# Pocket Drums Classic vs PlayDrum

The clearest difference is rating: PlayDrum at 4.5 against Pocket Drums Classic's 3.7. PlayDrum also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (75% vs 60%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocket Drums Classic sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and PlayDrum sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PlayDrum holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 37 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Pocket Drums Classic's written reviews are positive against 75% of PlayDrum's.

Pocket Drums Classic ships an update every 2 months, PlayDrum every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pocket Drums Classic | PlayDrum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-drums-classic/id468252067/reviews) | **[4.5 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playdrum/id916422418/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **37** |
| Positive reviews | 60.3% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 69 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Drum Starz](https://appshunter.io/developer/299477766) | [Maimaitiming Abudukadier](https://appshunter.io/developer/916422417) |

## What reviewers say

### Pocket Drums Classic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-drums-classic/id468252067)

This app allows users to play drums on their mobile devices with a wide variety of high-quality drum kits and realistic sound effects. It includes features for recording, sharing, and exporting performances, along with a metronome and loops for practice and jamming.

**Highlights:** 33 high-quality stereo drum kits, Recording and sharing capabilities, 14 unique drum loops, Variable pitch and roll controls, Metronome with multiple sounds, Lefty mode, Play along with iPod music

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Drums Upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kit Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Exporting | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kit Pack 2 | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Great sound quality
- 🥁 Realistic feel and rebound
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🎵 Good for practicing and playing along to music
- 💡 Variety of drum kits and sounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Excessive ads
- 💥 Frequent pop-up ads
- 🚫 Ads interrupt gameplay
- 📉 Horrible sound quality (specific drums)
- 😵 Glitches and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Ads pop up every time a drum is clicked
- Ads pop up when editing kits or going into settings
- Ads pop up in the middle of a song
- Bluetooth has a delay
- Ads pop up when opening the app

**Requested features**

- Change drum color
- Fix glitches when editing kits or going into settings
- Add option to change tempo
- Add more customization options
- Add a menu to choose different drum sets/skins


### PlayDrum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playdrum/id916422418)

This app provides a realistic drumming experience for musicians of all levels. It features multiple drum kits, an intuitive interface, and interactive tutorials to help you learn. You can also play along to your favorite music and use it as a MIDI controller.

**Highlights:** Intuitive and customizable interface, Multi-touch support for responsive play, Multiple professional drum kits, Interactive tutorial for beginners, Play along to your music library, MIDI controller functionality

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "Unlock All Drum Kits" | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pocket Drums Classic free?

Pocket Drums Classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PlayDrum free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pocket Drums Classic or PlayDrum?

PlayDrum is rated higher. Pocket Drums Classic averages 3.7 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while PlayDrum averages 4.5 from 37 ratings.

### Do Pocket Drums Classic or PlayDrum have ads?

Pocket Drums Classic shows ads; PlayDrum does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pocket Drums Classic or PlayDrum?

Pocket Drums Classic ships an update every 2 months, and PlayDrum every 5 weeks. Most recently, Pocket Drums Classic was updated on November 1, 2026 and PlayDrum on November 5, 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.*