Comparison

Pulsar vs Roam Studio

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

Head to head
About

Pulsar

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Make beats anywhere with Pulsar-ES, an authentic preset drum machine expanded into a mobile groovebox for iPhone and iPad. Inspired by the rare Soviet/Ukrainian PULSAR hardware, Pulsar-ES keeps the original industrial rhythm-box character while adding the missing modern features producers expect: MIDI editing, deeper FX, Ableton Link sync, AUv3 workflow, and mobile project control. Play ideas fast on the 4x2 drum pad grid, then turn them into full patterns with the MIDI Clip Editor. Draw, move, and resize notes directly on the grid so your rhythm stays editable after the first take. Shape your sound with a hands-on FX rack built for quick decisions: - Filter with low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, and notch modes - Reverb with room, hall, and plate spaces - Overdrive with overdrive, distortion, fuzz, and tube modes - Delay with digital, tape, and ping-pong modes - Chorus and compressor for extra movement and control Pulsar-ES also supports Ableton Link sync, project save/load, rhythm presets, and a portrait layout designed for making music on the go. Start a beat, edit every note, shape it with FX, and keep your ideas moving.

About

Roam Studio

Features
Read full description

Roam Studio is a private workspace for music producers, DJs, and creators who want to organize, review, and share their work without social media, cloud lock-in, or unnecessary complexity. Built around your existing Dropbox storage, Roam Studio helps you keep track of mixes, masters, demos, and works in progress while maintaining complete ownership of your files. FEATURES • Dropbox-powered music library Browse and organize your music directly from Dropbox without uploading files to another platform. • Version tracking Keep multiple versions of a track together so you can compare changes over time and never lose track of your creative process. • Waveform visualization Analyze songs visually with detailed waveform views designed for critical listening and review. • Reference comparison Compare your mixes against reference tracks to evaluate balance, loudness, and frequency content. • Timestamped notes Leave feedback and production notes at specific moments in a song. • Share your work Generate clean showcase pages to share tracks, demos, and works in progress with collaborators, labels, and friends. • Privacy first No accounts. No tracking. Your music stays in your Dropbox. Whether you’re finishing a mix, preparing a release, collecting feedback, or simply organizing years of unfinished projects, Roam Studio provides a focused environment built for the music along the way.

Screenshots

Pulsar4 screens
Roam Studio3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Roam Studio at Free against Pulsar's $4.99. Roam Studio also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). Pulsar's advantage is chart position (#188 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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

Roam Studio is free to download; Pulsar costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pulsar ships an update every 3 weeks, Roam Studio every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Pulsar versus Roam Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPulsarRoam Studio
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#188 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDmytro KiroRiley Napier

In-app purchases

None

Pulsar

No in-app purchases

None

Roam Studio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pulsar free?
Pulsar costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Roam Studio free?
Roam Studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pulsar or Roam Studio have ads?
Neither Pulsar nor Roam Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pulsar or Roam Studio?
Pulsar ships an update every 3 weeks, and Roam Studio every 9 days. Most recently, Pulsar was updated on September 18, 2026 and Roam Studio on September 14, 2026.

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