Comparison

BeatMaker 2 vs KORG Gadget 3

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

Head to head
About

BeatMaker 2

Create professional-quality music on your mobile device. Build virtual studios, compose songs with a variety of instruments and effects, and record your ideas. Import your own sounds or use the extensive library to bring your musical vision to life.

Highlights
  • Virtual home-studio creation
  • Multiple instrument types
  • Full range of audio effects
  • Sound library and import options
  • MIDI accessory compatibility
  • Multi-track sequencer
  • Piano-roll interface
Features
Read full description

*** BEATMAKER 3 IS AVAILABLE NOW ! *** BeatMaker 2: Advanced mobile music workstation. Combining music production tools that were behind the success of countless artists, BeatMaker 2 is a powerful, easy-to-use composition interface for amateurs and professionals alike. Build your own virtual home-studio, create multiple instruments and connect them to a full-range of audio effects. Compose, record, arrange and transform your ideas into complete songs, ready to be shared with others. Import your own sounds or use the sound library provided: more than 170 high-quality instrument and drum presets from synthesizers to realistic orchestral sounds. You can even import songs from your iPod library! Connect your MIDI accessories for an external control of BeatMaker's instruments, effects and mixer, ideal for home-studio productions and live performances. Compatible with audio interfaces with the Camera Kit (iPad only). Works on all iPhone, iPod and iPad models starting with third generation devices (iPhone3GS, iPod3G 32GB, iPhone 4/4S/5, all iPads). * STUDIO: - Create multiple instruments with Drum Machine, Keyboard Sampler, Audio Tracks - 11 effects: Reverb, Compressor, Filter, Delay, EQ, Flanger, Chorus, AutoPan, BitCrusher, Overdrive, 6-Band Parametric EQ - 3 effect slots for each instrument - CoreMIDI support: connect your MIDI accessories to control instruments, effects and mixer. * DRUM MACHINE: - 128 trigger pads: 16 pads over 8 banks - Chop Lab: Slice audio loops to automatically create new sound presets - Control sound parameters on individual pad: volume, pan, mute, output bus, semitone, fine tune, reverse and autoscaling - Low/high pass filter per pad - Pad trigger modes: one-shot, hold & loop - ADSR Envelope ADSR control for each pad - Exclusive groups and polyphony management - "Live" modes: trigger, mute, reverse, velocity and tune spreading. - Pad copy & paste * KEYBOARD SAMPLER - 128-key keyboard with pitch wheel, double keyboard mode, note display and zoom controls - Easily create your own instruments from any sample combination with the keygroup editor - Volume and filter ADSR envelopes - Low/high pass filter with key tracking - 2 LFOs to control volume, pitch and filter parameters - Polyphony control, up to 32 voices - Legato play mode with glide - Velocity layers * AUDIO TRACKS: - Add audio tracks for recording and sample playback directly on the sequencer - Record multiple audio tracks simultaneously - Gain and noise gate on audio inputs - Support for disk streaming to load samples without consuming RAM * MULTI-TRACK SEQUENCER - Create unlimited instrument, audio and FX tracks - Automations: Record, edit and replay instrument and effect parameters - Record, draw, arrange and resize patterns along the timeline to build your song - Compose and modify patterns with a piano-roll interface. Edit notes, parameters and automations. - Instrument and effect recording options: Quantize, take or partial undo, pre-roll, Overdub, note erasing. * WAVE EDITOR - Full-fledged wave editor with intuitive interface for manipulating samples - Basic edition tools: trim, cut, copy, paste, with undo/redo - High quality time-stretching and pitch-shifting algorithms - Audio tools: normalize, silence, reverse, fade in and out, cross-fade - Record new samples from microphone or instruments - Loop points and tempo/signature editor * MIXER CONSOLE - Realistic multi-track mixer with level meters - Edit volume, pan, solo, mute and bus routing features for each track - Four sends available for each instrument/audio tracks * LARGE SOUND BANK INCLUDED * SHARING & GLOBAL OPTIONS - MIDI files import/export - MIDI Out, Sync, Thru support - Virtual MIDI support - Korg's WIST support - Transfer files from/to your computer via iTunes or FTP - Import songs from your iPod library to create new remixes - Upload songs to your SoundCloud account - DropBox support - Share audio content via iOS pasteboard

About

KORG Gadget 3

Create music with a comprehensive suite of over 40 virtual instruments and effects. This powerful yet intuitive ecosystem allows you to quickly turn your musical ideas into finished tracks, offering a vast sound library and flexible workflow for various genres.

