Comparison

Impaktor vs ChordPolyPad

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Impaktor

This app transforms any surface into a playable percussion instrument using your device's microphone. It offers a vast sonic palette with advanced sound modules and synthesis types, allowing for a wide range of acoustic, electronic, and industrial tones. Enjoy a realistic virtual drumming experience with low latency and a 6-track recorder.

Highlights
  • Surface-to-percussion instrument transformation
  • Advanced sound module simulation
  • Semi-modular synthesis architecture
  • Physical modeling, FM, and noise shaping synthesis
  • 6-track audio recorder with 3D panning
  • Ultra-low latency performance
Features
Read full description

* "Without doubt the most powerful and genuinely useful percussion app on the App Store right now" Computer Music * Reached the #1 paid music app in 5 countries * SonicTouch (www.sonicstate.com) gold award Impaktor is a drum synthesizer with a vast sonic palette, that turns any surface into a playable percussion instrument. You just slap your desk like you would a real drum. The real acoustical impulses from the built-in microphone are used as an excitation source for advanced sound modules that simulates behavior of membranes, cymbals, metallophones or strings. This makes Impaktor a highly responsive and expressive instrument. With semi-modular architecture and several types of synthesis, Impaktor can produce a wide range of tones, from acoustic, like Tabla, Djembe, Marimba, Cymbals, Metal bars to electronic or industrial sounds. We strongly recommend using the app with wired headphones to avoid acoustic feedback and ensure ultra-low latency. (USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, USB-C headphones or an audio interface). You can use the Impaktor app with a contact microphone or analog drum pad to achieve isolated and sensitive input, reducing ambient noise and enhancing trigger accuracy. Enjoy the most realistic virtual drumming experience available for mobile devices! SYNTHESIZER - Synthesis: physical modeling, frequency modulation, noise shaping - Semi-modular architecture; 2 modules with configurable routing - 2 modulation sources: velocity and lfo-envelope. Almost every parameter can be modulated - Multimode filter, harmonic exciter and several types of amplifiers - Over 90 presets available, more coming soon - No samples used - Ultra low latency  RECORDER - 6 tracks audio recorder - True 3d panning - Auto-quantization with configurable time-signature - Reverb and Delay effects - Audio-copy and wave export

About

ChordPolyPad

This app is a versatile MIDI chord player that allows users to create and play complex chord sets. It offers extensive customization for pads, MIDI controls, and chord generation, functioning as a standalone app or an AUv3 MIDI effect plugin.

Highlights
  • Standalone app and AUv3 MIDI effect plugin
  • 128 pads per preset
  • Customizable X/Y MIDI controllers
  • Advanced random chord generator
  • Internal and external MIDI support
  • Chord filtering and quantizing
  • Preset manager with in-app purchases
Features
Read full description

"ChordPolyPad" is a MIDI chords player that lets you create chord sets using a large internal library, any custom combination of notes, or randomly generated chords. Each preset contains either 8 groups of 16 pads or 2 groups of 64 pads, for a total of 128 pads. In addition to playing chords, each pad can generate customizable MIDI controls on its horizontal and vertical axes, allowing expressive real-time modulation. "ChordPolyPad" can be used as a standalone application or as an AUv3 MIDI effect plug-in. The app supports full internal and external MIDI input and output. An internal sound bank is included for immediate use. The AUv3 MIDI effect plug-in supports multiple instances. A compatible host is required and must support the Audio Unit v3 (AUv3) MIDI effect format. Hosts supporting AUv3 MIDI effect on iOS: Logic Pro, Cubasis, Beatmaker, AUM, Audiobus, NanoStudio, Auria Pro, apeMatrix. Hosts supporting AUv3 MIDI effect on macOS: Logic Pro 10.7 or later. Features: • Standalone application and AUv3 MIDI effect plug-in • 8 groups of 16 pads or 2 groups of 64 pads per preset (128 pads) • Assignable MIDI port and MIDI channel for each pad • Customizable X/Y controller per pad • Per-note velocity control for each chord • Strumming configuration per pad • Copy and paste for pads and groups • Drag and drop chords directly from the library • Chord filtering and quantizing based on the selected scale • Predefined scales and possibility to create custom scales • Advanced random chord generator with diverse musical moods featuring voice leading and context-aware harmonic progressions for naturally flowing compositions • Stop "Audio Background" automatically after inactivity (15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, or never) • Internal sound bank • Receive MIDI notes and control from external devices • Send MIDI to a virtual port usable as MIDI input by other "Core MIDI" compatible apps • Preset manager with support for in-app purchase packs • "Program Change" support • Preset sharing support by "AirDrop", "Mail", "Messages", and other supported services • Native iCloud support • "iCloud Drive" support in the "Files" app on iOS and "Finder" on macOS • Full support for "Windowed Apps" mode on iPad • Undo/Redo Supported MIDI connections: • Virtual "Core MIDI" connections between apps • Any compatible MIDI interface • MIDI over Wi-Fi • MIDI over Bluetooth

Screenshots

Impaktor2 screens
ChordPolyPad3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Impaktor at $6.99 against ChordPolyPad's $17.99. Impaktor also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). ChordPolyPad's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Impaktor costs $6.99 and ChordPolyPad $17.99 up front. ChordPolyPad sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Impaktor asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChordPolyPad holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 53 and 50 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Impaktor's written reviews are positive against 92% of ChordPolyPad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Impaktor ships an update every 12 months, ChordPolyPad every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Impaktor versus ChordPolyPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterImpaktorChordPolyPad
Price$6.99 — better$17.99
Rating3.7 (53 ratings)4.6 (50 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews92.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings53 — better50
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBeepStreetLaurent Colson

Customer experience

Impaktor

All ratings53 ratings
Positive66.0%
Neutral7.5%
Negative26.4%
Written reviews241 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral9.5%
Negative11.6%

ChordPolyPad

All ratings50 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews114 reviews
Positive92.1%
Neutral3.5%
Negative4.4%

Bugs and requests

Impaktor

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes with Inter-App Audio
  • Issues with WAV exports
  • Latency problems on certain devices
  • Compatibility issues with iOS updates
  • Unreliable saving functionality

Requested features

6 requests
  • MIDI support
  • Audio import functionality
  • Ableton Link sync
  • More quantization options
  • Multitrack export
Show 1 more
  • Landscape mode for iPad

ChordPolyPad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Impaktor

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

ChordPolyPad

One-time3
  • Retro Pop$4.99
  • Clubwave$4.99
  • Liminal Spaces$4.99

Questions

Is Impaktor free?
Impaktor costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChordPolyPad free?
ChordPolyPad costs $17.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Impaktor or ChordPolyPad?
ChordPolyPad is rated higher. Impaktor averages 3.7 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while ChordPolyPad averages 4.6 from 50 ratings.
Do Impaktor or ChordPolyPad have ads?
Neither Impaktor nor ChordPolyPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Impaktor or ChordPolyPad?
Impaktor ships an update every 12 months, and ChordPolyPad every 2 months. Most recently, Impaktor was updated on September 21, 2026 and ChordPolyPad on September 23, 2026.

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