# The Oscillator vs Drambo

The clearest difference is price: The Oscillator at Free against Drambo's $24.99. The Oscillator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). Drambo's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

The Oscillator is free to download; Drambo costs $24.99 up front. Drambo sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. The Oscillator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Drambo holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drambo has 330 ratings behind it against 58, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of The Oscillator's written reviews are positive against 87% of Drambo's.

The Oscillator ships an update every 5 months, Drambo every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Oscillator | Drambo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $24.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (58 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-oscillator/id640819682/reviews) | **[4.8 (330 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drambo/id1469365718/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 58 | **330** |
| Positive reviews | 84.8% of reviews | **86.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 4 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kymatica AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/522046659) | [BeepStreet](https://appshunter.io/developer/321412321) |

## What reviewers say

### The Oscillator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-oscillator/id640819682)

Generate tones and noise with adjustable lowpass filters and panning. Choose from sine, triangle, sawtooth, and square waveforms. Precisely tune frequencies in Hz or MIDI notes.

**Highlights:** Two oscillators, One noise generator, Individual lowpass filters, Panning control, Four waveforms (sine, triangle, sawtooth, square), Precise frequency tuning (Hz/MIDI), Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Useful for various purposes (sleep, tinnitus, testing)
- 🎵 Good for sound experimentation
- 🔊 Precise frequency and gain control
- 🎚️ Multiple oscillators and noise generator

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Stopped working properly
- 🐛 Only noise comes out
- 🐛 Output levels wildly different
- 🐛 Not working in new version
- ❌ Basic and incomplete

**Reported bugs**

- Stopped working properly
- Only noise comes out
- Output levels wildly different
- New version is not working
- Can't play one osc without the other

**Requested features**

- More functions (e.g., shorten waves, good bass)
- Multiple layers for simultaneous playback
- AUV3 support
- Run in background and mix with audio
- Four oscillators simultaneously


### Drambo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drambo/id1469365718)

This app offers a flexible sound design experience, allowing users to build beats, create synthesizers, and process audio with effects. Its innovative modular system simplifies connections and organization, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians. It functions as a standalone application or a plugin within a DAW.

**Highlights:** Modular sound design, Intuitive cable-less connections, Advanced sequencer, Standalone and AUv3 plugin, Over 140 modules, Polyphonic stereo processing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Granular extension | $4.99 | one-time |
| Waves extension | $4.99 | one-time |
| Formants extension | $4.99 | one-time |
| DSP extensions 1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Visual extension | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Incredibly powerful and flexible
- 🎨 Endless creative possibilities
- 👍 Intuitive and well-designed interface
- 🔧 Modular synth capabilities
- 🎛️ Excellent sequencing and groove box features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Limited undo/redo functionality
- 🔊 Audio export issues (pitch/tempo problems)
- 🔀 Lack of dedicated audio track support

**Reported bugs**

- Audio cutting out after 5 minutes of use
- Presets and patches not loading properly
- Incompatibility with certain iOS devices

**Requested features**

- Stem/track export functionality
- MIDI CC learn and external control
- Ableton Link support
- More parameter control and modulation options
- Improved piano roll and sequencing tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Oscillator free?

The Oscillator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Drambo free?

Drambo costs $24.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Oscillator or Drambo?

Drambo is rated higher. The Oscillator averages 4.3 out of 5 from 58 ratings, while Drambo averages 4.8 from 330 ratings.

### Do The Oscillator or Drambo have ads?

Neither The Oscillator nor Drambo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Oscillator or Drambo?

The Oscillator ships an update every 5 months, and Drambo every 5 weeks. Most recently, The Oscillator was updated on October 17, 2026 and Drambo on October 20, 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.*