# Xkey Plus vs Jazz Drummer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Jazz Drummer at 94% against Xkey Plus's 36%. Jazz Drummer also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.9) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). Xkey Plus's advantage is price (Free vs $17.99) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 14.0). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Xkey Plus is free to download; Jazz Drummer costs $17.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Jazz Drummer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Jazz Drummer has 268 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Xkey Plus's written reviews are positive against 94% of Jazz Drummer's.

Xkey Plus ships an update every 3 months, Jazz Drummer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Xkey Plus | Jazz Drummer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $17.99 |
| Rating | [2.9 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xkey-plus/id698087460/reviews) | **[4.7 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jazz-drummer/id1488448057/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | 35.7% of reviews | **93.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 9 MB | 330 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ESI Audiotechnik GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1627424644) | [Lumbeat](https://appshunter.io/developer/590278231) |

## What reviewers say

### Xkey Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xkey-plus/id698087460)

This app enhances the functionality of ESI Xkey musical keyboards on mobile devices. It allows users to update firmware, customize velocity curves, and configure key sensitivity and timings for an advanced user experience.

**Highlights:** Check for new Xkey firmware, Velocity curves editor, Configure Xkey sensitivity & timings, Access all Xkey parameters, Configure key & button assignments, Access Xkey documentation & support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Jazz Drummer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jazz-drummer/id1488448057)

This app offers a new approach to jazz drumming for mobile devices, featuring distinct drummer styles and adjustable improvisation levels. It includes tools for creating realistic drum sounds, live performance control, and song composition with integrated effects.

**Highlights:** Three distinct drummer styles (Swing, Be Bop, Modern Bop), 2D slider for jam level and intensity control, Save mixer and effects per sound bank, Humanize Velocity for realistic sound, Live Pads with rhythm, jam, and intensity control, MIDI control mapping, Four combinable effects (Compressor/Gate, EQ, Delay, Reverb)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useable drums, with MIDI and audio export
- 👍 Great sounds and grooves
- 👍 Versatile and customizable
- 👍 Realistic and authentic feel
- 👍 Helpful for practice and jamming

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🤔 Confusing UI and lack of documentation
- 🤔 Compatibility issues on certain devices
- 🤔 Difficulty saving and recalling custom settings

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when changing patterns or settings
- MIDI learn feature crashes on certain devices
- Compatibility issues with iOS 26 and newer

**Requested features**

- Add AUv3 support for better integration with DAWs
- Improve MIDI functionality and connectivity
- Provide more detailed tutorials and user guides
- Implement preset saving and recall options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Xkey Plus free?

Xkey Plus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Jazz Drummer free?

Jazz Drummer costs $17.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Xkey Plus or Jazz Drummer?

Jazz Drummer is rated higher. Xkey Plus averages 2.9 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Jazz Drummer averages 4.7 from 268 ratings.

### Do Xkey Plus or Jazz Drummer have ads?

Neither Xkey Plus nor Jazz Drummer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Xkey Plus or Jazz Drummer?

Xkey Plus ships an update every 3 months, and Jazz Drummer fortnightly. Most recently, Xkey Plus was updated on October 23, 2026 and Jazz Drummer on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*