# Rock Drum Machine vs Drum Session

The clearest difference is rating: Rock Drum Machine at 4.7 against Drum Session's 3.3. Rock Drum Machine also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 58%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Drum Session's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $17.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Rock Drum Machine costs $17.99 and Drum Session $9.99 up front. Rock Drum Machine sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Drum Session asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rock Drum Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rock Drum Machine has 523 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Rock Drum Machine's written reviews are positive against 58% of Drum Session's.

Rock Drum Machine ships an update every 3 weeks, Drum Session every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rock Drum Machine | Drum Session |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $17.99 | **$9.99** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (523 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rock-drum-machine/id725234217/reviews)** | [3.3 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-session/id1030319584/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **523** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | **92.1% of reviews** | 58.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#121** | — |
| Size | 233 MB | 210 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **10.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Lumbeat](https://appshunter.io/developer/590278231) | [Ngo Minh Ngoc](https://appshunter.io/developer/817223411) |

## What reviewers say

### Rock Drum Machine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rock-drum-machine/id725234217)

**Currently charting:** #121 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Transform your device into a powerful rock drumming tool with realistic sounds and a vast library of rhythms. Easily create custom beats, jam with AI-generated grooves, and integrate with other music apps. Export your creations as audio or MIDI files.

**Highlights:** AI-powered rock drumming, Adjustable jam level and intensity, Live Pads with assignable controls, MIDI out and Ableton Link synchronization, Song Mode for creating drum tracks, Custom rhythm editing, Four built-in effects

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mike | $4.99 | one-time |
| John | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great sound quality
- 🚀 Easy to use and program
- 🎨 Lots of customization options
- 🎛️ Intuitive interface
- 🎶 Realistic drum sounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔌 MIDI integration issues
- 🤔 Steep learning curve for some
- 💰 Expensive compared to other options
- 🔇 Limited drum kit selection

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when exporting audio
- MIDI out not working as expected
- Saving new patterns can be inconsistent
- Occasional UI glitches or freezes

**Requested features**

- Add more drum kits and styles
- Improve MIDI support and control
- Implement AUv3 support
- Add more customization options
- Provide better documentation and tutorials


### Drum Session

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-session/id1030319584)

Create complete drum tracks quickly with a vast library of editable patterns and loops. Easily arrange beats on a timeline, record your own rhythms, and export your creations in various formats. Supports integration with other music apps and hardware.

**Highlights:** 3600 preset patterns, 36 acoustic drum sample sets, Record custom beats, Piano roll editing, MIDI in/out, Export MIDI or audio

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rock Drum Machine free?

Rock Drum Machine costs $17.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Drum Session free?

Drum Session costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Rock Drum Machine or Drum Session?

Rock Drum Machine is rated higher. Rock Drum Machine averages 4.7 out of 5 from 523 ratings, while Drum Session averages 3.3 from 15 ratings.

### Do Rock Drum Machine or Drum Session have ads?

Neither Rock Drum Machine nor Drum Session shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rock Drum Machine or Drum Session?

Rock Drum Machine ships an update every 3 weeks, and Drum Session every 2 months. Most recently, Rock Drum Machine was updated on October 1, 2026 and Drum Session on September 30, 2026.

---

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