SoundGrid vs Impulse
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SoundGrid
Create melodies and unique compositions with a powerful matrix sequencer. Easily share your music, browse creations from others, and record your performances. Offers advanced features for experienced users and is simple enough for beginners.
- Matrix sequencer with up to eight 16x16 layers
- Song Mode for automatic pattern playback
- Live Play Mode for performances
- Draw mode for multi-touch sound manipulation
- Over 20 high-quality stereo sample instruments
- Real-time sound effects
- Share, browse, download, and rate user creations
Read full descriptionHide full description
SoundGrid is powerful yet easy to use matrix sequencer for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, allowing to create melodies in a moment and wherever you are. It was inspired by famous Tenori-on by Yamaha and popular ToneMatrix web app (http://bit.ly/tonema). Even if you have never composed music, you will find SoundGrid simple and exciting to play with and will start creating unique compositions in minutes with just the tips of your fingers. Then easily share them with other users and in turn browse, download and rate their creations. You can also record tracks and live performances to audio file, upload it directly to SoundCloud or export to a computer. For more experienced users SoundGrid offers advanced features and has everything you need to create longer and rich compositions and live performances. Listen to tracks created in SoundGrid - http://soundcloud.com/groups/soundgrid and on http://www.mifki.com/soundgrid/#sg . Follow @mifki on Twitter for news and updates. = FEATURES = ** Up to eight 16x16 matrix layers with up to 8 patterns per layer with different melodies - Song Mode to automatically play one pattern after another - Live Play Mode made specially for live performances - Draw mode to play sounds as you multi-touch or draw over the screen ** Various instruments - More than 20 instruments available with high-quality stereo samples - Download and install additional instruments right from the app for FREE (no additional in-app purchases) - Web Console to create instruments with your own samples ** High quality fast audio engine - Real-time sound effects: Amp Envelope, Delay and Lowpass/Highpass/Bandpass/Notch resonant filter - True 128 note polyphony with all effects turned on (on iPhone 4, older devices have lower limits) ** Share your compositions with other users, browse, download and rate their creations ** Adjustable project tempo, adjustable looping range for each pattern, pattern randomization, switchable musical scales, patterns copy/paste ** Easily load projects with graphical previews = REVIEWS = 5/5, "the creme de la creme of matrix sequencer apps" - SlapApp.com 4.2, "Whether you are an advanced musician or just someone who enjoys easily creating your own unique tunes, you should definitely pick this one up." - AppVee.com
Impulse
This app provides a highly accurate and customizable metronome for musicians. It allows users to program complex beat patterns, including subdivisions and rests, with a clear visual interface to understand rhythmic structures. Ideal for serious musicians looking to refine their timing and explore intricate rhythms.
- Visual subdivision editor
- Complex beat pattern programming
- Up to 100 beats per measure
- 20 subdivisions per beat
- Tempo range 10-600 BPM
- Sample-level accuracy
Read full descriptionHide full description
Impulse is the metronome that lets you program virtually any combination of downbeats, upbeats, subdivisions, and rests. The UI shows you exactly where each beat and subdivision is located in time, helping you better understand complex rhythms. Impulse is also accurate to 0.00002 seconds, making it one of the most stable metronomes on iOS. Impulse is the ideal choice for the serious musician who wants to take their rhythm game to the next level. Features: - Visual subdivision editor - Up to 100 beats per measure and 20 subdivisions per beat - Program virtually any beat pattern & time signature you can think of - Tempo range of 10 - 600 BPM - Accurate to 0.00002 seconds (sample-level accuracy) - Tap for tempo - Simple & easy to understand
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Impulse at 4.7 against SoundGrid's 3.9. Impulse also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 69%) and ratings volume (943 vs 30). SoundGrid's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Impulse holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Impulse has 943 ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of SoundGrid's written reviews are positive against 92% of Impulse's.
SoundGrid ships an update every 3 months, Impulse monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SoundGrid | Impulse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (30 ratings) | 4.7 (943 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 68.9% of reviews | 91.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 30 | 943 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MIFKI PTY LTD | Coda Labs Incorporated |
Customer experience
SoundGrid
Impulse
Bugs and requests
SoundGrid
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Impulse
Reported bugs
3 issues- Fourth beat type not changing sound properly
- Metronome stops working when switching apps
- No sound on some devices
Requested features
7 requests- Ability to create and name custom presets
- Different colors for downbeats
- Quick toggle for sound on/off
- Support for odd time signatures
- Ableton Link/MIDI sync
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Ability to import custom sounds
- Countdown timer before metronome starts
In-app purchases
SoundGrid
No in-app purchases
Impulse
No in-app purchases
