The right drum app depends first on whether you want to be taught or to be checked. Drumeo and Mike's Lessons teach through long video courses from working drummers, and their feedback comes from people who watch a video you send. Melodics, Drumr, Beatlii and InstaDrum grade what you play, most of them from an electronic kit over MIDI. Practice planners and rudiment trainers such as Drumbitious, Drum Journal and Chops organize the practice you already know you need. The table compares 14 apps on what they hear, what they teach, what is free and what they cost in the US today.
Upbeat Studio makes one of the apps in this table, Drum Coach. It is not ranked anywhere on this page: it sits in the table with the same columns and the same criticism as every other row, and the picker never shortlists it. Where it does not fit, the page says so.
Quick answer
First stepsMelodicsFree, or $34.99/mo or from $179.88/yr · 4.7 (620)
FeedbackDrum JournalFree, or $4.99/mo or $34.99/yr · 5.0 (9)
Video teachersDrum School (Ferenc Nemeth)$24.99 · 4.6 (416)
SongsDrumeo (Musora app)from $29.99/mo or $279/yr · 4.4 (5,118)The best-rated option for each need, by the same ratings as the table: a high score from a few reviews counts for less than one from thousands. Nothing here is paid for.
What the data says
Seven of the 14 apps say they score what you play.
Five of them listen to an electronic kit over MIDI or Bluetooth. Only three say a microphone can follow real drums: Melodics for acoustic kits and practice pads, Drum Journal on a pad or a kit, and Drumr on a practice pad with Apple headphones. On an acoustic kit, the rest guide you but do not say they can tell whether you played it right.
Drumeo and Mike's Lessons have the deepest video teaching on this page, and neither says its app listens to you play.
Their feedback is human: Musora's mentors and Mike himself review videos you send. The apps that grade you in real time are built around exercises and songs, not around a teacher on camera.
Real Drum has by far the most store ratings of any app here, on both stores, and MWM's Drums follows it on the App Store.
Both are drum games with lessons attached: a fine first taste of rhythm before there is a kit in the house, not a path to playing one.
Drum School is the only app sold outright.
Beatlii, Chops and Drum Journal offer a lifetime unlock next to their subscriptions. Everything else bills by the month or the year, so the price column shows both where both exist.
Side by side
Ratings and review counts are the stores' and retailers' own, pulled on 2026-10-07. A cross means the feature is not there; a question mark means neither the listing nor the maker says. Prices are US dollars as listed on the named store on the date in each card; they change, so check the store before you buy.
One by one
OursDaily planFirst stepsRudiments
Upbeat Studio
Free, or $14.99/mo or from $59.99/yr4.6 from 2,213 reviews, App Store and Google Play
Pick it if you want a daily practice plan built from your goals, time and setup, on a kit, a pad or your lap.
Skip it if you want grading on an acoustic kit or practice pad, or a deep library of video courses.
Drum Coach builds a daily practice plan from your goals, available time and setup, then serves guided exercises for rudiments, grooves and fills that you can play on a kit, a practice pad or your lap. Know before choosing that it only scores what you play when a MIDI e-kit is connected, a beta feature limited to exercises, so on an acoustic kit or a pad it guides you but does not grade you.
Sources (13)
A personalized practice plan based on your goals, available time, setup and learning preferences to guide every session.source
A practice pad, or your hands on your lap.source
7-day free trial includedsource
E-drums is currently in beta on iOS and Android (not on web).source
Exercises and practice sessions with live e-drum hits, scoring, pad calibration, and delay calibration.source
Songs are not ready for e-drums yetsource
The exercises in Drum Coach include drum rudiments, drum speed, drum independence, drum coordination, rhythm trainingsource
daily interactive drum exercises with video and animationssource
5 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
Video teachersSongsFirst steps
Musora Media Inc.
from $29.99/mo or $279/yr4.4 from 5,118 reviews, App Store and Google Play
Pick it if you want follow-along video lessons from well-known teachers and songs you can slow down and loop.
Skip it if you want the app itself to grade your timing note by note as you play.
Drumeo gives a drummer follow-along video lessons from well-known teachers, a step-by-step method path, rudiment lessons and a large transcribed song library where you can remove the drums, slow the tempo and loop parts, in the Musora app and on the web. Know before choosing that Musora describes no listening to or scoring of your playing: its lessons need no MIDI, and personal feedback comes from Musora mentors who review videos you submit.
