Comparison

Tempo vs Pocket Drums

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

Head to head
About

Tempo

Features
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The fastest way to write and save drum notation. Capture the bar you keep coming back to. Every drummer has that one part. The one that slows you down. The one you repeat over and over. Tempo lets you pull it out, keep it with you, and actually nail it. Built for real practice - Quickly input drum notation (including cymbals) - Save bars for later - Export and share as clean images - Play back and hear what you've written - Follow along for that consistent practice experience Perfect for: - Drummers working through tricky sections - Teachers sharing bite-sized exercises - Capturing ideas without friction No clutter. No learning curve. No timelines. No full compositions. Just fast, focused notation when you need it. Terms and conditions for Tempo Premium: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pocket Drums

This app serves as a portable drum trainer, offering structured lessons and visual aids to help users learn drumming techniques and practice rhythms. It features tempo control, diverse music styles, and progress tracking for aspiring drummers.

Highlights
  • Structured drum lessons
  • Visual drum kit maps
  • Adjustable tempo control
  • Premium drum tracks
  • Progress tracking
  • Practice anywhere
Features
Read full description

Pocket Drums is your ultimate portable drum trainer and practice studio. Learn drums, master rudiments, and practice anywhere — no full kit required. Download Pocket Drums and start drumming now! LEARN & PRACTICE ANYWHERE - Structured Lessons: Master beginner grooves, essential rudiments, drum fills, and advanced techniques. - Visual Drum Maps: See every hit in real time with an interactive visual kit map. - Total Tempo Control: Adjust the BPM, loop difficult bars, and practice at your own pace. - All Music Styles: Explore premium drum tracks across rock, jazz, funk, metal, hip-hop, and latin. - Track Your Progress: Save lessons to your library and log your daily practice time. Whether you are practicing on a drum pad or a full drum set, build real skills today.

Screenshots

Tempo3 screens
Pocket Drums3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pocket Drums at none against Tempo's 1. Tempo's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Tempo sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $14.99 per year. Pocket Drums asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tempo ships an update every 5 days, Pocket Drums every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Tempo versus Pocket Drums: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTempoPocket Drums
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size78 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDean HetheringtonSmark Ai

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Tempo

Subscriptions1
  • Premium$14.991 Year
None

Pocket Drums

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pocket Drums free?
Pocket Drums is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Tempo or Pocket Drums have ads?
Neither Tempo nor Pocket Drums shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tempo or Pocket Drums?
Tempo ships an update every 5 days, and Pocket Drums every 4 days. Most recently, Tempo was updated on October 25, 2026 and Pocket Drums on October 24, 2026.

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