Comparison

nils vs Ruismaker FM

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

Head to head
About

nils

This real-time audio effect machine offers bitcrush, delay, and gain for distortion. It functions as a sampler and looper, allowing for lo-fi sound manipulation for both beginners and professionals. Supports Audiobus and various audio inputs.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio effects
  • Bitcrush, delay, gain
  • Sampler functionality
  • Minimalistic looper
  • Audiobus support
  • Export audio
Features
Read full description

..:: || NEW || AudioBus Support || ::.. Real time bitcrush, sampler and looper. Nils is a real time sound effect machine with a minimalistic looper. It comes with bitcrush, delay and gain for distortion. As input you can use the internal microphone, your earpods or accessories like iRig. Can also be used as a sampler, by holding the delay buffer and changing its phase. Lo-fi looping for both beginners and professionals. +++ Audiobus (input/effects/output). +++ Real time. +++ Bitchrush. +++ Sample rate (1 Hz - 44100 Hz). +++ Delay. +++ Hold delay buffer. +++ Play delay buffer. +++ Gain (goes up to 11). +++ Limiter. +++ Tape looper. +++ Export (email, soundcloud, MAPI audio copy).

About

Ruismaker FM

Design unique percussion sounds from scratch with a flexible synthesis engine. Create everything from traditional drums to unconventional effects. Offers a standalone Euclidean sequencer for pattern creation and export options.

Highlights
  • FM synthesis engine for percussion
  • Create custom drum sounds
  • Euclidean sequencer
  • AUv3 compatible
  • No samples used
  • MIDI CC controllable
Features
Read full description

Here comes the the crazy twin-sister of Ruismaker, designed for people who want to design their own percussion sounds from scratch. Ruismaker FM's simple, yet flexible synthesis engine lets you create anything from snaredrums, kickdrums and spacy toms to weird and unconventional percussive sounds and effects. Ruismaker FM is a unique drumsynth plugin (i.e. it does not use samples), which is coupled with a creative Euclidean sequencer when run in standalone mode. The plugin is fully AUv3 (Audio Unit) compatible: - Seamless integration with Garageband and other AU hosts - Audio Unit Instrument: making music on iOS doesn't get more convenient - Supports AUv3 Multi-Out in AUM and ApeMatrix - Each sound is modeled using authentic analog and FM algorithms; - Comes with dozens of unique customizable models - Does not use any samples; all sounds are synthesized in realtime, on the fly - Light on the CPU, so you can run lots of Ruismaker FMs simultaneously - Fully automatable parameters (requires host support) and MIDI CC controllable - Has its own preset manager The standalone sequencer is refreshingly different: - Program patterns using Euclidean algorithms - Powerful random feature and mutation probability settings per channel - Syncs with Ableton Link or MIDI Clock - Exports WAV and MIDI - Compatible with Audiobus 3 (including MIDI IN/OUT mode) - CoreMIDI In and Out - AU MIDI output for on-screen pads User manual available on Ruismaker.com

Screenshots

nils4 screens
Ruismaker FM2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: nils at $1.99 against Ruismaker FM's $4.99. nils also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 11.0). Ruismaker FM's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 72%) and ratings volume (54 vs 13). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

nils costs $1.99 and Ruismaker FM $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ruismaker FM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 54 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of nils's written reviews are positive against 83% of Ruismaker FM's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
nils versus Ruismaker FM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameternilsRuismaker FM
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.8 (13 ratings)5.0 (54 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1354 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErik SigthBram Bos

Customer experience

nils

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive72.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative22.2%

Ruismaker FM

All ratings54 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral1.9%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%

In-app purchases

None

nils

No in-app purchases

None

Ruismaker FM

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is nils free?
nils costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ruismaker FM free?
Ruismaker FM costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, nils or Ruismaker FM?
Ruismaker FM is rated higher. nils averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Ruismaker FM averages 5.0 from 54 ratings.
Do nils or Ruismaker FM have ads?
Neither nils nor Ruismaker FM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, nils or Ruismaker FM?
nils ships an update every 5 weeks, and Ruismaker FM every 5 weeks. Most recently, nils was updated on October 23, 2026 and Ruismaker FM on October 24, 2026.

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