Comparison

the Clave vs Rhythm Generator

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

Head to head
About

the Clave

This app provides a metronome with five selectable clave patterns for practicing Latin American music and other styles. It displays patterns in traditional notation, allows tempo adjustment, and offers background playback. Users can customize sound options for a personalized practice experience.

Highlights
  • Five selectable clave patterns
  • Traditional notation display
  • 3:2 and 2:3 clave switching
  • Variable tempo (40-200 BPM)
  • Background playback
  • Customizable sound options
Features
Read full description

the Clave is a clave pattern metronome/click track app with five selectable clave patterns: Son, Rumba, two different Afro (6/8) styles and Bossa Nova. The current pattern is shown on-screen in traditional notation, with each beat highlighted as it is played. Patterns can be switched between 3:2 (forward) and 2:3 (reverse) clave. Tempo is variable from 40 to 200 beats per minute (in cut time), and the timing is rock-solid: accurate to the nearest sample (22 microseconds). Drag the tempo button up or down to choose a tempo in BPM. Tap the tempo button in time with the beat to set a tempo rhythmically. Playback continues in the background, so you can lock your screen and keep on playing. You can alter the sound, there are high and low pitches and a volume boost option. It's a useful practice aid, whether you are beginning to play Latin American music, or an experienced sonero. It can also be used to help inject new vibrance into other styles of music - for example, try playing a jig with the Afro (6/8) clave playing!

About

Rhythm Generator

Master rhythm sight-reading and recall with endless, customizable challenges. Practice timing precision with various modes and share your creations. Ideal for musicians of all levels, including teachers creating custom worksheets.

Highlights
  • Random rhythm challenges
  • Adjustable difficulty levels
  • Support for any time signature
  • Customizable note groups
  • Flexible training modes
  • Screen recording with camera feed
  • PDF export for worksheets
Features
Read full description

Master Your Rhythm Sight Reading. Generate endless rhythm challenges. Record your screen with a live camera feed. Share what you create. Rhythm Generator is your essential practice partner for sharpening rhythm sight-reading, recall, and timing precision. Whether you're a drummer, pianist, guitarist, or any musician striving for rhythmic excellence, this app delivers endless challenges at your fingertips. Why Musicians Love Rhythm Generator: - Random Rhythm Challenges: Instantly generate new rhythms to test and build your sight-reading skills. - Adjustable Difficulty: Eight difficulty levels take you from beginner to advanced reading. - Any Time Signature: Create rhythms in any time signature—from standard 4/4 to exotic 21/16 and beyond. - Customisable: Choose your own note groups for building rhythms including quintuplets and septuplets. - Shuffle Custom Rhythms: Mix up bars and notes within pre-set rhythms, including the Table of Time. - Flexible Training Mode: Repeat full bars to reinforce learning at your own pace. - Hear and Improve: Play back rhythms to check your accuracy and refine your timing. - Authentic Sight-Reading Mode: Mute the first play through so you can practice reading before you listen. - Auto Shuffle: Keep sessions fresh with automatic rhythm generation. - Swing Variations: Practice with triplet swing, 16th swing, quintuplet swing, and more. - Dark Mode: Comfortable practice at any hour, no eye strain. Create & Share Content: Record your screen with an optional live camera feed - perfect for documenting your practice or creating content to share. Add a custom title, adjust the layout to suit your shot, and hit record. Every video ends with a QR code and link so anyone watching can open the exact same rhythm in Rhythm Generator and play it themselves. Great for social media, online lessons, or challenging your followers. For Music Teachers: Create and print endless rhythm worksheets for your students with PDF Export (up to 20 randomised exercises at a time). Each printed rhythm includes a QR code your students can scan to hear it played back instantly in Rhythm Generator—for free. Unlimited fresh material, zero prep time. Powerful Integration & Sharing: - PolyNome Integration: Use PolyNome to design custom rhythms and send them directly to Rhythm Generator. - Sharing: Share rhythms instantly. Shared rhythms can be opened and played back for free by anyone with the app. - Import Rhythms: Install popular rhythm sets like the Table of Time from the app menu, or enter rhythm ID codes from the Rhythm Generator Instagram channel. - Shuffle Imported Rhythms: Remix any rhythm you've imported for fresh variations every time. Free to Start: Explore core features at no cost. Unlock full rhythm controls and every advanced feature with a subscription. Rhythm Generator is actively developed, with new features and updates rolling out regularly. ONE SUBSCRIPTION. ENDLESS RHYTHMS. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

the Clave4 screens
Rhythm Generator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: the Clave at none against Rhythm Generator's 2. the Clave also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 79%) and device support (4 vs 2). Rhythm Generator's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). On price, rating and ads 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

Both are free to download. Rhythm Generator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. the Clave asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for the Clave against 4.8 for Rhythm Generator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 219 and 56 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of the Clave's written reviews are positive against 79% of Rhythm Generator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

the Clave ships an update every 6 months, Rhythm Generator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
the Clave versus Rhythm Generator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterthe ClaveRhythm Generator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (219 ratings)4.8 (56 ratings)
Positive reviews87.9% of reviews — better78.6% of reviews
Number of ratings219 — better56
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.5
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDrew MilloyPolyNome Ltd

Customer experience

the Clave

All ratings219 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral4.6%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive87.9%
Neutral6.1%
Negative6.1%

Rhythm Generator

All ratings56 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive78.6%
Neutral7.1%
Negative14.3%

Bugs and requests

the Clave

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App disappears after a few months
  • App crashes when opened
  • App bombs out after clearing tempo adjustment screen
  • Battery draining quickly
  • App using high percentage of battery
Show 2 more
  • Developer website disappeared
  • Adjusting volume causes app to shut down

Requested features

25 requests
  • Customize claves with manual rhythms
  • Option to change metronome by one bpm
  • Type in tempo instead of slider
  • Add 2:3 Son Clave
  • Add 6/8 bell pattern
Show 20 more
  • Add Afrobeat clave
  • Add 6/8 variations
  • Add cascara
  • Add downbeat tone
  • Add shaker
  • Add agogo bell
  • Add Abakua
  • Add cinquillo
  • Add more 6/8 patterns
  • Add tap tempo
  • Allow finer gradations of tempo (half-BPMs)
  • Set number of measures to play
  • Other instrument samples (woodblock, cowbell)
  • Sequence certain bars (e.g., 3:2/3:2/2:3/2:3)
  • Accent the first beat
  • Turn on a click track in the background
  • More Clave patterns
  • Rumba option for 6/8 clave
  • Adjust volume without app closing
  • Metronome that keeps quarters or 2 and 4

Rhythm Generator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

the Clave

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Rhythm Generator

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Plan$3.991 Month
  • Annual Plan$15.991 Year

Questions

Is the Clave free?
the Clave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rhythm Generator free?
Rhythm Generator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, the Clave or Rhythm Generator?
the Clave and Rhythm Generator are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 219 and 56 ratings respectively.
Do the Clave or Rhythm Generator have ads?
Neither the Clave nor Rhythm Generator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, the Clave or Rhythm Generator?
the Clave ships an update every 6 months, and Rhythm Generator fortnightly. Most recently, the Clave was updated on September 29, 2026 and Rhythm Generator on October 1, 2026.

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