Comparison

KORG Gadget 3 vs BeatMaker 3

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

KORG Gadget 3

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
Currently charting
Read full description

More Powerful Than Ever, Quickly Turn Your Ideas Into Music KORG Gadget 3 - A Complete, Seamlessly Integrated Music Production Ecosystem KORG Gadget has received numerous awards from around the world: • Apple: "App Store Best of 2014" in Japan • #1 in the Top Paid Music iPad App category* • TECH AWARD 2015 "Best Music Production App" • MusicTech's "Gear of the Year: Best App" Gold Award • “Musikmesse international press award 2016” Mobile Music App * USA, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and much more! KORG Gadget is the ideal all-in-one music production software and plug-in suite featuring over 40* small synthesizers/drum machines (“gadgets”), which can be freely combined to create music driven by a powerful yet intuitive user interface. The range of products includes the award-winning iOS version, a Mac version that includes all functions and plug-ins, and a plug-in version that can be used with your favorite DAW on Mac/PC. Now in its third generation, more powerful than ever, the workflow is now more intuitive and easier to use than ever before and there are plenty of new features and new gadgets. KORG Gadget 3 offers an expanded variety of even more features to quickly turn your ideas into music, including two new gadgets, five insert effects (IFX), a new genre select system, and AUv3 support. In addition, the user interface has been brushed up to make the Gadget Browser, IFX page, and Play page even more intuitive. KORG Gadget 3 is the perfect tool to quickly turn your ideas into music. What's New in KORG Gadget 3 • Gadget Instrument Collection with a total over 6,000 sound programs • New gadgets: Santa Ana (Guitar) and Sydney (Sampler) • Improved user interface, making the workflow more intuitive than ever • A genre select function that allows you to create songs from your favorite patterns • 5 new IFX including an 8-Band EQ, Transient Shaper, Stereo Image, Auto Pumper, Pitch Shifter • The Play page: easy arpeggiator use and chord entry • A whole new sound browser that lets you select gadgets by the timbre you want • AUv3 support on iOS, allowing gadgets to be used in other music apps like Garageband, Logic Pro • A huge collection of over 40* gadget instruments Overwhelming sound. Immersive, intuitive and powerful user interface. Unprecedented and innovative quality. KORG Gadget 3 is a collection of over 40* gadget instruments, including compact synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and audio and MIDI utilities. It has sophisticated parameters that make it easy for you to get to the sound they want, so you can create your own sounds instantly. The new Sound Browser allows you to get to your favorite sounds in the quickest time possible. It is perfectly suited for dance music as well as rock, pop, jazz, and other music sounds and genres. • Get your songwriting ideas with Genre Select The new "Genre Select" feature allows you to select your favorite genre and sound, and then start songwriting by freely combining patterns. 5 x 5 pads are all assigned with phrases created by gadgets, so you can start songwriting by freely combining your favorite patterns. You can start creating a song from a project in which each track's gadgets and scenes have been developed. Choose from the standard genre packs and enjoy a different approach to music production. • Tons of sounds readily available with the New Browser To make it easier than ever to find the desired gadget instrument, we have revised the Gadget Browser and added various functions. New features include displaying gadgets by instrument category, a Favourites function that allows you to group your favorite gadgets, and a search function that allows you to freely search for sounds in each gadget. Using the program search function, it is now possible to quickly and easily preview and search for the sound you wanted from a vast array of sounds. * Some gadgets are available as in-app purchases (IAP) or by purchasing other KORG apps. More info at korg.com

About

BeatMaker 3

This music production studio offers an intuitive audio and MIDI workstation, combining desktop software power with hardware efficiency. Create, perform, and record your musical ideas with advanced sampling, sequencing, and mixing tools. Integrate external apps and export your finished tracks.

Highlights
  • Streamlined performance and recording workflow
  • Advanced sampling engine with live stretching
  • Classic timeline and flexible scene-based sequencing
  • Full-fledged mixer with multi-channel routing
  • AUv3 and IAA app integration
  • Inspirational sound library and export options
Read full description

