# BK Partner vs KORG iM1

The clearest difference is price: BK Partner at Free against KORG iM1's $29.99. BK Partner also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 12.0). KORG iM1's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (1K vs 6). On update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

BK Partner is free to download; KORG iM1 costs $29.99 up front. KORG iM1 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. BK Partner asks for nothing beyond the download.

KORG iM1 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KORG iM1 has 1K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of BK Partner's written reviews are positive against 82% of KORG iM1's.

BK Partner ships an update every 12 months, KORG iM1 every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BK Partner | KORG iM1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $29.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bk-partner/id591061937/reviews) | **[4.7 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-im1/id966030326/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **1K** |
| Positive reviews | 60.9% of reviews | **81.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 7 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 200 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Roland Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/387333694) | [KORG INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363714046) |

## What reviewers say

### BK Partner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bk-partner/id591061937)

Control your Roland BK-series instrument's sounds and accompaniments from your iPad. It mirrors the instrument's front panel for quick access to functions, tones, and rhythms. Supports Core MIDI and Roland Wireless Connection.

**Highlights:** Browse and select instrument tones, Control musical accompaniments, Duplicate instrument's front control panel on iPad, Fast visual access to main functions, Support for Core MIDI, Support for Roland Wireless Connection

**In-app purchases:** none


### KORG iM1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-im1/id966030326)

This app faithfully reproduces the legendary M1 synthesizer, offering its iconic sounds and expanded features for modern music creation. It provides a vast library of presets and intuitive performance tools, making it accessible to both experienced musicians and beginners.

**Highlights:** Faithful reproduction of original M1 sound, Expanded filter resonance and 18 effects, Gigantic library of 3,300 sounds, Intuitive KAOSS pad for performance, Smart Sound Browser for quick sound selection, Compatible with KORG Gadget

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| M1 Cards Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| T1 Cards Pack | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Authentic M1 sound reproduction
- 💰 Great value for money
- 🎹 Faithful recreation of the original hardware
- 🎨 Powerful sound customization options
- 🔗 Works well with MIDI controllers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or stability issues
- 🔇 Low output volume compared to other apps
- 🤔 Confusing UI for patch editing and saving
- 🔴 Missing AUv3 support for integration with DAWs

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing or missing purchased sound cards
- Bluetooth MIDI connectivity issues
- Compatibility problems with certain iOS versions or devices

**Requested features**

- Add AUv3 support for better DAW integration
- Improve preset management and saving capabilities
- Increase master volume control options
- Expand sound library with more cards/expansions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BK Partner free?

BK Partner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is KORG iM1 free?

KORG iM1 costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BK Partner or KORG iM1?

KORG iM1 is rated higher. BK Partner averages 4.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while KORG iM1 averages 4.7 from 1K ratings.

### Do BK Partner or KORG iM1 have ads?

Neither BK Partner nor KORG iM1 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BK Partner or KORG iM1?

BK Partner ships an update every 12 months, and KORG iM1 every 7 months. Most recently, BK Partner was updated on October 16, 2026 and KORG iM1 on October 22, 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.*