Comparison

Elastic Drums vs Ruismaker

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

Head to head
About

Elastic Drums

This app offers a flexible groovebox experience, utilizing drum synthesis models for deeply tweakable sounds. It provides a powerful instrument for sound design and beat-making with extensive effects and a 16-step sequencer.

Highlights
  • Drum synthesis models
  • Deeply tweakable sounds
  • Versatile effects section
  • 16-step sequencer
  • Audio recording and export
  • Ableton Link synchronization
  • Inter-App Audio support
Features
Read full description

Machinedrum: "It's awesome, a lot of fun to work with and very easy to get something going. I love the sound presets too.“ Keyboards: „An extremely flexible beatbox with tons of character." CDM: "Finally, Your Pocket Gets a Perfect Drum Synth: Elastic Drums for iPhone." FACT Magazine: „One of the iPad’s best drum machines.“ Unlike most drum apps that rely heavily on samples, Elastic Drums uses drum synthesis models - making the sounds much more elastic and deeply tweakable. This approach allows for radical sound shaping, and when combined with the app’s versatile effects section, Elastic Drums becomes not just a beat-making tool, but a powerful instrument for sound design. Features: - 6 synth channels with 20 different percussion synth engines (kick, snare, hihat, clap, tom, wobble, fm, fm4, square, grain, synth, drone, sampler, 808 kit) - 12 parameters for each synth engine - Automation for each parameter via knob recording or velocity - 4 send effect channels with 2x13 mono effects and 2x11 stereo effects - Automation for all of the 8 possible effect parameters via xy pad - Master effects (stutter, delay, compressor ...) - 16 step sequencer for the 6 channels, each with it's own tempo multiplier & length - Record audio and export to via Airdrop or Audioshare - Email audio recordings and presets - Ableton Link synchronization and Ableton Live Set Export - Audiobus, Audiobus Remote, Inter-App Audio - Midi learn/Midi implementation of the most important parameters Factory presets by:  App Sound, Ben Jeffrey, Bill Jobs, Dead Fader, Hecq, Kero, Leonard de Leonard, Machine Drum, Mouse on Mars, Ochre, Pan, Phlex, Pilocka Krach, Red Sky Lullaby, Servando, Shadow Dancer, Swarm Intelligence, zNo

About

Ruismaker

This app is an analog drumsynth that creates sounds using authentic synthesis algorithms, not samples. It features a creative Euclidean sequencer for pattern programming and integrates seamlessly with AUv3 hosts like Garageband. It offers customizable sound models and MIDI control for flexible music production.

Highlights
  • Analog and FM synthesis sound modeling
  • Sample-free sound generation
  • Euclidean sequencer
  • AUv3 compatibility
  • MIDI CC control
  • WAV and MIDI export
  • Ableton Link sync
Features
Read full description

What the reviews say: "A must-have drum synth for electronic music lovers on iOS" - Keyboard Mag "All of this comes together in a vision that’s really playable [...] this is another excellent choice for the iPad." - CreateDigitalMusic "Small, compact and easy to use, Ruismaker is both inexpensive and a perfectly credible choice if you are after solid drum synth sounds." - MusicAppBlog -- Ruismaker is a unique drumsynth plugin (i.e. it does not use samples), which is coupled with a creative Euclidean sequencer when run in standalone mode. The plugin is fully AUv3 (Audio Unit) compatible: - Seamless integration with Garageband and other AU hosts - Audio Unit Instrument: making music on iOS doesn't get more convenient - Supports Multi-Output AUv3 in AUM and ApeMatrix! - Each sound is modeled using authentic analog and FM algorithms; - Comes with dozens of unique customizable models - Does not use any samples; all sounds are synthesized in realtime, on the fly - Emulates analog components, introducing subtle, natural fluctuations in the sound - Light on the CPU, so you can run lots of Ruismakers simultaneously - Fully automatable parameters (requires host support) and MIDI CC controllable - Has its own preset manager The standalone sequencer is refreshingly different: - Program patterns using Euclidean algorithms - Powerful random feature and mutation probability settings per channel - Syncs with Ableton Link or MIDI Clock - Exports WAV and MIDI - Compatible with Audiobus 3 (including MIDI IN/OUT mode) - CoreMIDI In and Out - AU MIDI output for the on-screen pads User manual available on Ruismaker.com

Screenshots

Elastic Drums4 screens
Ruismaker2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ruismaker at none against Elastic Drums's 8. Ruismaker also leads on price ($4.99 vs $9.99) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

Elastic Drums costs $9.99 and Ruismaker $4.99 up front. Elastic Drums sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Ruismaker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ruismaker holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 145 and 58 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Elastic Drums's written reviews are positive against 74% of Ruismaker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Elastic Drums ships an update every 3 months, Ruismaker every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Elastic Drums versus Ruismaker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElastic DrumsRuismaker
Price$9.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.6 (145 ratings)4.8 (58 ratings) — better
Positive reviews79.5% of reviews — better74.1% of reviews
Number of ratings145 — better58
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver Greschke (DE)Bram Bos

Customer experience

Elastic Drums

All ratings145 ratings
Positive88.3%
Neutral5.5%
Negative6.2%
Written reviews195 reviews
Positive79.5%
Neutral7.2%
Negative13.3%

Ruismaker

All ratings57 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive74.1%
Neutral5.6%
Negative20.4%

Bugs and requests

Elastic Drums

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashing and freezing issues on certain devices
  • Audio glitches when switching presets
  • Timing and sync problems with external apps

Requested features

5 requests
  • AUv3 support for state saving and better DAW integration
  • More flexible song/arrangement mode
  • Improved MIDI mapping and control
  • Additional synthesis engines and sound design options
  • Enhanced performance and live playback features

Ruismaker

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Elastic Drums

One-time8
  • Factory PresetsFree
  • Dj Elephant Power kit$2.99
  • App-Sound kit$2.99
Show 5 more
  • Bill Jobs (synthQ) kit$2.99
  • Sample Import$3.99
  • Futuristic synths$3.99
  • Analog techno provider$3.99
  • App-Sound Lofi Kit$3.99
None

Ruismaker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Elastic Drums free?
Elastic Drums costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Ruismaker free?
Ruismaker costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Elastic Drums or Ruismaker?
Ruismaker is rated higher. Elastic Drums averages 4.6 out of 5 from 145 ratings, while Ruismaker averages 4.8 from 58 ratings.
Do Elastic Drums or Ruismaker have ads?
Neither Elastic Drums nor Ruismaker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Elastic Drums or Ruismaker?
Elastic Drums ships an update every 3 months, and Ruismaker every 5 weeks. Most recently, Elastic Drums was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ruismaker on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons