play was updated on September 21, 2026 and Melodics on September 21, 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.*