Comparison

Drum Kits vs Hi Drum

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

Head to head
About

Drum Kits

Transform your device into a portable drum machine and recording studio. Easily create beats, grooves, and song arrangements with intuitive controls and a wide variety of instrument sounds. Export your creations as high-quality audio files.

Highlights
  • Portable drum machine
  • Beat sequencer
  • Recording studio
  • 16 professional drum kits
  • Song arrangement tools
  • AIFF and AAC/M4A export
  • Real-time beat editing
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a powerful portable drum machine, beat sequencer, and recording studio. Designed for beginners and professional musicians alike, Drum Kits makes it incredibly easy to create rhythms, grooves, and complete song arrangements with nothing more than your fingertips. Simply tap the screen to build beats instantly. No complicated setup, no steep learning curve β€” just fast, intuitive music creation. Featuring 16 unique instruments, Drum Kits gives you a huge range of styles and sounds, including Hip Hop, Rock, Drum & Bass, Jazz, House, Techno, Electronic, Percussion, Steel Drums, Brushes, Congas, and more. Whether you’re producing electronic tracks, practicing rhythms, writing songs, or jamming with friends, Drum Kits gives you the tools to create anywhere. Drum Kits includes: * 16 professional drum kits * 50 built-in sample rhythms * 10 demo songs * Real-time beat editing * Humanise timing control for natural grooves * Song arrangement tools * High-quality stereo playback * AIFF and AAC/M4A export Explore included rhythm styles such as Hip Hop, Disco, Rock, Jazz, Salsa, Merengue, Techno, House, Drum & Bass, and more β€” or create your own completely original beats from scratch. The powerful song mode lets you combine multiple rhythms into complete arrangements with intros, verses, choruses, and breakdowns. Adjust repeat counts, organize sequences, and build full tracks directly inside the app. When your music is ready, export your creations as high-quality audio files for sharing, recording, or importing into apps like GarageBand and other DAWs. Drum Kits is perfect for: * Songwriters * Music producers * DJs * Drum students * Singers needing backing tracks * Live performers * Anyone who loves creating beats Despite its powerful features, Drum Kits stays fast, clean, and easy to use. Beginners can start making rhythms in minutes, while experienced musicians can create complex layered grooves and full song structures. Use headphones, Bluetooth speakers, AirPods, or studio monitors for immersive stereo sound wherever you play. Whether you’re sketching ideas on the go, practicing timing, building backing tracks, or producing your next song, Drum Kits gives you a complete rhythm production studio that fits in your pocket. Install Drum Kits today and start creating professional beats anytime, anywhere.

About

Hi Drum

Features
Read full description

Hi Drum turns your iPhone and iPad into a professional electronic drum kit β€” fully featured, studio-quality sound, and a virtual band always ready to play with you. Whether you're a seasoned drummer or just picking up the sticks for the first time, Hi Drum delivers a real music-making experience β€” no rehearsal room, no band required. β€” COMPLETE ELECTRONIC DRUM KIT Intuitive interface, responsive pads, ultra-low latency. Play instantly with a variety of kits: Rock, Jazz. Each kit is recorded and processed to studio standards. β€” MIDI CONTROLLER SUPPORT Hi Drum supports MIDI controller connection via USB. The app automatically detects your device and maps the pads within seconds β€” no complex setup required. Compatible with most popular MIDI drum pads and electronic drum kits available today. β€” CREATE A VIRTUAL BAND Pick your instruments, choose a genre, and start playing. Hi Drum's virtual band features drums, beats, and vocals β€” all automatically following your rhythm and tempo in real time. Hi Drum β€” No rehearsal room. No band. Just music, starting right here.

Screenshots

Drum Kits4 screens
Hi Drum4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hi Drum at none against Drum Kits's 1. Hi Drum also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 101 months). Drum Kits's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Drum Kits sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hi Drum asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Drum Kits ships an update every 101 months, Hi Drum every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 5 level
Drum Kits versus Hi Drum: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrum KitsHi Drum
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews47.6% of reviewsβ€”
Update frequencyEvery 101 monthsEvery 2 months β€” better
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
MonetizationFreeβ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size31 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMakayama.comNguyen Hieu

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Drum Kits

One-time1
  • Premium Version$3.99
None

Hi Drum

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Drum Kits free?
Drum Kits is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hi Drum free?
Hi Drum is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Drum Kits or Hi Drum have ads?
Hi Drum shows ads; Drum Kits does not.
Which is updated more often, Drum Kits or Hi Drum?
Drum Kits ships an update every 101 months, and Hi Drum every 2 months. Most recently, Drum Kits was updated on October 9, 2026 and Hi Drum on October 14, 2026.

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