# DM1 for iPhone vs ButterSynth

The clearest difference is price: DM1 for iPhone at $4.99 against ButterSynth's $19.99. DM1 for iPhone also leads on review sentiment (73% vs 59%) and chart position (#157 vs unranked). ButterSynth's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

DM1 for iPhone costs $4.99 and ButterSynth $19.99 up front. DM1 for iPhone sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ButterSynth asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for DM1 for iPhone against 4.0 for ButterSynth. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 80 and 63 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of DM1 for iPhone's written reviews are positive against 59% of ButterSynth's.

DM1 for iPhone ships an update every 3 months, ButterSynth every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DM1 for iPhone | ButterSynth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $19.99 |
| Rating | **[4.1 (80 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dm1-for-iphone/id526650611/reviews)** | [4.0 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buttersynth/id1497419006/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **80** | 63 |
| Positive reviews | **73.3% of reviews** | 59.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#157** | — |
| Size | 253 MB | 468 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fingerlab](https://appshunter.io/developer/412786610) | [Arto Vaarala](https://appshunter.io/developer/890886114) |

## What reviewers say

### DM1 for iPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dm1-for-iphone/id526650611)

**Currently charting:** #157 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Transform your iPhone into a powerful beat-making machine with this advanced vintage drum machine. Create intricate rhythms with a step sequencer, play beats on drum pads, and apply a wide range of real-time effects. Easily compose songs and export your creations.

**Highlights:** 154 electronic drum kits, Step sequencer, Drum pads with quantized recording, Mixer with channel controls, Real-time FX trackpads, Song composer with timeline editing, Instrument mode for melodies

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Packs | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Best drum machine app
- 🎨 Great variety of drum sounds and kits
- 🎚️ Intuitive and easy to use interface
- 🔊 High-quality sound
- 💰 Excellent value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 📱 Compatibility problems on newer devices
- 🔋 Battery drain
- 🔇 Lack of individual track export
- 🕰️ Inaccurate tempo and timing

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Audio distortion and glitches
- Sync and timing issues when exporting to other apps
- Unresponsive controls and UI elements

**Requested features**

- Add support for more time signatures (3/4, 5/4, etc.)
- Implement Ableton Link for better sync with other apps
- Allow importing and using custom samples
- Add more effects and per-channel processing
- Implement a save/revert function to avoid losing progress


### ButterSynth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buttersynth/id1497419006)

This powerful synthesizer app offers a hybrid approach, combining wavetable, FM, and sample-based synthesis. Create unique sounds with a vast sonic range, advanced modulation, and a built-in effects rack. It caters to both experienced sound designers and beginners with extensive presets.

**Highlights:** Hybrid 6-oscillator synthesis (wavetable, FM, sample), Built-in wavetable editor, FM engine with 4 operators, Sample and Granulator engines, 32-slot modulation matrix, Internal FX rack with 16 modules, Extensive preset library

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Deep sound design capabilities
- 🎛️ Versatile modulation matrix
- 🔊 Great sound quality
- 💡 Innovative wavetable generator
- 🌟 Serum-like experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📱 Fiddly on small screens
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Disappears in Cubasis
- 🐛 Spikes CPU usage
- 🐛 Crashes on patch change

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing with AUM
- Disappears in Cubasis randomly
- Crashes all the time inside Logic
- Changing a patch spikes CPU to 99%
- Crashes on every patch change

**Requested features**

- MPE popup possible on top of the auv3
- Button to hide built-in keyboard
- Buffer size option
- Additional MIDI mappings (e.g., arpeggiator toggle)
- Sustain pedal support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DM1 for iPhone free?

DM1 for iPhone costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is ButterSynth free?

ButterSynth costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DM1 for iPhone or ButterSynth?

DM1 for iPhone is rated higher. DM1 for iPhone averages 4.1 out of 5 from 80 ratings, while ButterSynth averages 4.0 from 63 ratings.

### Do DM1 for iPhone or ButterSynth have ads?

Neither DM1 for iPhone nor ButterSynth shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DM1 for iPhone or ButterSynth?

DM1 for iPhone ships an update every 3 months, and ButterSynth every 2 months. Most recently, DM1 for iPhone was updated on October 24, 2026 and ButterSynth on October 21, 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.*