Comparison

Cajón Drum vs VariSpeed

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

Head to head
About

Cajón Drum

This app simulates a Peruvian cajón box drum and a full drum kit, offering a variety of sounds and dynamic responses. It allows for multitouch playing, adjustable reverb, and different wood textures to customize your sound.

Highlights
  • Multiple cajón and drum sounds
  • Selectable dynamic response
  • Polyphonic and multitouch playback
  • Adjustable variation and reverb
  • Choice of wood textures
  • Simulated egg shaker
Read full description

Cajón Drum is a musical instrument that gives you the best of a drum kit and a Peruvian cajón box drum, all in the palm of your hand. FEATURES • ten different cajón and drum sounds that musically morph across the screen • selectable dynamic response: tap softly and sound is soft, tap harder and the sound increases in volume • fully polyphonic and multitouch: tapping doesn't kill the previous note, and holding the last note down won't kill the next • selectable variation setting adds subtle changes to each note • selectable reverb adds some room to your sound • choose between five different kinds of wood to change the mood • it even simulates the egg shaker in your rolled-up pant leg trick: great for holding an eighth note pattern, now even more realistic with with up and down sounds INSTRUCTIONS 1. Hold lengthwise with the musical notes at the top and the info button on the bottom right. 2. Tap near the top of the screen for kick drum sounds and near the bottom for snare drum sounds. Tap throughout the middle for a smooth mix of both. 3. Tap the musical notes for shaker sounds. Are you left handed? You can set the shaker position to be on the left or on the right side. 4. Choose your own favorite kick and snare sounds. Mix and match. 5. Dynamics, variation, and reverb can be switched on and off.

About

VariSpeed

This app simulates a classic tape echo machine, replicating the functionality of a specific vintage hardware unit. It allows for variable delay times by altering the speed of the tape mechanism.

Highlights
  • Classic tape echo simulation
  • Variable delay time
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • Replicates vintage hardware
Read full description

Please note: this is an AUv3 plugin that can be used with compatible host Apps. GSi VariSpeed is a simulation of the WEM Copicat IC-400 Belt Drive VariSpeed model, the first tape echo machine made by WEM with a DC capstan motor capable of changing speed, thus varying the delay time. GSi VariSpeed replicates the hardware instrument “as is” with all its pros and cons, without any additional feature. This can be considered as the second chapter of a tribute to the genius of Mr. Charlie Watkins that GSi began back in 2008 with the release of the freeware "WatKat", which was a simulation of the "Custom Copicat".

Screenshots

Cajón Drum4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VariSpeed at 100% against Cajón Drum's 0%. Cajón Drum's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $11.99) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 41 months). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Cajón Drum costs $0.99 and VariSpeed $11.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cajón Drum ships an update every 3 months, VariSpeed every 41 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Cajón Drum versus VariSpeed: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCajón DrumVariSpeed
Price$0.99 — better$11.99
Rating—4.9 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—8 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 41 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid AshtonGenuine Soundware

Customer experience

Cajón Drum

Written reviews5 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative80.0%

VariSpeed

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Cajón Drum

No in-app purchases

None

VariSpeed

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cajón Drum free?
Cajón Drum costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VariSpeed free?
VariSpeed costs $11.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Cajón Drum or VariSpeed have ads?
Neither Cajón Drum nor VariSpeed shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cajón Drum or VariSpeed?
Cajón Drum ships an update every 3 months, and VariSpeed every 41 months. Most recently, Cajón Drum was updated on November 1, 2026 and VariSpeed on November 3, 2026.

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