Comparison

PolyCyclo vs PadDrums

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

Head to head
About

PolyCyclo

Features
Read full description

Use PolyCyclo as a visual metronome. Set any whole-number tempo from 40 to 240 BPM, find a tempo with Tap, and turn on an independent reference pulse. Watch rhythm take shape as moving points, glowing traces, and polygons. Swipe between rhythms and sound sets, edit the pattern, save favorites with the star, and share a loop as MP4. Without an account or purchase, BPM, Tap Tempo, and the reference pulse are unlimited. Playback, the existing editing controls, star saves, and short watermarked MP4 export (15 seconds at 720p) are also included. Choose from the included selection of rhythms and sound sets. PolyCyclo Studio is an optional, one-time, non-consumable purchase. It unlocks all 312 rhythm presets, all 16 sound sets, watermark-free MP4 export up to 60 seconds at 1080p, and background playback. Restore the purchase any time from Settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

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

PolyCyclo4 screens
PadDrums1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PadDrums at none against PolyCyclo's 2. PadDrums also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 days). PolyCyclo's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.5). On price 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. PolyCyclo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PadDrums asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PolyCyclo ships an update every 4 days, PadDrums every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 2 level
PolyCyclo versus PadDrums: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolyCycloPadDrums
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTaichi UmekiKouki Yoshimoto

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PolyCyclo

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Access14 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Access14 Days trial$24.991 Year
None

PadDrums

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PolyCyclo free?
PolyCyclo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PadDrums free?
PadDrums is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PolyCyclo or PadDrums have ads?
PadDrums shows ads; PolyCyclo does not.
Which is updated more often, PolyCyclo or PadDrums?
PolyCyclo ships an update every 4 days, and PadDrums every 2 days. Most recently, PolyCyclo was updated on October 1, 2026 and PadDrums on October 5, 2026.

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