Comparison

S vs PadDrums

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

Head to head
About

S

This app is a polyphonic synthesizer that works with specific hardware. It offers a variety of sound engines, filters, and effects for creating unique audio textures. Advanced modulation options and a flexible routing system allow for deep sound design.

Highlights
  • Dual engine slots per voice
  • Multiple sound flavors (analog, wavetable, FM, speech)
  • Classic and Modern filter modes
  • Advanced FX rack
  • Two free-routing LFOs
  • Unified mod matrix
  • Standalone, AU, and AUv3 formats
Features
Read full description

s-2 is a polyphonic synthesizer designed to work with the Roland AIRA Compact S-1. ENGINE Each voice runs two parallel engine slots that mix together. Pick a sound flavor per slot, including: • Classic analog — saw, square, sub, noise, pulse-width • Wavetable • FM • Speech • Chord • Plucked string FILTER AND FX Classic mode runs a vintage-style ladder filter into a simple Delay → Chorus → Reverb chain. Modern mode swaps in a multi-mode SVF (LP / BP / HP) followed by a 3-slot Advanced FX rack with Bitcrusher, Drive, Flanger, Phaser, Auto-Filter, Tape Delay, Plate Reverb and Chorus. MODULATION Two free-routing LFOs (sine / triangle / saw / square / random / noise, with optional clock-sync), a dedicated filter envelope with two destination slots, and a unified mod matrix dialog that visualizes every routing in one place. Click any knob in Learn mode to assign — no digging through menus. FORMATS • Standalone for iOS • Audio Unit (AU) for Logic Pro and other AU hosts • AUv3 plugin for iPad / iPhone in AUM, GarageBand, Cubasis and more - s-2 is an independent third-party application. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Roland Corporation. "Roland", "AIRA", "AIRA Compact", and "S-1" are trademarks of Roland Corporation, used here only to describe MIDI compatibility between this app and that hardware.

About

PadDrums

Features
Read full description

PadDrums turns your iPhone into a full electronic drum kit — no hardware required. ■ 4 Sound Kits Switch instantly between Acoustic, 808, Techno, and LoFi kits. Play Kick, Snare, Hi-Hat, Open Hat, Toms, Crash, and Ride across 9 responsive pads. ■ Fully Customizable Pads Reassign any sound to any pad and build your own custom kit from scratch. ■ Preset Beat Patterns Trigger 2-beat, 4-beat, 8-beat, or 16-beat rhythm patterns with one tap. Fine-tune the groove with BPM and swing controls. ■ Built-in FX Shape your sound with reverb and other effects, right on the pad. ■ True Multi-Touch Hit multiple pads at once without dropouts, for a real, expressive playing feel. Whether you're sketching a beat, practicing rhythm, or just jamming — PadDrums puts a full drum kit in your pocket.

Screenshots

S3 screens
PadDrums1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: S at none against PadDrums's shown. S also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.5). PadDrums's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, 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

S ships an update every 6 weeks, PadDrums every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
S versus PadDrums: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPadDrums
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMathias KirkerødKouki Yoshimoto

In-app purchases

None

S

No in-app purchases

None

PadDrums

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is S free?
S is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PadDrums free?
PadDrums is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do S or PadDrums have ads?
PadDrums shows ads; S does not.
Which is updated more often, S or PadDrums?
S ships an update every 6 weeks, and PadDrums every 2 days. Most recently, S was updated on October 31, 2026 and PadDrums on November 7, 2026.

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