Sources (14)
Every lesson is follow-along. No watching a tutorial and being left to practice alone.source
Remove the drums so you're the drummer.source
Follow along with scrolling notations.source
Get drum lessons across web, tablet, and mobilesource
When you sign up for a free trial, you'll have 7 days to try everything on Musorasource
Yes, Musora is a subscription (either Monthly or Annual)source
No MIDI, cables, or external software needed!source
All of our one-on-one interaction happens through our amazing Mentors Team via student reviews and personalized lesson planssource
6 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
FeedbackSongsRudimentsFirst steps
Melodics Limited
Free, or $34.99/mo or from $179.88/yr4.7 from 620 reviews, App Store
Pick it if you want lessons that score your playing, from an e-kit over MIDI or a microphone on a kit or pad.
Skip it if you use Android or a Chromebook, where it does not run.
Melodics scores your playing in interactive lessons, rudiment drills and song lessons, listening through the microphone on an acoustic kit or practice pad or over MIDI from an e-kit, with a practice mode that loops sections and drops the tempo. Know before choosing that it runs on Windows, Mac, iPad and iPhone only, with no Android or Chromebook version.
Sources (11)
Melodics listens to your drumming in real time and gives you instant feedback on timing, accuracy, and consistency.source
For electronic drum kits, just plug in via MIDIsource
Acoustic drums and practice pads work with Melodics through the device's built-in microphone.source
No kit? Practice your rudiments on any surface and get real-time feedback.source
Play your way through interactive drum lessons, rudiments and exercises.source
Hundreds, with new lessons added every week.source
iPad users get 20 free premium lessons with 5 minutes of playtime per day.source
For iPhone users you get the same but with unlimited playing time!source
3 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
FeedbackSongs
Beatlii; iOS listing published by Musora Media Inc.
Free, or $14.99/mo or $99.99/yr3.5 from 606 reviews, App Store and Google Play
Pick it if you play an e-kit and want a note highway or sheet music view with timing and dynamics feedback.
Skip it if you play an acoustic kit or pad: the maker describes feedback only from an e-kit or screen taps.
Beatlii turns an electronic kit into a scored lesson player, with a note highway or a sheet music view, courses from beginner to advanced, step-by-step song breakdowns and feedback on your timing and dynamics after each hit; with no kit you can finger drum on the screen. Know before choosing that both store apps were last updated in November 2025 and the Google Play version rates 2.95, so try the free lessons with your own kit before paying.
Sources (11)
Simply connect your electronic drum kit and receive instant feedback on your performance.source
You'll see your timing accuracy, dynamic consistency, and how you performed in each section.source
Switch to sheet music mode and practice using full drum notation.source
Follow step-by-step breakdowns of each song.source
No drum kit? No problem. Practice beats using just your fingers and screen.source
Whether you’re a Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android user, we’ve got you covered.source
21 free lessonssource
2 free coursessource
3 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
SongsFeedbackFirst steps
Wanaka (iOS seller Xiaoyezi Beijing Technology Co., Ltd.)
$19.99/mo or $99.99/yr4.1 from 2,232 reviews, App Store and Google Play
Pick it if you want popular songs taught step by step in a game-like format, with real drum notation.
Skip it if you play an acoustic kit or pad and want feedback: the maker describes it only for electronic drums.
InstaDrum teaches popular songs step by step in a game-like format, from a single note to a beat to a full song, with real drum notation and real-time feedback when you connect electronic drums by Bluetooth or cable. Know before choosing that the maker describes feedback only through electronic drums; without one you play an on-screen virtual drum.
Sources (7)
It integrates with any electronic drums via Bluetooth or cable, providing real-time feedback on your performance.source
Our on-screen virtual drum lets you explore music right at your fingertips.source
It offers real drum notation and full-length sheet music, equipping you with skills to read music even outside the app.source
Broad selection of songs catering to varied musical tastes and skill levelssource
Using its game-like structure, you can promptly learn to play your favorite songs, even as a complete beginner.source
compatible with all electronic drums and even functions without onesource
Play drum with tons of fun lessons.source
RudimentsVideo teachers
Ferenc Nemeth
$24.994.6 from 416 reviews, App Store and Google Play
Pick it if you want a reference of grooves and rudiments with notation, loops from 30 to 300 bpm and video.
Skip it if you are a beginner who wants the app to plan each day or tell you if you played a pattern right.
Drum School is a reference library of grooves in many styles, rudiment and hand exercises and classic hits, each with standard notation, a loop from 30 to 300 bpm, limb-by-limb muting and video by Ferenc Nemeth, plus technique videos and newer streaming video lessons. Know before choosing that it is a paid app bought separately on each platform, and nothing on the maker page or listings says it listens to or scores your playing.
