# Rhythm Pad vs Beat Station

The clearest difference is monetization model: Rhythm Pad at free with in-app purchases against Beat Station's subscription. Rhythm Pad also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 64%). Beat Station's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Rhythm Pad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Beat Station sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Rhythm Pad against 4.5 for Beat Station. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 320 and 498 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of Rhythm Pad's written reviews are positive against 64% of Beat Station's.

Rhythm Pad ships an update every 2 months, Beat Station every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rhythm Pad | Beat Station |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (320 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rhythm-pad/id504321020/reviews)** | [4.5 (498 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-station-drum-machine/id1207156644/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 320 | **498** |
| Positive reviews | **75.3% of reviews** | 63.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 55 MB | 209 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bijoy Thangaraj](https://appshunter.io/developer/453056920) | [Sonar Multimedia](https://appshunter.io/developer/992774946) |

## What reviewers say

### Rhythm Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rhythm-pad/id504321020)

Create and record drum beats with high-quality sampled sounds. Utilize a sequencer to build patterns, play along with your music library, and export your creations as audio files. Customize drum kits and apply effects for professional-sounding results.

**Highlights:** High-quality stereo sampled drum sounds, Sequencer for creating drum patterns, Live performance recording, Export recordings as audio files (AAC/WAVE), Built-in reverb and compression effects, Customizable drum kits, Play along with music library

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Pro Version | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🥁 Great drum samples
- 👍 Responsive and easy to use
- 🎶 Ability to play along with music
- 🎮 Fun and enjoyable experience
- 📝 Good for practice and recording

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Aggressive ads and notifications
- 🔇 Sound issues (disappearing sound, low volume)
- 🐛 Bugs and performance problems
- 🔌 Latency issues

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup after purchasing the pro version
- Ads still show up even after purchasing the pro version
- Music playback issues when using the app

**Requested features**

- Ability to import custom drum samples
- More drum kits and sound options
- Support for additional time signatures
- Improved recording and overdubbing features
- Option to adjust individual pad volumes


### Beat Station

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-station-drum-machine/id1207156644)

This app provides a versatile drum machine for musicians, offering realistic drum sets and extensive loop libraries. It allows for real-time control of song sections and hands-free operation via a Bluetooth MIDI pedalboard, enhancing practice, production, and live performance.

**Highlights:** Realistic drum sets, Extensive drum loop library, Multiple control modes (Loop, Pedal, Song), Bluetooth MIDI pedalboard support, Inter-App Audio and background audio, Export songs as audio files, MIDI implementation and DAW integration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beat Station Pro (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Beat Station Pro (Yearly) | $22.99 | per year |
| Beat Station Pro (Lifetime) | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Versatile beat options
- 🎸 Great for guitarists and musicians
- 🎧 Realistic drum sounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Subscription-only model
- 🔒 Lack of one-time purchase option
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 💸 Perceived as overpriced

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues (unable to restore purchases)
- App freezing or closing unexpectedly
- Blank tutorial screens
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between beats

**Requested features**

- More beat variety (Latin, jazz, waltz, etc.)
- Ability to import custom drum samples
- Tempo and style changes within a song
- Midi export option
- Better tutorial and customer support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rhythm Pad free?

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

### Is Beat Station free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Rhythm Pad or Beat Station?

Rhythm Pad is rated higher. Rhythm Pad averages 4.5 out of 5 from 320 ratings, while Beat Station averages 4.5 from 498 ratings.

### Do Rhythm Pad or Beat Station have ads?

Rhythm Pad shows ads; Beat Station does not.

### Which is updated more often, Rhythm Pad or Beat Station?

Rhythm Pad ships an update every 2 months, and Beat Station every 5 weeks. Most recently, Rhythm Pad was updated on October 29, 2026 and Beat Station 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.*