# Percussion Pro vs FM Essential

The clearest difference is rating: Percussion Pro at 5.0 against FM Essential's 3.0. Percussion Pro also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.0). FM Essential's advantage is ratings volume (70 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Percussion Pro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FM Essential has 70 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

## The numbers

| Metric | Percussion Pro | FM Essential |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/percussion-pro/id921619987/reviews)** | [3.0 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **70** |
| Positive reviews | — | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | — | No |
| Update frequency | — | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 3 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [George Francis](https://appshunter.io/developer/845953350) | [Yamaha Corporation of America](https://appshunter.io/developer/408058585) |

## What reviewers say

### Percussion Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/percussion-pro/id921619987)

Create your own music with studio-quality audio samples. This tool is ideal for building percussion loops anywhere you go.

**Highlights:** Build music on the go, Studio quality audio samples, Construct percussion loops, Variety of sound options

**In-app purchases:** none


### FM Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614)

This app is an FM tone generator and synthesizer for iPhone and iPad, offering real-time performance capabilities and voice editing. It includes a variety of presets, arpeggiator patterns, chord pads, and scales, along with drum functionalities. The app also supports external hardware integration and advanced sound manipulation through effects, EQ, and a ball controller.

**Highlights:** FM tone generator, Real-time synth performance, Voice editing, Arpeggiator and chord pads, Effects and EQ edit, Ball controller for sound modulation, Step sequencer

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Fantastic sound quality
- 👍 Easy to use
- ✨ Amazing synth capabilities
- 💡 Great FM synth app
- 🎵 Wonderful, flexible, intuitive synth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔓 App locked by hardware
- 🔌 Connection issues
- 💸 Expensive hardware required
- ❓ Deceptive free app
- 😩 Limited functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Does not unlock with USB-C adapter
- App crashes when loading combinations
- Preset menus crash the app
- Combined Sounds no longer read from keyboard after iPad update
- Instruments stop working if effect filters are turned off

**Requested features**

- Unlock without hardware purchase
- Allow in-app purchase to unlock
- Bring back Tenori On apps
- Fix LFO delay parameter
- Add separate volume control for drums


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Percussion Pro free?

Percussion Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FM Essential free?

FM Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Percussion Pro or FM Essential?

Percussion Pro is rated higher. Percussion Pro averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while FM Essential averages 3.0 from 70 ratings.

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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.*