Comparison

EarDrum vs StickTime

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

Head to head
About

EarDrum

This app provides drummers with tools for timing, rhythm training, and song learning. It offers real-time feedback, custom exercises, and progress tracking for both practice and teaching. Supports various drum setups and import options.

Highlights
  • Timing and rudiment exercises
  • Ear training and memory exercises
  • MIDI song import and play-along
  • Real-time visual timing feedback
  • Velocity feedback for dynamics
  • Customizable exercises for educators
  • Progress tracking dashboard
Features
Read full description

EarDrum is an all-in-one drum practice app, built by a drummer for drummers. Improve your timing and groove, train active listening and musical memory, and learn the songs you love. Whether you're practicing at home or building lessons for your students, EarDrum gives your practice structure — and real-time feedback on every hit you play. Use it with your electronic drums, MIDI controller, practice pad, or on-screen kit — import MIDI files and Clone Hero charts, create custom exercises, and track progress over time. FOR DRUMMERS - Growing library of timing exercises and rudiments for subdivisions, accents, grooves, independence, and double bass - Collections that play your chosen exercises back-to-back — for building structured, repeatable practice routines - Ear training exercises of increasing complexity — recognize rhythms by ear and play them back from memory - A short Getting Started course for building rhythmic foundations - Tempo-changing sessions that build speed, control, and endurance - Focused practice built from the song sections you're learning, teacher assignments, or drum book exercises - MIDI song import for play-along practice with looping and custom sections - Clone Hero song import — play community drum charts at the difficulty you choose - Metronome with subdivision and time signature selection FOR EDUCATORS - Custom timing and ear training exercises, from simple patterns to multi-bar phrases, tailored to your students - A simple, fast sequencer-style exercise builder - Shareable exercise links your students or followers can import and practice in the app PLAY YOUR WAY - Support for e-drums via USB or Bluetooth MIDI, a practice pad using the built-in mic, or virtual drums on screen - DAW-grid and sheet music views for different ways of reading drum parts - Adjustable tempo, repeat settings, and volume levels TRACK YOUR PROGRESS - Real-time visual timing feedback — see whether notes land early, late, or on time - Velocity feedback for dynamics exercises — train the stroke technique behind clean, consistent accents, taps, and ghost notes - Comprehensive session results with rushing/dragging analysis and accuracy/velocity charts - A practice dashboard with history, streaks, total time practiced, and recent sessions EarDrum is more than a metronome or a rhythm game. It's a practice studio for drummers, percussionists, teachers, and anyone serious about rhythm — a place to become a better musician. Terms of service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://ear-drum.app/privacy/

About

StickTime

Features
Read full description

Turn your practice pad into a coach. StickTime pairs the full reference library of drum rudiments with a metronome that tracks how fast you can play each one, so every session builds toward a number you can watch climb. The 40 International Drum Rudiments, done right: - All 40 rudiments, grouped into the four families every drummer learns: rolls, diddles, flams, and drags. - Each rudiment shows its sticking pattern, a short how-to, and a difficulty level. - A visual and haptic metronome with a tempo ramp that climbs hands-free while you play. - Personal best BPM for every rudiment, with a tempo-climb chart and a goal you set. - Practice routines: line up rudiments with target tempos and run them one after another. - A session log with a daily streak and your total practice time. - Groove notes on any rudiment, so the fix you found last week is there next week. - A daily practice reminder to keep the streak alive. - Syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iCloud. Free and Pro: - Free includes 8 rudiments across all four families, the metronome, routines, streaks, and stats. - Pro unlocks all 40 rudiments and your full tempo history, and adds CSV and PDF export of your bests, sessions, and reports. StickTime Pro is $3.99 USD per month, $24.99 USD per year, or $59.99 USD once for lifetime access. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. Cancel anytime in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions; cancellation applies at the end of the current period. Terms (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

EarDrum4 screens
StickTime4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: EarDrum at every 5 days against StickTime's every 2 weeks. EarDrum also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. EarDrum sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and StickTime sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EarDrum ships an update every 5 days, StickTime every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
EarDrum versus StickTime: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEarDrumStickTime
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size106 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOleksiy KhmelyevskyyInnovaLabWorks

In-app purchases

3 purchases

EarDrum

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Pro Annual14 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$29.99
3 purchases

StickTime

Subscriptions2
  • StickTime Pro$5.991 Month
  • StickTime Pro$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • StickTime Lifetime$12.99

Questions

Is EarDrum free?
EarDrum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is StickTime free?
StickTime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do EarDrum or StickTime have ads?
Neither EarDrum nor StickTime shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EarDrum or StickTime?
EarDrum ships an update every 5 days, and StickTime every 2 weeks. Most recently, EarDrum was updated on September 24, 2026 and StickTime on September 17, 2026.

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