Comparison

Perc8 vs zpunk

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

Head to head
About

Perc8

Create complex electronic music with a professional drum synthesizer and step sequencer. Design unique sounds with multiple engines, filters, and effects. Build intricate patterns and full arrangements with advanced sequencing features.

Highlights
  • 8 independent synthesizer voices
  • Multiple percussion engine families
  • Advanced filters and distortion
  • Step sequencer with probability and p-locks
  • Pattern chaining for full arrangements
  • AUv3 and standalone app support
  • Professional effects: delay, reverb, chorus
Features
Read full description

Perc8 is a professional drum synthesizer and step sequencer designed for techno, acid, industrial, and experimental electronic music. Build anything from tight loops to complete arrangements with eight independent synthesizer voices, deep per-step control, flexible effects, and a dedicated master bus. SOUND DESIGN Choose from a broad collection of kick, snare, clap, cymbal, hat, percussion, noise, tonal, and synth engines. Five purpose-built FM engines cover FM Kick, Snare, Hat, Perc, and Tone. Digital Perc adds a 16 × 16 WAVE × SHAPE sound space for animated digital percussion. Start quickly with 40 curated factory voice presets, then reshape them through Perc8’s complete synthesis and processing architecture. Every voice provides eight expressive engine macros plus resonant filters, EQ, drive, amplitude shaping, dual LFOs, effects sends, and output routing. Optional Drive Match on each voice and the master bus helps you judge saturation character without added loudness dominating the comparison. SEQUENCING & ARRANGING Program beats with probability, trigger conditions, fills, retriggering, ties, variable pattern lengths, and up to 16 parameter locks per step. Arrange pattern entries into Blocks, set repeats and Fill behavior, mute voices independently per entry, and draw long-form parameter automation with multiple interpolation shapes across the chain. ADAPTIVE WORKSPACE Perc8 adapts its editor to the available space. Work quickly in the compact iPhone and AUv3 layouts, or use dedicated full-screen Pattern, Chain, FX, and Master workspaces on iPad. Controls remain direct and touch-focused across standalone and hosted use. EFFECTS & MIXING Process voices through a dub-style stereo delay, algorithmic reverb, and chorus/flanger modulation, all with sequencer automation. Mix all eight voices with level, pan, mute, solo, EQ, sends, and flexible bus routing. Finish the kit with stereo image controls, master EQ, drive, Drive Match, trim, and limiting. STANDALONE & AUV3 Use Perc8 as a standalone instrument or as an AUv3 plug-in in hosts such as AUM. Route voices to individual outputs, synchronize to host transport, automate parameters, control voices over MIDI, and save complete projects, kits, or individual voice presets. KEY FEATURES • Eight independent drum-synth voices • FM Kick, FM Snare, FM Hat, FM Perc, and FM Tone • 16 × 16 Digital Perc WAVE × SHAPE sound space • Broad analog-inspired, digital, metallic, noise, and tonal engine collection • Eight musical macros per engine • Resonant filters, EQ, drive, amplitude shaping, and dual LFOs per voice • Optional voice and master Drive Match • Probability, conditions, fills, ties, retriggering, and up to 16 parameter locks per step • Block-based arrangements, per-entry voice mutes, and timeline automation • Delay, reverb, and chorus/flanger effects • Eight-channel mixer and complete master bus • Multiple audio outputs and MIDI routing • Standalone and AUv3 operation • Adaptive iPhone, iPad, and hosted layouts MANUAL & TUTORIALS See the Help page in Perc8 for the full manual and guided workflows, or visit terrarum.net/perc8.html.

About

zpunk

Features
Read full description

zpunk zpunk is a pocket groovebox built for fast music creation. Tap in a beat, chop a sample, sketch a bassline, and build patterns in seconds. Inspired by classic hardware grooveboxes, zpunk brings a fast, hands-on workflow to mobile so you can capture ideas anytime. Whether you're experimenting with rhythms, building loops, or sketching full grooves, zpunk keeps the focus on speed and creativity. Features Drum Sequencer Program rhythms on a 16-step drum grid with multiple drum voices. • Kick, snare, clap, hats, and percussion • Fast step editing workflow • Per-drum volume controls • Multiple hits per step Sample Chopper Load audio and slice it into playable pieces. • Import your own samples • Automatic or manual slice points • Trigger slices from the sequencer • Pitch control for creative sampling Synth Step Sequencer Create basslines and melodies with a built-in synth sequencer. • Step-based note editing • Adjustable note lengths • Live editing while the sequencer runs Chord Track Build chord progressions quickly. • Step-based chord sequencing • Ideal for pads and harmonic layers • Combine with drums and samples Pattern Chaining Arrange patterns into longer sequences. • Build song structures from patterns • Chain multiple grooves together • Ideal for live sketching and experimentation Designed for fast workflow zpunk focuses on quick musical ideas, not complicated menus. Create beats, chop samples, and build patterns in seconds with a simple touch interface designed for mobile. Perfect for • Beat makers • Electronic music producers • Live loop creation • Musical sketching and experimentation Import your own sounds Load your own samples through the Files app and start building beats immediately. Built for mobile music creation zpunk brings the spirit of classic grooveboxes and pocket music devices to your phone, giving you a powerful music sketchpad wherever inspiration hits.

Screenshots

Perc84 screens
zpunk4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: zpunk at weekly against Perc8's monthly. zpunk also leads on price ($4.99 vs $6.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). On 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

Perc8 costs $6.99 and zpunk $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Perc8 ships an update monthly, zpunk weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Perc8 versus zpunk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPerc8zpunk
Price$6.99$4.99 — better
Rating3.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoe TopjianShanna Ragavan

In-app purchases

None

Perc8

No in-app purchases

None

zpunk

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Perc8 free?
Perc8 costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is zpunk free?
zpunk costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Perc8 or zpunk have ads?
Neither Perc8 nor zpunk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Perc8 or zpunk?
Perc8 ships an update monthly, and zpunk weekly. Most recently, Perc8 was updated on October 18, 2026 and zpunk on October 14, 2026.

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