Highlights
  • Over 40 virtual instruments and drum machines
  • New Santa Ana (Guitar) and Sydney (Sampler) gadgets
  • 5 new insert effects (IFX)
  • Intuitive user interface and workflow
  • Genre select system for songwriting
  • AUv3 support for iOS integration
  • Extensive sound library with 6,000+ programs
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

More Powerful Than Ever, Quickly Turn Your Ideas Into Music KORG Gadget 3 - A Complete, Seamlessly Integrated Music Production Ecosystem KORG Gadget has received numerous awards from around the world: • Apple: "App Store Best of 2014" in Japan • #1 in the Top Paid Music iPad App category* • TECH AWARD 2015 "Best Music Production App" • MusicTech's "Gear of the Year: Best App" Gold Award • “Musikmesse international press award 2016” Mobile Music App * USA, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and much more! KORG Gadget is the ideal all-in-one music production software and plug-in suite featuring over 40* small synthesizers/drum machines (“gadgets”), which can be freely combined to create music driven by a powerful yet intuitive user interface. The range of products includes the award-winning iOS version, a Mac version that includes all functions and plug-ins, and a plug-in version that can be used with your favorite DAW on Mac/PC. Now in its third generation, more powerful than ever, the workflow is now more intuitive and easier to use than ever before and there are plenty of new features and new gadgets. KORG Gadget 3 offers an expanded variety of even more features to quickly turn your ideas into music, including two new gadgets, five insert effects (IFX), a new genre select system, and AUv3 support. In addition, the user interface has been brushed up to make the Gadget Browser, IFX page, and Play page even more intuitive. KORG Gadget 3 is the perfect tool to quickly turn your ideas into music. What's New in KORG Gadget 3 • Gadget Instrument Collection with a total over 6,000 sound programs • New gadgets: Santa Ana* (Guitar) and Sydney* (Sampler) • Improved user interface, making the workflow more intuitive than ever • A genre select function that allows you to create songs from your favorite patterns • 5 new IFX including an 8-Band EQ, Transient Shaper, Stereo Image, Auto Pumper, Pitch Shifter • The Play page: easy arpeggiator use and chord entry • A whole new sound browser that lets you select gadgets by the timbre you want • AUv3 support on iOS, allowing gadgets to be used in other music apps like Garageband, Logic Pro • A huge collection of over 40* gadget instruments Overwhelming sound. Immersive, intuitive and powerful user interface. Unprecedented and innovative quality. KORG Gadget 3 is a collection of over 40* gadget instruments, including compact synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and audio and MIDI utilities. It has sophisticated parameters that make it easy for you to get to the sound they want, so you can create your own sounds instantly. The new Sound Browser allows you to get to your favorite sounds in the quickest time possible. It is perfectly suited for dance music as well as rock, pop, jazz, and other music sounds and genres. • Get your songwriting ideas with Genre Select The new "Genre Select" feature allows you to select your favorite genre and sound, and then start songwriting by freely combining patterns. 5 x 5 pads are all assigned with phrases created by gadgets, so you can start songwriting by freely combining your favorite patterns. You can start creating a song from a project in which each track's gadgets and scenes have been developed. Choose from the standard genre packs and enjoy a different approach to music production. • Tons of sounds readily available with the New Browser To make it easier than ever to find the desired gadget instrument, we have revised the Gadget Browser and added various functions. New features include displaying gadgets by instrument category, a Favourites function that allows you to group your favorite gadgets, and a search function that allows you to freely search for sounds in each gadget. Using the program search function, it is now possible to quickly and easily preview and search for the sound you wanted from a vast array of sounds. * Some gadgets are available as in-app purchases (IAP) or by purchasing other KORG apps. More info at korg.com

Screenshots

BeatMaker 24 screens
KORG Gadget 34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BeatMaker 2 at $11.99 against KORG Gadget 3's $39.99. BeatMaker 2 also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). KORG Gadget 3's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.4) and ratings volume (2.9K vs 232). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

BeatMaker 2 costs $11.99 and KORG Gadget 3 $39.99 up front. BeatMaker 2 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and KORG Gadget 3 sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KORG Gadget 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KORG Gadget 3 has 2.9K ratings behind it against 232, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of BeatMaker 2's written reviews are positive against 76% of KORG Gadget 3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BeatMaker 2 ships an update every 3 weeks, KORG Gadget 3 monthly. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
BeatMaker 2 versus KORG Gadget 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeatMaker 2KORG Gadget 3
Price$11.99 — better$39.99
Rating3.4 (232 ratings)4.8 (2.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.2% of reviews75.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2322.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#138 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size745 MB1.9 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperINTUAKORG INC.

