# DM1 vs SynthMaster One

DM1 and SynthMaster One both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 73% of DM1's written reviews are positive against 64% of SynthMaster One's. SynthMaster One's advantage is ratings volume (743 vs 138) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

DM1 costs $9.99 and SynthMaster One $9.99 up front. DM1 sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and SynthMaster One sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SynthMaster One holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynthMaster One has 743 ratings behind it against 138, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of DM1's written reviews are positive against 64% of SynthMaster One's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | DM1 | SynthMaster One |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dm1-the-drum-machine/id431573951/reviews) | **[4.7 (743 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthmaster-one/id1254353266/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 138 | **743** |
| Positive reviews | **73.3% of reviews** | 63.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 310 MB | 402 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) | [KV331 Audio](https://appshunter.io/developer/944155925) |

## What reviewers say

### DM1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dm1-the-drum-machine/id431573951)

Create electronic music with a powerful drum machine app. Features a step sequencer, drum pads, mixer, FX trackpads, and song composer. Offers a vast library of drum kits and instruments, with options to import your own samples.

**Highlights:** Step Sequencer, Drum Pads, Mixer, FX Trackpads, Song Composer, Instrument Mode, Sample Import

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| More Vintage Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| More Acoustic Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| More DM1 Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| More Styles Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| More Instrument Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| All Packs | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful and feature-rich
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 💯 Excellent sound quality
- 🎨 Versatile with many drum kits
- 🎢 Fun and engaging to play with

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔊 Distortion and audio quality problems
- 🕰️ Inaccurate tempo and sync issues
- 🔀 Difficulty with pattern and song management
- 🔒 Limited import/export and sharing options

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup or during use
- Audio distortion and quality degradation
- Inaccurate tempo and timing issues
- Inability to save or load custom patterns
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Custom sample import and kit creation
- Expanded time signature and subdivision options
- Independent pattern tempo and effects control
- Improved MIDI and inter-app connectivity
- Ability to rearrange and loop song sections


### SynthMaster One

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthmaster-one/id1254353266)

This powerful wavetable synthesizer app offers an intuitive workflow for creating unique sounds. It features a rich library of wavetables, inspiring presets, and a semi-modular architecture for deep sound design. Easily sync data across devices and integrate with DAWs.

**Highlights:** Wavetable synthesis, Semi-modular architecture, 650 factory presets, AUv3 support, Cross-platform cloud sync, Real-time modulation feedback, 32-step arpeggiator/sequencer

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BigTone Club Construction Set | $4.99 | one-time |
| True Trance Sounds Volume 1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Vandalism Future House | $4.99 | one-time |
| NatLife Retrowave Sounds Vol.1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Demis Hellen Euphoric Trance | $4.99 | one-time |
| Venus Theory Trap Sounds | $4.99 | one-time |
| Vandalism Shocking Future Bass | $4.99 | one-time |
| NatLife Progressive&Deep Vol.1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bluffmunkey Cinematic Sounds | $4.99 | one-time |
| Desktop Presets Upgrade | $7.99 | one-time |
| SM One Expansions Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful synth engine
- 👍 Extensive preset library
- 🎨 Versatile sound design capabilities
- 💡 Free desktop version expansions on iPad
- 🎹 Excellent sound quality and tone

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 Battery drain in background
- 🤔 Confusing in-app purchase system
- 👎 UI/UX could use improvement
- 🔇 Audio issues and no sound

**Reported bugs**

- Stuck notes and MIDI issues
- Preset loading crashes
- Restore purchases not working
- Incompatibility with certain DAWs

**Requested features**

- Add custom wavetable support
- Improve MIDI mapping and MPE functionality
- Optimize performance on older devices
- Streamline preset management and browsing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DM1 free?

DM1 costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is SynthMaster One free?

SynthMaster One costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DM1 or SynthMaster One?

SynthMaster One is rated higher. DM1 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 138 ratings, while SynthMaster One averages 4.7 from 743 ratings.

### Do DM1 or SynthMaster One have ads?

Neither DM1 nor SynthMaster One shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DM1 or SynthMaster One?

DM1 ships an update every 2 months, and SynthMaster One every 2 months. Most recently, DM1 was updated on October 19, 2026 and SynthMaster One on October 19, 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.*