nils vs Ruismaker FM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Real-time audio effects
- Bitcrush, delay, gain
- Sampler functionality
- Minimalistic looper
- Audiobus support
- Export audio
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..:: || 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).
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.
- FM synthesis engine for percussion
- Create custom drum sounds
- Euclidean sequencer
- AUv3 compatible
- No samples used
- MIDI CC controllable
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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
Verdict
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
nils costs $1.99 and Ruismaker FM $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nils | Ruismaker FM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (13 ratings) | 5.0 (54 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 54 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 11.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Erik Sigth | Bram Bos |
Customer experience
nils
Ruismaker FM
In-app purchases
nils
No in-app purchases
Ruismaker FM
No in-app purchases









