# theDrumDictionary vs Drum Trainer

theDrumDictionary and Drum Trainer both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 76% of theDrumDictionary's written reviews are positive against 50% of Drum Trainer's. theDrumDictionary also leads on ratings volume (45 vs 2) and iOS requirement (8.4 vs 16.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for theDrumDictionary against 5.0 for Drum Trainer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: theDrumDictionary has 45 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of theDrumDictionary's written reviews are positive against 50% of Drum Trainer's.

theDrumDictionary ships an update every 2 months, Drum Trainer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | theDrumDictionary | Drum Trainer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thedrumdictionary/id341510632/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-trainer/id1578345647/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **45** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **76.3% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 33 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.4** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hawks Hill Software, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537224753) | [Erik Andresen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1367370758) |

## What reviewers say

### theDrumDictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thedrumdictionary/id341510632)

This app is a comprehensive resource for drummers and musicians to expand their rhythmic knowledge. It features all standard rudiments and a large collection of drum set beats with adjustable tempo audio and notation. An integrated metronome and practice tracking tools make it an ideal practice companion.

**Highlights:** 40 standard snare drum rudiments, Over 100 drum set beats, Tempo-adjustable audio examples, Integrated metronome, Practice time tracking, Customizable beat lists

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent learning tool for drummers of all levels
- 🎵 High-quality audio samples and clear sound
- 📚 Comprehensive collection of 40 rudiments
- 🎯 Easy-to-use interface and navigation
- 📖 Visual notation paired with audio playback

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Audio quality degrades when changing tempo
- ⏸️ App stops playing when phone sleeps
- 🔊 Bass drum not distinctive enough in mix
- 📊 Limited number of beats per genre
- ⚠️ Some audio samples don't match notation

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup (older iOS versions)
- Uneven single stroke roll with extra hits/flams
- Audio warping when tempo changes
- App stops when device goes to sleep
- Inconsistent bass drum clarity

**Requested features**

- Tempo/speed control for practice
- More beats and grooves across all genres
- Odd time signatures (5/8, 7/8, 9/4, 11/4, 6/8, 7/4)
- Highlighted note indicator during playback
- Video demonstrations of techniques


### Drum Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-trainer/id1578345647)

Learn, create, and play drum beats with this app. It offers tools to slow down or isolate parts of beats for easier learning, allows customization of drum kits, and features a community for sharing and discovering new rhythms. You can also adjust tempo, time signature, and velocity.

**Highlights:** Create custom drum beats, Community beat sharing, Adjust tempo and time signature, Customize drum kits, Slow down or solo beat parts, Pre-made beat library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is theDrumDictionary free?

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

### Is Drum Trainer free?

Drum Trainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, theDrumDictionary or Drum Trainer?

Drum Trainer is rated higher. theDrumDictionary averages 4.9 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Drum Trainer averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do theDrumDictionary or Drum Trainer have ads?

Neither theDrumDictionary nor Drum Trainer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, theDrumDictionary or Drum Trainer?

theDrumDictionary ships an update every 2 months, and Drum Trainer every 3 months. Most recently, theDrumDictionary was updated on October 7, 2026 and Drum Trainer on October 4, 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.*