Sources (10)
One-time purchase · No subscriptionssource
Each platform is a separate purchase.source
A single, beautifully designed app on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android.source
Instructional demonstrations of fundamental drumming technique, performed by Ferenc Nemethsource
Play along to classic pop, rock and funk hits with full notation and audio.source
The practice section includes 145 drum exercises divided into: Basic Rudiments, Rolls, Flams, Drags, Hand Exercises and Coordination.source
Standard drum notation with high quality graphics in portrait or landscape mode.source
New Academy tab with streaming video lessonssource
2 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
RudimentsFeedback
Drumr Inc.
Free, or $12.99/mo or $79.99/yr4.4 from 92 reviews, App Store
Pick it if you want notation with all 40 PAS rudiments and early, late and missed notes marked from an e-kit or pad.
Skip it if you use Android, or your iPhone or iPad cannot run iOS 26.
Drumr is a notation-first practice player for kit and marching drummers, with courses, grooves, fills and all 40 PAS rudiments, tempo ramps from 30 to 300 bpm, and Performance Analysis that marks early, late and missed notes on the score from an e-kit over MIDI or a practice pad through the microphone. Know before choosing that it is an Apple-only app that needs iOS 26 or iPadOS 26, and pad scoring needs AirPods or Apple wired headphones.
Sources (11)
Performance Analysis marks early, late, and missed notes right on the notation, rep by rep, so you know what to work on next.source
E-drums: per-instrument feedback via USB/MIDI.source
Practice pads: microphone analysis with AirPods or Apple wired headphones.source
70+ free scores, including all 40 PAS rudiments, plus grooves, fills, and drumline exercises.source
Follow a course or curated playlist, or get recommendations from your recent practice.source
Requires Apple Intelligence.source
Requires iOS 26.0 or later.source
Work through courses, watch pros play, and take your place in the band with drumless tracks on supported scores.source
3 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
Daily plan
Verena Zaiser
Free, or $1.99/mo or $14.99/yr4.8 from 65 reviews, App Store and Google Play
Pick it if you want a practice planner and diary with a metronome, logging each session with BPM and time.
Skip it if you want lessons or feedback on what you play: the maker never mentions listening to you.
Drumbitious is a practice planner and diary: you build exercises and plans, or let it build a 30-day rudiment plan, run them with a metronome that can ramp the tempo, and every session is logged with BPM and time. Know before choosing that its maker describes it as a planner and diary and never mentions listening to you, so the material and the judgment of how a session went are yours.
Sources (9)
Drumbitious is a practice planner and diary for drummers.source
One tap builds a 30-day rudiment plan and drops five exercises into your library.source
Your account syncs across iPhone, iPad and Android, and the app speaks English, German and Spanish.source
Steps of 1 to 50 BPM, every 1 to 99 bars. (Premium)source
All exercises come with a description, images and audio to guide you through the exercise.source
Track your Progress by tracking data like BPM, Practice Time and Feelingsource
Dynamic mode is a Premium feature; the metronome itself, including BPM, tap tempo and volume, is free.source
The main focus of Drumbitious is to create your own exercises, but there is a library of exercises that you can choose from.source
1 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
FeedbackRudimentsDaily plan
Porath Consulting GmbH
Free, or $4.99/mo or $34.99/yr5.0 from 9 reviews, App Store
Pick it if you want the phone microphone to mark each stroke on a pad or snare as on time, early or late.
Skip it if you use Android or want to be taught: it is iPhone and iPad only and expects your own lessons.
Drum Journal runs a practice routine you assemble, and its sticking trainer listens through the phone microphone to mark every stroke on a pad or snare as on time, early or late, including flams and accents, next to YouTube songs you can slow down and loop. Know before choosing that its maker presents it as a practice companion rather than a lesson library, so you bring the lessons, and it runs only on iPhone and iPad, with Android still being built.
Sources (12)
The built-in sticking coach uses your device's microphone to hear you play on a practice pad.source
The app listens through the microphone and shows a colored dot for every hitsource
It works with a practice pad or a full kitsource
Use whatever lessons or teachers you want, and keep the work in Drum Journal.source
Mix rudiments, sticking patterns, songs, and YouTube videos into one routine.source
Drop any YouTube drum lesson into your routine. Slow it down, loop the hard bar, mark the section that's killing you.source
View exercises with sheet music notation. Toggle between sticking text and standard drum notation.source
RUDIMENTS: Four more in the library, free to practice: Flam Accent, Single Stroke Four, Paradiddle-Diddle and Double Paradiddle join the library.source
4 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
RudimentsDaily plan
Digital Staves Ltd
Free, or $2.99/mo or $29.99/yr4.7 from 15 reviews, App Store
Pick it if you want all 40 PAS rudiments with notation and audio, and a metronome set to the speed you can play.