▸ REDEFINING MUSIC PRODUCTION BeatMaker brings unmatched efficiency and depth in an intuitive audio and MIDI workstation. Look no further, the power of traditional desktop software and real hardware is now united into one single production studio. ▸ PLAY • PERFORM • RECORD Its streamlined workflow lets you perform and shape your ideas quickly and effectively, turning your instruments into full productions. Inspirational performance tools such as repeat, roll, swing, key scales & chords and macro controls will boost your creativity tenfold. Take control of it all with your MIDI gear and the new smart binding system. ▸ CRAFT YOUR OWN INSTRUMENTS 128 banks of 128 pads, where each one of them is a full-fledged instrument with multiple dimensions. Record and chop live, assemble, mangle and resample: our state of the art sampling engine will sculpt your ideas, giving life to your instruments with a full modulation and layering system. With ZPlane’s Elastique live stretch and pitch shift, adjust your loops and instruments to match the tempo or go experimental. You can even integrate your favorite synth & effect apps with full AUv3 and IAA support. ▸ PRECISE SEQUENCING The classic timeline based pattern & song editor gives all the modern sequencing features you‘d want to arrange complete tracks. Adding to this foundation, the new flexible Scene Mode opens up opportunities for remixing and live performances, looping and arranging clips in new ways. All the patterns, automations and sequencing tools are available right where you would expect. Add audio tracks to the mix, stretch them, turn your arrangements into a complete masterpiece. You can even play in sync with other software using Ableton Link. ▸ INSPIRATIONAL LIBRARY The ever growing sound store will bring premium and exclusive content to your own library. The genius of our sound designers will enhance your productions instantly, whether you’re looking for a classic 808 bass or exploring new musical genres. ▸ FULL FLEDGED MIXER Multi-channel recording & input/output routing is now a reality with the support of USB audio interfaces. Fine-tune your mix with the modern mixing board: every track, every pad has its own channel with unlimited effects and up to 8 sends. Add new depths to your sound with our palette of effects (internal or external AUv3/IAA). ▸ EXPORT AND SHARE Export your compositions and separated elements into single stems to share, re-use, re-work, re-master within a traditional studio setup Read the full specs on http://intua.net ! ▸ COMPATIBILITY - Works with 32-bits and 64-bits iPads. - Native iPad Pro support - iOS 9.3+ required - Best experience on newer models - iPhone version coming soon ▸ Documentation - Full documentation and tutorials available at http://support.intua.net

Screenshots

KORG Gadget 34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BeatMaker 3 at $24.99 against KORG Gadget 3's $39.99. BeatMaker 3 also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). KORG Gadget 3's advantage is review sentiment (76% vs 62%) and chart position (#162 vs unranked). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

KORG Gadget 3 costs $39.99 and BeatMaker 3 $24.99 up front. KORG Gadget 3 sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and BeatMaker 3 sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for KORG Gadget 3 against 4.7 for BeatMaker 3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.9K and 4.5K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of KORG Gadget 3's written reviews are positive against 62% of BeatMaker 3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
KORG Gadget 3 versus BeatMaker 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKORG Gadget 3BeatMaker 3
Price$39.99$24.99 — better
Rating4.8 (2.9K ratings) — better4.7 (4.5K ratings)
Positive reviews76.2% of reviews — better62.3% of reviews
Number of ratings2.9K4.5K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#162 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.9 GB216 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKORG INC.INTUA

Customer experience

KORG Gadget 3

All ratings2,913 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral2.4%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews521 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral9.0%
Negative14.8%

BeatMaker 3

All ratings4,459 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews467 reviews
Positive62.3%
Neutral10.7%
Negative27.0%

User reviews

KORG Gadget 3

From 2.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

BeatMaker 3

From 4.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful sampler
  • 🚀 Versatile DAW capabilities
  • 👍 Great for live performance
  • 👍 Excellent value for money
  • 👍 Seamless AUv3 integration

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🐛 Stability issues with plugins
  • 🐛 Buggy MIDI functionality
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 👎 Confusing file management

Bugs and requests

KORG Gadget 3

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

8 requests
  • 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
Show 3 more
  • Implement a linear song mode for non-grid-based compositions
  • Add more effects like halftime, sample degrader, etc.
  • Allow using AUv3 effects within Gadget

BeatMaker 3

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when switching sound banks
  • MIDI keyboard disconnects on stop
  • Samples losing sync after export
  • Glitches with AUv3 plugin loading
  • Inconsistent behavior with touch controls

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to rearrange pads
  • Improved MIDI sync and control
  • More sound packs and updates
  • Custom color themes
  • Streamlined project management
Show 1 more
  • Expanded piano roll functionality

In-app purchases

11 purchases

KORG Gadget 3

One-time11
  • Bilbao$9.99
  • Abu Dhabi$9.99
  • Madrid$14.99
Show 8 more
  • Gladstone$14.99
  • Kamata$14.99
  • Lisbon$14.99
  • Vancouver$14.99
  • Stockholm$14.99
  • Otorii$14.99
  • Santa Ana$14.99
  • Ebina$14.99
11 purchases

BeatMaker 3

One-time11
  • Starter Pack #1: July 2017Free
  • Starter Pack #2: August 2017Free
  • ThudRumble Gigantic Balls BassFree
Show 8 more
  • Modularism$0.99
  • Aquatronika$0.99
  • Beatlab$0.99
  • Ashes II$0.99
  • Arpism$0.99
  • INTUA 808 Science$1.99
  • MSXII The Constituent$1.99
  • MSXII The Fly Life$1.99

Questions

Is KORG Gadget 3 free?
KORG Gadget 3 costs $39.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is BeatMaker 3 free?
BeatMaker 3 costs $24.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, KORG Gadget 3 or BeatMaker 3?
KORG Gadget 3 is rated higher. KORG Gadget 3 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while BeatMaker 3 averages 4.7 from 4.5K ratings.
Do KORG Gadget 3 or BeatMaker 3 have ads?
Neither KORG Gadget 3 nor BeatMaker 3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KORG Gadget 3 or BeatMaker 3?
KORG Gadget 3 ships an update monthly, and BeatMaker 3 monthly. Most recently, KORG Gadget 3 was updated on September 26, 2026 and BeatMaker 3 on September 25, 2026.

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