# Different Drummer vs HeyDrummer

The clearest difference is price: HeyDrummer at Free against Different Drummer's $9.99. HeyDrummer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (100% vs 81%). Different Drummer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.1). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

HeyDrummer is free to download; Different Drummer costs $9.99 up front. HeyDrummer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Different Drummer asks for nothing beyond the download.

HeyDrummer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Different Drummer's written reviews are positive against 100% of HeyDrummer's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Different Drummer | HeyDrummer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/different-drummer/id525272276/reviews) | **[5.0 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heydrummer/id6444673287/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 93 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Techné Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/486076968) | [Christian Voigt](https://appshunter.io/developer/1656030056) |

## What reviewers say

### Different Drummer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/different-drummer/id525272276)

This app generates unique and complex rhythmic music patterns for any instrument, including drums. It offers extensive control over rhythm, harmony, and expression through wave-based synthesis. Explore endless possibilities for creating innovative beats and sequences.

**Highlights:** Rhythmic music generation for any instrument, Complex pattern and rhythm creation, MIDI controller and file creator, Wave-based control for expression, Multi-track music output, Audiobus 3 and Ableton Link 3 support, Progression Composer for arpeggios

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative and unique approach
- 🚀 Powerful and deep functionality
- ✨ Inspiring creative tool
- 🎨 Visually appealing GUI
- 🎧 Great sound quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Steep learning curve
- 😵 Unintuitive interface
- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🎛️ Cluttered UI design
- ⏳ Time-consuming to master

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes with IAA/Audiobus
- Doesn't sync MIDI clock / Ableton Link properly
- Hanging MIDI notes with automation
- Crashes when sending to Dropbox
- Emailing MIDI file issues

**Requested features**

- AUv3 support
- MIDI clock / Ableton Link sync improvements
- Revamp sample import (e.g., zip support)
- Add presets
- MIDI-in support


### HeyDrummer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heydrummer/id6444673287)

Practice and jam with adjustable tempo drum tracks to improve your musical timing. Offers a wide variety of genres and studio-quality sound, with features like a visual metronome and song structure visualization.

**Highlights:** Tempo adjustable drum tracks, Visual metronome, Filter by genre, feel, tempo, time signature, Studio quality drum sound, Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support, Wide variety of genres

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock HeyDrummer | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Different Drummer free?

Different Drummer costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HeyDrummer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Different Drummer or HeyDrummer?

HeyDrummer is rated higher. Different Drummer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while HeyDrummer averages 5.0 from 11 ratings.

### Do Different Drummer or HeyDrummer have ads?

Neither Different Drummer nor HeyDrummer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Different Drummer or HeyDrummer?

Different Drummer ships an update monthly, and HeyDrummer monthly. Most recently, Different Drummer was updated on November 1, 2026 and HeyDrummer on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*