# Rock Drum Machine vs Drum Pad Machine

The clearest difference is price: Drum Pad Machine at Free against Rock Drum Machine's $17.99. Drum Pad Machine also leads on ratings volume (674K vs 523). Rock Drum Machine's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (92% vs 63%). On rating, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Drum Pad Machine is free to download; Rock Drum Machine costs $17.99 up front. Rock Drum Machine sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Drum Pad Machine sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Rock Drum Machine against 4.6 for Drum Pad Machine. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drum Pad Machine has 674K ratings behind it against 523, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of Rock Drum Machine's written reviews are positive against 63% of Drum Pad Machine's.

Rock Drum Machine ships an update every 3 weeks, Drum Pad Machine every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rock Drum Machine | Drum Pad Machine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $17.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (523 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rock-drum-machine/id725234217/reviews)** | [4.6 (674K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-pad-machine-beat-maker/id1057968965/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 523 | **674K** |
| Positive reviews | **92.2% of reviews** | 63.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#128** | #151 |
| Size | 233 MB | 230 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lumbeat](https://appshunter.io/developer/590278231) | [Easybrain Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1190815537) |

## What reviewers say

### Rock Drum Machine

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

**Currently charting:** #128 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 Pad Machine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-pad-machine-beat-maker/id1057968965)

**Currently charting:** #151 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

Create professional-quality music and unique tracks with a variety of styles and sound packs. Utilize instruments, FX, and sequencing for creative sound design. Learn through beat school lessons and share your creations instantly.

**Highlights:** Multiple music styles (Hip-hop, Trap, House, etc.), Professional sound packs, Drum and Piano instruments, Sequencing with tempo and EQ, Beat School lessons, Quick music sharing

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Drum Pad Machine Pro - Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Music Beat Maker Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Drum Pad Machine Pro - Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Beatmaker Premium | $14.99 | per month |
| Drum Pad Machine Pro - Annual | $46.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Incredible music-making experience
- 👍 Easy to learn and use
- 🎶 Wide variety of music genres and beats
- 🎓 Helpful tutorials and lessons
- 🎧 High-quality sound samples

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Excessive and repetitive ads
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Occasional glitches and crashes
- 🤔 Limited customization options
- ⏱️ Lessons and tutorials move too fast

**Reported bugs**

- Recordings sometimes stop unexpectedly
- Difficulty registering multiple button presses simultaneously
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Add a search function to find specific beats
- Allow users to create and share their own custom beats
- Implement a pause/resume feature for recordings
- Provide more granular control over tempo and timing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rock Drum Machine free?

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

### Is Drum Pad Machine free?

Drum Pad Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Rock Drum Machine is rated higher. Rock Drum Machine averages 4.7 out of 5 from 523 ratings, while Drum Pad Machine averages 4.6 from 674K ratings.

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

Drum Pad Machine shows ads; Rock Drum Machine does not.

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

Rock Drum Machine ships an update every 3 weeks, and Drum Pad Machine every 3 months. Most recently, Rock Drum Machine was updated on October 19, 2026 and Drum Pad Machine on October 20, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Rock Drum Machine or Drum Pad Machine?

Rock Drum Machine currently peaks at #128 in the App Store charts, and Drum Pad Machine at #151. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*