Punchline Drum Machine vs KICK
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Punchline Drum Machine
Create beats with a powerful yet intuitive iOS drum machine. Record live tweaks, automate effects, and integrate with your DAW using AUv3 plugins. Import custom sounds and export your creations.
- 16-step sequencer with live recording
- 16 drum sounds with adjustable parameters
- 16 punch-in effects with tweakable parameters
- Real-time automation of knobs and effects
- Import WAV files for custom kits
- Export patterns and chains as WAVs
- AUv3 plugin integration for DAWs
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The drum machine that punches above its weight. Punchline is a playful iOS drum machine and sequencer packed with power. Create beats, record live tweaks, and automate effects. Use AUv3 plugins for integrated drum patterns, or transform live audio with rhythmic gates and punch-in effects. Features • 16-step sequencer with live recording, retrigs, probability, and pattern chaining • 16 drum sounds with pitch, length, filter, and level controls • 16 punch-in effects: reverb, delay, distortion, filters, modulation, and more, each with their own tweakable parameters • Real-time automation of knobs and effects • Import WAV files to build our your custom kit library • Export your patterns or your whole chain as WAVs for use in your favorite DAW • Additional free kits at charles.pizza/apps/punchline/kits Audio Unit Integration Use Punchline in your DAW with full AUv3 plugins: • Punchline Player: Full drum machine and sequencer • Punchline FX: Step-based rhythmic gate and effects processor for live audio • Full MIDI implementations for controlling steps, parameters and triggering effects Why Punchline? From quick sketches to full performances, Punchline makes advanced tools intuitive. Fast, musical, and always fun. Headphones recommended.
KICK
Create powerful analog-style kick drums with a simple interface. Quickly adjust pitch, decay, and tone for a wide range of sounds, from deep bass to punchy techno. Ideal for musicians seeking fast, effective sound design.
- Classic analog kick synthesis
- Adjustable pitch envelope and decay
- Tone control for click/attack
- Velocity sensitive
- Standalone and AUv3 plugin support
- Metronome function
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KICK is an analog-style kick drum synth that does one thing well: making kicks that thump. No endless menus, just four knobs. WHAT YOU GET • Classic analog kick synthesis with pitch envelope and exponential decay • TUNE it anywhere from sub-bass rumble to punchy techno. Kick drum basslines, why not. • DECAY controls how long it rings (quick hits to booms) • PITCH envelope gives you that signature frequency sweep • TONE adds click/attack. • Velocity sensitive for dynamic performances • Includes standalone demo app and an AUv3 plugin in GarageBand • Run Mode allows host app to function as a metronome. WHY ANOTHER KICK DRUM? Because sometimes the perfect kick is the one you can tweak in 10 seconds without diving through seventeen submenus. KICK is retro-inspired, simple to use, and sounds great. You can never have too many kick drums.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Punchline Drum Machine at 5.0 against KICK's 3.0. Punchline Drum Machine also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (9 vs 2). KICK's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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
Punchline Drum Machine costs $4.99 and KICK $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Punchline Drum Machine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 2 respectively.
Punchline Drum Machine ships an update every 5 days, KICK fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Punchline Drum Machine | KICK |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Charles Vestal | Carl Albert Groner |
Customer experience
Punchline Drum Machine
KICK
In-app purchases
Punchline Drum Machine
No in-app purchases
KICK
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Punchline Drum Machine free?
Is KICK free?
Which has better reviews, Punchline Drum Machine or KICK?
Do Punchline Drum Machine or KICK have ads?
Which is updated more often, Punchline Drum Machine or KICK?
Other comparisons
