Comparison

Rhythm Ace vs PartyKeys Glow

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

Head to head
About

Rhythm Ace

This app is a faithful simulator of a vintage 1967 drum machine, recreating its authentic analog sounds and rhythm presets. It allows for real-time synthesis of percussion, pattern layering, and individual voice muting for unique groove creation.

Highlights
  • Faithful vintage drum machine simulation
  • Real-time synthesized analog sounds
  • 16 classic rhythm presets
  • Authentic pattern combining
  • Individual voice cancel controls
  • Precision tempo control
Features
Read full description

Rhythm Ace is a faithful simulator of the Ace Tone FR-1 — one of the earliest consumer drum machines, built in Japan in 1967 and the ancestor of the legendary Roland rhythm machines. Every sound is synthesized in real time using classic transistor-style audio circuits — no samples, no loops. Just pure, characterful analog-era percussion the way it was meant to sound. Eight synthesized voices Bass Drum · Snare · Low Conga · High Conga · Cymbal · Claves · Cowbell · Maracas 16 classic rhythm presets Waltz, Bossa Nova, Samba, Rock, Swing, Foxtrot, and more — all faithfully recreated from the original FR-1 diode matrix. Authentic pattern combining Select multiple rhythm buttons to layer patterns exactly like the original hardware — the diode matrix OR-combines their steps, letting you build complex grooves from simple presets. Voice cancel controls Mute individual instruments on the fly with the dedicated cancel buttons, just like the original panel. Precision tempo control Large rotary knob for natural, tactile BPM adjustment. Sample-accurate scheduling Built on a lookahead audio clock for tight, rock-solid timing — no drift, no jitter. Whether you're a vintage gear enthusiast, a music producer hunting for retro textures, or just curious what the dawn of the drum machine sounded like, Rhythm Ace brings a slice of music history to your iPhone.

About

PartyKeys Glow

Features
Read full description

Turn music theory into color. PartyKeys Glow lights up the keys of your PartyKeys keyboard so you can see scales and chords as colors — right while you compose. Add PartyKeys Glow to any track in GarageBand as an Audio Unit. Pick a root note and a scale or chord, tap Light, and the matching keys glow in the exact colors your music maps to. Tap Clear to turn them off. Perfect for kids and beginners learning to play and compose — see the notes light up instead of memorizing them. • See any scale or chord as color on your real keyboard • 12 root notes, plus major, minor, modes and 12 chord types • Works as an Audio Unit inside your favorite music apps • Connects over Bluetooth MIDI • A transparent effect — it never changes your track's sound Requires a PartyKeys 36 keyboard connected over Bluetooth MIDI.

Screenshots

Rhythm Ace1 screens
PartyKeys Glow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PartyKeys Glow at daily against Rhythm Ace's every 2 months. PartyKeys Glow also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rhythm Ace ships an update every 2 months, PartyKeys Glow daily. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Rhythm Ace versus PartyKeys Glow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRhythm AcePartyKeys Glow
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTero AarnioBeijing Visual & Sense Technology Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

Rhythm Ace

No in-app purchases

None

PartyKeys Glow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Rhythm Ace free?
Rhythm Ace is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PartyKeys Glow free?
PartyKeys Glow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Rhythm Ace or PartyKeys Glow have ads?
Neither Rhythm Ace nor PartyKeys Glow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rhythm Ace or PartyKeys Glow?
Rhythm Ace ships an update every 2 months, and PartyKeys Glow daily. Most recently, Rhythm Ace was updated on October 31, 2026 and PartyKeys Glow on October 29, 2026.

Other comparisons