Comparison

StickPulse vs Drum Journal

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

Head to head
About

StickPulse

Features
Read full description

StickPulse - Professional Drum Timing Analyzer Transform your drumming with real-time timing analysis that helps you develop precision, consistency, and unshakeable pocket. StickPulse is the professional practice tool that shows you exactly where your timing needs work and helps you fix it. INSTANT TIMING FEEDBACK See your timing in real-time as you play. Every hit is analyzed and color-coded: green for locked-in, orange for early, red for late. No more guessing if you are rushing or dragging - StickPulse shows you the truth, down to the millisecond. RUDIMENT TRAINER Master 40 essential rudiments with guided practice sessions: Single and Double Stroke Rolls Paradiddles and Flams Drags, Ruffs and Ratamacues Swiss Triplets and Inverted Paradiddles And many more Each rudiment displays standard music notation with sticking patterns. Practice at any tempo from 40-300 BPM with an integrated metronome. Get scored on accuracy, consistency, and dynamics after every take. DETAILED ANALYSIS After each practice session, dive deep into your performance: Overall timing score and consistency grade Hit-by-hit timing deviation charts Early vs. late percentage breakdown Groove heatmap showing your tendencies Average deviation and tightness metrics Visual waveform with transient markers See exactly which hits were off and by how much. Track your improvement session over session. PRACTICE TOOLS High-precision metronome (40-300 BPM) Count-off before recording starts Adjustable input sensitivity Real-time waveform display Session recording and playback Personal best tracking per rudiment EXPORT AND SHARE (PRO) PDF practice reports with charts and statistics CSV data export for detailed analysis Audio file export of your sessions Share your progress with teachers or bandmates PRO FEATURES Unlock the complete StickPulse experience: Unlimited saved sessions (free: 3 sessions) Full timing analysis suite with advanced charts PDF, CSV, and audio export Detailed deviation statistics and histograms Session comparison and progress tracking Priority feature updates Free trial included - experience Pro features for 7 days. WHO IT IS FOR Drummers serious about improving timing Students working with drum teachers Professionals maintaining performance standards Marching percussionists perfecting ensemble timing Anyone practicing rudiments or pad work HOW IT WORKS Select a rudiment or start a free practice session Tap record and play along with the metronome Get instant timing feedback with color-coded hits Review detailed analysis and statistics Track your progress over time TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE Real-time audio processing with low latency Advanced transient detection algorithms Optimized for practice pads, snare drums, and acoustic kits Works in any practice space (quiet environment recommended) No internet connection required PRIVACY AND QUALITY All audio processing happens on your device No ads, ever - we respect your practice time Your recordings stay private unless you choose to share Professional-grade audio analysis COMING SOON Full drum kit classification (kick, snare, hi-hat) AI-powered coaching feedback Practice loop mode with tempo detection Weekly improvement reports Session goals and achievement tracking Apple Watch integration for stick motion tracking REQUIREMENTS iOS 26.0 or later iPhone (iPad version coming soon) Microphone access Headphones recommended START YOUR JOURNEY Whether you are a beginner learning your first paradiddle or a pro maintaining world-class chops, StickPulse gives you the feedback you need to improve. Download now and discover what precision really feels like. Your timing matters. Make every hit count with StickPulse. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Drum Journal

This app provides real-time feedback on your drumming practice using your device's microphone. It allows you to slow down or loop sections of YouTube drum videos and automatically tracks your practice sessions to help you monitor progress.

Highlights
  • Microphone-based sticking feedback
  • YouTube video playback with speed control
  • Section looping for practice
  • Automatic practice session tracking
  • Community-shared exercises
  • Progress monitoring and streaks
Features
Read full description

Your exercises, your lessons, your rudiments: one list, ready to go. Drum Journal remembers where you left off, keeps the tempo, and gets out of your way. Press start, practice. YOUR ROUTINE, READY TO GO Open the app. The routine you built is queued, timed, and ready to run. Warm-up, rudiments, the YouTube lesson you're working on, laid out the way you want them. No deciding what to play tonight. REAL FEEDBACK ON YOUR TIMING The built-in sticking coach uses your device's microphone to hear you play on a practice pad. Real feedback on your timing, dynamics, and consistency, built into your routine, not a separate tool. PLAY TO A GROOVE, NOT JUST A CLICK Pick a mood and a backing track plays behind the metronome, automatically matched to your tempo. Rudiment practice stops feeling clinical and starts sounding like a room. LEARN ANY SONG AT YOUR OWN SPEED Drop any YouTube drum lesson into your routine. Slow it down, loop the hard bar, mark the section that's killing you. Drum Journal sits on your music stand and stays out of your way. SEE HOW YOU'RE GETTING BETTER Every session logs automatically. Streaks, time on each rudiment, whether your timing is tightening week over week. Show up daily and watch the data confirm what your hands already feel. EXERCISES FROM OTHER DRUMMERS Browse exercises shared by other drummers. Pick what fits your level, drop it into your routine. FREE TO PRACTICE. PRO TO SEE IF IT'S WORKING. Everything you need to build and run your routine is free: exercises, the sticking coach, YouTube practice, streaks, session logs, and background music in the Drift mood. Drum Journal Pro unlocks advanced analytics — see whether your timing is actually tightening, whether one hand plays inconsistent flams, whether your routine is moving the needle. Pro also unlocks the full background-music mood pack, per-exercise history, community sharing, and data export. The practice is simple. Showing up is hard. Drum Journal makes showing up the easy part. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Drum Journal Pro is available as a monthly, annual, or lifetime subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial, if offered, is forfeited upon purchasing a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://drumjournal.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://drumjournal.com/terms

Screenshots

StickPulse4 screens
Drum Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Drum Journal at weekly against StickPulse's every 3 weeks. Drum Journal also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. StickPulse sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Drum Journal sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StickPulse ships an update every 3 weeks, Drum Journal weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
StickPulse versus Drum Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStickPulseDrum Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—8 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB105 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJoshua HarrisonPorath Consulting

In-app purchases

2 purchases

StickPulse

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
5 purchases

Drum Journal

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$34.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$69.99

Questions

Is StickPulse free?
StickPulse is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Drum Journal free?
Drum Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do StickPulse or Drum Journal have ads?
Neither StickPulse nor Drum Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StickPulse or Drum Journal?
StickPulse ships an update every 3 weeks, and Drum Journal weekly. Most recently, StickPulse was updated on October 12, 2026 and Drum Journal on October 16, 2026.

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