Customer experience

BeatMaker 2

All ratings232 ratings
Positive56.5%
Neutral8.6%
Negative34.9%
Written reviews665 reviews
Positive66.2%
Neutral9.3%
Negative24.5%

KORG Gadget 3

All ratings2,929 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral2.5%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews525 reviews
Positive75.8%
Neutral9.3%
Negative14.9%

User reviews

BeatMaker 2

From 232 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful sampling and beat-making capabilities
  • 👍 Intuitive and flexible workflow
  • 🎨 Extensive sound library
  • 💡 Ability to import custom samples and MIDI
  • 🎹 Versatile keyboard and drum pad interfaces

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 🔋 High memory usage and battery drain
  • 📺 Poor iPad optimization and scaling
  • 🔇 Lackluster built-in sounds and synths
  • 🔍 Confusing and cluttered user interface

KORG Gadget 3

From 2.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great for creating rave and dance music
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🎨 Powerful sound design capabilities
  • 💡 Useful for live performance
  • 👍 Excellent workflow for sketching ideas

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 💰 Expensive with many in-app purchases
  • 🔀 Randomized saved project order
  • 🔍 Difficult to precisely control zoom and note editing
  • 🔓 Issues with restoring purchased content

Bugs and requests

BeatMaker 2

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Bluetooth connectivity problems
  • Inability to restore in-app purchases
  • Crashes when editing multiple pads or tracks
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS devices
  • Dropbox integration and file transfer not working

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved Dropbox and file management integration
  • Add MIDI output and external hardware support
  • Implement a more streamlined and intuitive UI
  • Include a wider range of high-quality built-in sounds
  • Add real-time audio recording and export options

KORG Gadget 3

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Playback issues with latest update
  • Imported samples limited to 5 seconds
  • Bilbao sampler crashes when importing WAV files
  • Gadget instruments not showing up in AUv3 lists

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add more acoustic drum and bass sounds
  • Implement MIDI out functionality
  • Allow customizable scales and tunings
  • Add a proper sampler with more advanced features
  • Improve copy/paste and track management capabilities
Show 3 more
  • Implement a linear song mode for non-grid-based compositions
  • Add more effects like halftime, sample degrader, etc.
  • Allow using AUv3 effects within Gadget

In-app purchases

10 purchases

BeatMaker 2

One-time10
  • Prime Loops - Dirty South Heroes$3.99
  • Prime Loops - East Coast Hip Hop Volume 1$3.99
  • Prime Loops - Midnight R&B Gold$3.99
Show 7 more
  • Prime Loops - West Coast Anthology$3.99
  • 9TH Street$4.99
  • Essential Pack$5.99
  • Emerge Audio Dubstep Destruction$5.99
  • Southern Homie$6.99
  • South Chiefs$7.99
  • INTUA Future ATL$11.99
11 purchases

KORG Gadget 3

One-time11
  • Bilbao$6.99
  • Abu Dhabi$6.99
  • Madrid$9.99
Show 8 more
  • Gladstone$9.99
  • Kamata$9.99
  • Lisbon$9.99
  • Vancouver$9.99
  • Stockholm$9.99
  • Otorii$9.99
  • Santa Ana$9.99
  • Ebina$14.99

Questions

Is BeatMaker 2 free?
BeatMaker 2 costs $11.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is KORG Gadget 3 free?
KORG Gadget 3 costs $39.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BeatMaker 2 or KORG Gadget 3?
KORG Gadget 3 is rated higher. BeatMaker 2 averages 3.4 out of 5 from 232 ratings, while KORG Gadget 3 averages 4.8 from 2.9K ratings.
Do BeatMaker 2 or KORG Gadget 3 have ads?
Neither BeatMaker 2 nor KORG Gadget 3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BeatMaker 2 or KORG Gadget 3?
BeatMaker 2 ships an update every 3 weeks, and KORG Gadget 3 monthly. Most recently, BeatMaker 2 was updated on October 17, 2026 and KORG Gadget 3 on October 17, 2026.

Other comparisons