# KORG Gadget 3 vs Drum Pad Machine

The clearest difference is price: Drum Pad Machine at Free against KORG Gadget 3's $39.99. Drum Pad Machine also leads on ratings volume (674K vs 2.9K). KORG Gadget 3's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On in-app purchases, monetization model, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Drum Pad Machine is free to download; KORG Gadget 3 costs $39.99 up front. KORG Gadget 3 sells 11 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.

KORG Gadget 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drum Pad Machine has 674K ratings behind it against 2.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of KORG Gadget 3's written reviews are positive against 63% of Drum Pad Machine's.

KORG Gadget 3 ships an update monthly, Drum Pad Machine every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KORG Gadget 3 | Drum Pad Machine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-gadget-3/id791077159/reviews)** | [4.6 (674K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-pad-machine-beat-maker/id1057968965/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.9K | **674K** |
| Positive reviews | **76.2% of reviews** | 63.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#126** | #207 |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 230 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KORG INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363714046) | [Easybrain Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1190815537) |

## What reviewers say

### KORG Gadget 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-gadget-3/id791077159)

**Currently charting:** #126 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Create music with a comprehensive suite of over 40 virtual instruments and effects. This powerful yet intuitive ecosystem allows you to quickly turn your musical ideas into finished tracks, offering a vast sound library and flexible workflow for various genres.

**Highlights:** Over 40 virtual instruments and drum machines, New Santa Ana (Guitar) and Sydney (Sampler) gadgets, 5 new insert effects (IFX), Intuitive user interface and workflow, Genre select system for songwriting, AUv3 support for iOS integration, Extensive sound library with 6,000+ programs

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bilbao | $9.99 | one-time |
| Abu Dhabi | $9.99 | one-time |
| Madrid | $14.99 | one-time |
| Gladstone | $14.99 | one-time |
| Kamata | $14.99 | one-time |
| Lisbon | $14.99 | one-time |
| Vancouver | $14.99 | one-time |
| Stockholm | $14.99 | one-time |
| Otorii | $14.99 | one-time |
| Santa Ana | $14.99 | one-time |
| Ebina | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for creating rave and dance music
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Powerful sound design capabilities
- 💡 Useful for live performance
- 👍 Excellent workflow for sketching ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 💰 Expensive with many in-app purchases
- 🔀 Randomized saved project order
- 🔍 Difficult to precisely control zoom and note editing
- 🔓 Issues with restoring purchased content

**Reported bugs**

- Playback issues with latest update
- Imported samples limited to 5 seconds
- Bilbao sampler crashes when importing WAV files
- Gadget instruments not showing up in AUv3 lists

**Requested features**

- Add more acoustic drum and bass sounds
- Implement MIDI out functionality
- Allow customizable scales and tunings
- Add a proper sampler with more advanced features
- Improve copy/paste and track management capabilities


### Drum Pad Machine

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

**Currently charting:** #207 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 KORG Gadget 3 free?

KORG Gadget 3 costs $39.99, 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, KORG Gadget 3 or Drum Pad Machine?

KORG Gadget 3 is rated higher. KORG Gadget 3 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Drum Pad Machine averages 4.6 from 674K ratings.

### Do KORG Gadget 3 or Drum Pad Machine have ads?

Drum Pad Machine shows ads; KORG Gadget 3 does not.

### Which is updated more often, KORG Gadget 3 or Drum Pad Machine?

KORG Gadget 3 ships an update monthly, and Drum Pad Machine every 3 months. Most recently, KORG Gadget 3 was updated on September 24, 2026 and Drum Pad Machine on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, KORG Gadget 3 or Drum Pad Machine?

KORG Gadget 3 currently peaks at #126 in the App Store charts, and Drum Pad Machine at #207. 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.*