# FunkBox Drum Machine vs SAGA Synth | 16

The clearest difference is rating: SAGA Synth | 16 at 4.9 against FunkBox Drum Machine's 4.2. SAGA Synth | 16 also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (442 vs 70). FunkBox Drum Machine's advantage is chart position (#154 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 14.4). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

FunkBox Drum Machine costs $4.99 and SAGA Synth | 16 $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SAGA Synth | 16 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAGA Synth | 16 has 442 ratings behind it against 70, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of FunkBox Drum Machine's written reviews are positive against 89% of SAGA Synth | 16's.

FunkBox Drum Machine ships an update every 2 months, SAGA Synth | 16 monthly. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | FunkBox Drum Machine | SAGA Synth | 16 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$3.99** |
| Rating | [4.2 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/funkbox-drum-machine/id350437349/reviews) | **[4.9 (442 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saga-synth-16-bit-sonic-fun/id1658167569/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 70 | **442** |
| Positive reviews | 81.1% of reviews | **89.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#154** | — |
| Size | 56 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 14.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Synthetic Bits, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/330499942) | [AudioKit Pro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1307785645) |

## What reviewers say

### FunkBox Drum Machine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/funkbox-drum-machine/id350437349)

**Currently charting:** #154 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This app offers a collection of vintage drum machine sounds for composing, recording, and performing music. It allows users to create custom drum kits, edit patterns, and export loops. It's compatible with various iOS devices and integrates with other music apps and hardware.

**Highlights:** Vintage drum machine sounds, Compose, record, and play music, Create custom drum boxes, Edit and create rhythm patterns, Export audio and MIDI loops, Audiobus 3 and Inter-App Audio support, Ableton Link and CoreMIDI sync

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent little classic drum machine with sequencer
- 👍 Great for messing around with some beats offline
- 👍 Usability and interface are superb (even moreso on an iPad)
- 👍 Samples sound good
- 👍 Fun, fast and simple keep inspiration at the forefront

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes whenever trying to open settings
- 🐛 App won't close, have to reboot every time
- 🐛 Saving patterns not working, crashes
- 🐛 Cannot access the settings, puts me back to Home Screen
- 🐛 Midi is a pain, always asks about Bluetooth, doesn't stay set

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iOS 7 for iPhone 5s
- Presets disappearing after update, unable to load saved banks

**Requested features**

- Please refresh and update the app a bit
- Add ability to customize drum sounds beyond just volume and panning
- Implement copy/paste functionality for sequences
- Allow programming in 3/4 time signature
- Add ability to adjust the pitch and tuning of drum sounds


### SAGA Synth | 16

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saga-synth-16-bit-sonic-fun/id1658167569)

This app provides a 16-bit retro video game synthesizer with over 350 presets. It allows for the creation of expressive pads, sound effects, drums, and leads, and can be used as a standalone app or an AUv3 plugin. Record and export your creations as WAV files.

**Highlights:** 16-bit retro video game synth, Over 350+ presets, Standalone app & AUv3 plugin, Step sequencer, Audio recording and export, MIDI keyboard support, Ableton Link

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Awesome retro sounds
- 👍 Great creation methods
- 🎨 Versatile and fun
- 🎨 More than just game sounds
- 👍 Tons of presets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Midi not working properly
- 🐛 Sequencer issues with recording
- 🐛 Keyboard issues and bugs
- 🐛 Crashes and stability problems
- 🤔 Not true 16-bit emulation

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when too many favorites
- Overlapping UI elements on phones

**Requested features**

- Export to Famitone music file
- macOS version
- Improved quantization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FunkBox Drum Machine free?

FunkBox Drum Machine costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SAGA Synth | 16 free?

SAGA Synth | 16 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FunkBox Drum Machine or SAGA Synth | 16?

SAGA Synth | 16 is rated higher. FunkBox Drum Machine averages 4.2 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while SAGA Synth | 16 averages 4.9 from 442 ratings.

### Do FunkBox Drum Machine or SAGA Synth | 16 have ads?

Neither FunkBox Drum Machine nor SAGA Synth | 16 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FunkBox Drum Machine or SAGA Synth | 16?

FunkBox Drum Machine ships an update every 2 months, and SAGA Synth | 16 monthly. Most recently, FunkBox Drum Machine was updated on October 21, 2026 and SAGA Synth | 16 on October 21, 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.*