# DM1 vs DrumComputer

The clearest difference is price: DrumComputer at Free against DM1's $9.99. DrumComputer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). DM1's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

DrumComputer is free to download; DM1 costs $9.99 up front. DM1 sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and DrumComputer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DrumComputer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 138 and 621 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of DM1's written reviews are positive against 81% of DrumComputer's.

DM1 ships an update every 2 months, DrumComputer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DM1 | DrumComputer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dm1-the-drum-machine/id431573951/reviews) | **[4.8 (621 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drumcomputer-synthetic-beats/id1502238351/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 138 | **621** |
| Positive reviews | 73.3% of reviews | **81.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 310 MB | 1.6 GB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) | [Sugar Bytes GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/614418826) |

## 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


### DrumComputer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drumcomputer-synthetic-beats/id1502238351)

This app is a powerful tool for creating synthetic drum sounds using a variety of synthesis methods and sequencers. It offers intelligent randomization, flexible modulation, and pattern editing to generate unique beats and explore new sonic possibilities.

**Highlights:** 8 multi-layer sound engines, Flexible modulation matrix, Intelligent randomizers for sound generation, 16-step sequencer with pattern generation, AUv3 plugin and standalone support, MIDI file export and multiple outputs, Preset iCloud sync and sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DrumComputer Full Version | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best iOS drum machine
- 👍 Wicked easy to use interface
- 👍 Great sound and workflow
- 👍 Powerful and flexible sequencer
- 👍 Tons of customization options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🔋 High CPU usage and battery drain
- 👎 Confusing and complex interface
- 👎 Lack of MIDI mapping for live use
- 👎 Inability to record beats from pads

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup with iOS 14.2
- Inability to import samples in some cases
- MIDI out only supports single channel

**Requested features**

- Add real-time beat recording
- Improve MIDI mapping capabilities
- Add randomization options for tempo, sequence length, and mixing
- Improve preset management (ability to delete presets)
- Optimize for better performance and battery life


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DM1 free?

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

### Is DrumComputer free?

DrumComputer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, DM1 or DrumComputer?

DrumComputer is rated higher. DM1 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 138 ratings, while DrumComputer averages 4.8 from 621 ratings.

### Do DM1 or DrumComputer have ads?

Neither DM1 nor DrumComputer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DM1 or DrumComputer?

DM1 ships an update every 2 months, and DrumComputer every 3 weeks. Most recently, DM1 was updated on October 24, 2026 and DrumComputer on October 29, 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.*