SessionBand Rock 1 vs DroneLab
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SessionBand Rock 1
Create studio-quality Rock and Metal music tracks in minutes using a chord-based loop system. This app provides over 16,000 audio loops recorded by professional musicians across 15 different styles, making it easy for both musicians and non-musicians to compose royalty-free music.
- Chord-based loop creation
- 15 Rock and Metal styles
- 16,000+ studio-quality audio loops
- Auto-transpose and automated mixing
- One-touch live recording
- Audiobus compatibility
- Royalty-free music creation
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Create studio-quality Rock and Metal tracks to your own chords in minutes with the award-winning SessionBand app - the world’s only chord-based loop app. For Rock musicians and songwriters, this unique app is the ultimate tool for jamming and writing, with full and complete Rock and Metal tracks just minutes away! It's also simple enough for non-musicians to create their own great-sounding, royalty-free music. “Remarkably polished“ Forbes “Create like a master“ Engadget With over 16,000 stunning, chord-based Rock and Metal audio loops (included in the download) individually recorded by 3 of the world's top session musicians, SessionBand Rock instantly converts the chords you select into great sounding audio – wherever you are and whatever your ability. There are 15 different classic UK and US Rock and Metal styles included. Every loop carefully engineered so you can instantly create your own tracks in those styles: from Rolling Stones and Chili Peppers through Muse, Foo Fighters and Iron Maiden, all the way to Slipknot, Slayer and Magadeth! And there's a host of pro features like auto-transpose, automated mixing, one-touch live recording, and Audiobus compatibility - allowing you to seamlessly export our unique content into other top music apps like GarageBand. It has never been easier or quicker to create your own studio quality music even if you can't play a note! If you love Rock and Metal – you will love SessionBand Rock! #1 paid music app in 16 countries since launch and Top 10 in 63 countries. Watch the video at sessionbandapp.com The fastest way to create studio-quality Rock tracks... • Simply pick one of 15 awesome Rock and Metal styles • Choose your chords • Stretch or shorten loops in seconds • Build up a full track in minutes • Instantly hear your track across the other playing styles and tempos • Auto-transpose your entire track (not electronic pitch shift!) • Mix your track (manual or automated) • Adjust track tempo (+/- 15%) • Record direct to audio • Copy straight to other music apps (if you want to) • Share with the world! Get 3 of the world's top session musicians playing on your tracks... • Drums – Ralph Salmins (Gary Moore, Tori Amos, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Paul McCartney, Alanis Morissette, Van Morrison, Jim Steinman, Meat Loaf, Sheryl Crow, The Waterboys...) • Guitars – Adam Goldsmith (Brian May, Meat Loaf, Robbie Williams, Elton John...) • Bass – Geoff Gascoyne (Sting, Van Morrison, Gloria Estefan...) Anyone can create and release professional Rock and Metal tracks with SessionBand... • No musical experience required • Simple, intuitive interface • Audition loops as you go • Build a full track in minutes with all-new 'Track Builder' • Highly educational and great fun • “Perfect for songwriters, singers, producers and music newbies“ 148 Apps Create great sounding real music on the move... • All loops reside within the downloaded app • No internet access required once the app is downloaded • Create studio-quality music absolutely anywhere! • “This app makes it seem like you have a studio in your hand“ AppPicker Detailed Product Information • 15 diverse rock and metal styles in tempo order: 70s Slow Progressive; 90s Half-Time Grunge; 90s Progressive Metal; Red Hot Funk; 70s Progressive; UK Modern Alternative; 80s RnB Rock; Modern Groove Metal; 90s Half-Time Thrash; Heavy Metal Gallop; 80s Thrash; New Half-Time Thrash; Modern US Alternative; 80s Double-Time Heavy; 80s Heavy Triplets • Tempos from 80bpm to 190bpm • 10 chord variations for every root note in all 15 styles: maj; min; sus2; sus4; b5; 5; #5; 7(#9); maj7; 7 • Each of the 15 styles includes 15 alternative drum grooves and drum fills in addition to the 'main' drum pattern for that style • The exclusive musical content in this app is not duplicated on any of the other SessionBand apps • All loops are offered royalty-free and can be used freely in your own works
DroneLab
Generate evolving ambient music with three parallel audio sources and unique sound effects. Save and export your creations for use in music or video projects, or use it for improvisation and practice.
- Three parallel continuous audio sources
- Custom sound effects
- Preset selection and customization
- Stereo audio export up to 96KHz
- Real-time recording
- Improvisation and experimentation tool
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DroneLab creates slowly shifting musical soundscapes. Control three continuous audio sources running in parallel, each with its own rate of shifting intensity. Expand the soundscape with unusual sound effects crafted specifically for DroneLab. Get going quickly by selecting one of the included presets. Go further by selecting and customizing the sound sources, and save your own presets to the list. Create soundscapes for your music and video projects: - Export a stereo audio file with your current settings, at sample rates up to 96KHz. On newer devices, exports occur faster than real time. - Or, you can record in real time, capturing all the changes you make to the sounds as you go. DroneLab is great for improvisation and experimentation: - Explore the melodic side of your instrument in a fun, relaxing setting. - Warm up before practicing more difficult material. - Explore sounds and articulations that aren't part of your usual repertoire. Please visit us at dronelab.app for videos, more information and support.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: DroneLab at 4.4 against SessionBand Rock 1's 3.9. DroneLab also leads on price ($1.99 vs $8.99) and chart position (#183 vs unranked). SessionBand Rock 1's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
SessionBand Rock 1 costs $8.99 and DroneLab $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DroneLab holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of SessionBand Rock 1's written reviews are positive against 70% of DroneLab's.
SessionBand Rock 1 ships an update every 5 months, DroneLab every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SessionBand Rock 1 | DroneLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (39 ratings) | 4.4 (20 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 70.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 39 — better | 20 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #183 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 827 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | UK Music Apps Ltd | Jon Lukas |
Customer experience
SessionBand Rock 1
DroneLab
In-app purchases
SessionBand Rock 1
No in-app purchases
DroneLab
No in-app purchases









