Comparison

Elastic Drums vs Song Chef

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

Song Chef

Create personalized songs from your spoken messages. Simply provide your voice, message, and choose a style, and the app crafts custom lyrics and music. Share your heartfelt creations as audio or text with lyrics.

Highlights
  • Speak-synced vocals
  • Dozens of song styles
  • Custom lyric generation
  • Audio or text + lyrics output
  • Save creations to device
Features
Read full description

Song Chef turns your feelings into custom songs — in your voice. It’s not how it sounds - It’s what it says. No music skills required - just your voice, message, and heart. Not a singer? No problem. This isn’t about hitting notes — it’s about hitting what you want to say. Perfect for: • Love / Romance (Simple love songs, Second Base, Anywhere With You, Kiss and Make Up, more..) • Birthday surprises • Apologies (I'm sorry) • Thank You • Encouragement • Congratulations & Milestones (Graduation) • Holidays (Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, Hanukkah, Happy New Year, Fourth of July) • Friendship (Say Something Nice) • Songs about your dog (Ruff!) • Sweet messages to friends and family Features: • Speak-synced vocals (no singing needed) • Dozens of styles and “recipes” • Custom lyrics created from your answers • Send as audio or text + lyrics • Save your creations on your device. Whether you want to say “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” or “I miss you,” Choose a theme, answer a few questions, and Song Chef writes lyrics, adds music, and syncs your voice to the beat.

Screenshots

Elastic Drums4 screens
Song Chef4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Song Chef at $0.99 against Elastic Drums's $9.99. Song Chef also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Elastic Drums's advantage is ratings volume (145 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 Song Chef $0.99 up front. Elastic Drums sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Song Chef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Song Chef holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elastic Drums has 145 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Elastic Drums ships an update every 3 months, Song Chef every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Elastic Drums versus Song Chef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElastic DrumsSong Chef
Price$9.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.6 (145 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews79.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings145 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB155 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver Greschke (DE)Song Chef LLC

Customer experience

Elastic Drums

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

Song Chef

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Song Chef

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
2 purchases

Song Chef

Subscriptions2
  • Unlimited access$5.991 Month
  • Song Chef Premium$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Elastic Drums free?
Elastic Drums costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Song Chef free?
Song Chef costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Elastic Drums or Song Chef?
Song Chef is rated higher. Elastic Drums averages 4.6 out of 5 from 145 ratings, while Song Chef averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Elastic Drums or Song Chef have ads?
Neither Elastic Drums nor Song Chef shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Elastic Drums or Song Chef?
Elastic Drums ships an update every 3 months, and Song Chef every 10 days. Most recently, Elastic Drums was updated on October 24, 2026 and Song Chef on October 10, 2026.

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