Comparison

theDrumDictionary vs Chops

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

Head to head
About

theDrumDictionary

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
Read full description

"If you’re looking for a great resource to develop and maintain your beat vocabulary and rudimental proficiency, this is a great place to start." - Modern Drummer theDrumDictionary is a great tool for drummers, band leaders, producers, or anyone looking to learn more about drums. It includes all 40 standard snare drum rudiments and over 100 full drum set beats in a variety of styles. For each example, there is notation and tempo-adjustable audio. theDrumDictionary also includes a built-in metronome, making it a great all-in-one practice tool. For Practice: • Make the most of your practice time with the built-in metronome • Adjust the tempo of the example audio to help learn those tricky parts or to push your skill to the next level of speed • Keep track of your time spent practicing each beat or rudiment Lists: • Create a list of your favorite beats in different styles • Create lists for what you'd like to practice • Drum instructors, create a separate list for each of your students theDrumDictionary is also great for non-drummers who are interested in knowing a little about drums: band leaders who want to communicate better with their drummer, musicians who want to program realistic drum parts in their songs, and the list goes on... Entries include • All 40 standard snare drum rudiments • Over 100 drum set beats in a variety of styles: Rock, Jazz, World, Funk and more Contacts: • @GigBagApps • support@GigBagApps.com, for support, questions, suggestions • www.GigBagApps.com

About

Chops

Master all 40 PAS rudiments with structured courses, dynamic exercises, and a smart metronome. Apply your skills on the kit with beautiful notation and full playback controls. Designed for drummers of all levels to practice with purpose and enhance their foundation.

Highlights
  • Master all 40 PAS rudiments
  • Apply skills on the drum kit
  • Dynamic exercises and workouts
  • Structured courses for all levels
  • Beautiful and readable notation
  • Smart metronome with tempo adjustment
  • Full playback controls
Features
Read full description

A rudiment trainer built for drummers: workouts, exercises, courses, and progress tracking. MASTER ALL 40 PAS RUDIMENTS From the basics to advanced patterns, learn every rudiment and enhance your drumming foundation. KIT VARIATIONS Break out from your practise pad and apply your new skills on the kit. EXERCISES AND WORKOUTS Keep your practice sessions dynamic and engaging with a variety of exercises and workouts. COURSES Whether you're a beginner or an advanced drummer, follow structured courses designed for all skill levels. PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE Maximize your practice time with guided courses that keep you progressing and motivated. BEAUTIFUL NOTATION Beautiful and easy to read notation. SMART METRONOME Built-in smart metronome adjusts tempo and time signature for you, letting you focus on playing. FULL PLAYBACK CONTROLS Hear how each exercise should sound with full playback controls. Adjust the metronome and tempo. Download Chops today and unleash your full drumming potential! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

theDrumDictionary4 screens
Chops4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: theDrumDictionary at none against Chops's 4. theDrumDictionary also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and ratings volume (45 vs 15). Chops's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 76%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads 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

Both are free to download. Chops sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. theDrumDictionary asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

theDrumDictionary holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 15 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of theDrumDictionary's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chops's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

theDrumDictionary ships an update every 2 months, Chops every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
theDrumDictionary versus Chops: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametertheDrumDictionaryChops
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (45 ratings) — better4.7 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews76.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings45 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHawks Hill Software, LLCDigital Staves

Customer experience

theDrumDictionary

All ratings45 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews131 reviews
Positive76.3%
Neutral12.2%
Negative11.5%

Chops

All ratings15 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

theDrumDictionary

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Notation mismatches with audio playback

Requested features

20 requests
  • 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
Show 15 more
  • Drum fills and fill variations
  • Background playback capability
  • Practice history and progress tracking
  • Ability to create custom beats
  • Accelerating/decelerating metronome
  • More complex and advanced patterns
  • Sorting beats by practice time
  • Export notation and beat lists
  • Multi-user/student support
  • Rudiments numbered in learning order
  • Double bass drum beats
  • Finger drumming exercises
  • Sync across multiple devices
  • Note highlighting (karaoke-style)
  • Longer beat patterns

Chops

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

theDrumDictionary

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Chops

Subscriptions3
  • Chops Subscription (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Education Subscription (Yearly)$12.991 Year
  • Chops Subscription (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$69.99

Questions

Is theDrumDictionary free?
theDrumDictionary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chops free?
Chops is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, theDrumDictionary or Chops?
theDrumDictionary is rated higher. theDrumDictionary averages 4.9 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Chops averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.
Do theDrumDictionary or Chops have ads?
Neither theDrumDictionary nor Chops shows ads.
Which is updated more often, theDrumDictionary or Chops?
theDrumDictionary ships an update every 2 months, and Chops every 3 weeks. Most recently, theDrumDictionary was updated on September 18, 2026 and Chops on September 19, 2026.

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