Skip it if you use Android, or you want grooves, songs or feedback on your strokes.
Chops covers all 40 PAS rudiments with notation, audio playback, snare and kit variations, courses, and workouts that set the metronome to the speed you can play each rudiment. Know before choosing that it is made for iPhone and iPad with no Android version, and neither the listing nor the maker site says it listens to your playing.
Sources (9)
A rudiment trainer built for drummers: workouts, exercises, courses, and progress tracking.source
MASTER ALL 40 PAS RUDIMENTSsource
Beautiful and easy to read notation.source
Break out from your practise pad and apply your new skills on the kit.source
Chops knows your skill level, and personalises each workout to help you achieve your goals.source
Chops knows how fast you can play each rudiment and adjusts the metronome for you.source
Listen to each rudiment in action.source
Available now on iOS.source
1 more in the full Markdown version of this page.
Rudiments
Koen Jacobs (cougnes)
Free, or $2.99/mo or $24.99/yr4.6 from 31 reviews, App Store
Pick it if you want a drummer's metronome with gap training and all 40 rudiments in notation with audio.
Skip it if you want lessons, songs or feedback on what you play: it is a metronome with a rudiment library.
Metronome & Rudiment Practice pairs a drummer's metronome with gap training and automatic tempo increases to all 40 essential rudiments in notation with audio, plus speed-building programs and Practice Packs based on Stick Control and Accents & Rebounds. Know before choosing that the free version shows ads and the packs, custom sessions and the advanced metronome tools need Premium.
Sources (7)
All 40 essential drum rudiments with notation, sticking, and audio playbacksource
Pre-built speed training programs that ramp BPM over timesource
Practice Packs based on Stick Control and Accents & Reboundssource
The core metronome and full rudiment library are free.source
Upgrade to Premium for advanced metronome features, unlimited practice sessions, custom session creation, and all Practice Packs.source
Gap Training and Auto Increment are free for 2 sessions, then require premium.source
Requires macOS 14.0 or later.source
Video teachersSongsFirst steps
Mike Johnston (mikeslessons.com)
$29.99/mo or $269.90/yrNo rating yet
Pick it if you want structured video courses in a browser, with Mike reviewing the videos you send him.
Skip it if you want an app that scores you as you play: it is a website and feedback comes from videos you send.
Mike's Lessons is Mike Johnston's subscription website: video lessons filmed in 4K with interactive notation, structured courses, song-based Sessions where you send Mike videos of yourself for review, and weekly live streams. Know before choosing that it has no app on the App Store or Google Play, so you learn in a browser on any device, and feedback means Mike reviewing videos you submit.
Sources (8)
All of our lessons are filmed in 4K and feature and are accompanied by our proprietary interactive notationsource
A series of courses built around learning a song and applying the fundamentals of drumming to play it as accurately as possible.source
Through our unique feature, Sessions, you can submit your videos to Mike for a comprehensive review.source
Each week you will get the opportunity to interact with Mike during the live streams.source
you can begin your drum lessons online with a simple practice pad or electronic kit before moving to a full acoustic setup.source
Yes, you can access all courses and cancel anytime during your first weeksource
The website is fully mobile-optimized, so you can learn drums online anywhere, from any device.source
Mike Johnston is an internationally recognized educator, clinician and musician dedicated to the art of drumming education.source
First steps
Kolb Apps (KOLB SISTEMAS - EIRELI)
Free, or $3.99/mo or $12.99/yr4.5 from 1,711,273 reviews, App Store and Google Play
Pick it if you want a virtual kit to tap on a phone or tablet, with loops and over 100 lessons.
Skip it if you want to build stick technique on a pad or kit: you play it with your fingers on a screen.
Real Drum is a virtual drum kit you play with your fingers on a phone or tablet, with over 100 lessons, video lessons, loops to play along with, custom kits and MIDI support. Know before choosing that it is a game with ads, and the maker never says its lessons grade your timing or teach technique on sticks and a real kit.
Sources (8)
The Real Drum offers various video lessons to assist you, along with a variety of loops to play along with.source
Over 100 drum lessons to learn drummingsource
You don't need an acoustic drum set or electronic drums to learn to play!source
Experience the sensation of your fingers transforming into drumsticks and feel like part of a real band!source
Premium Version (Remove ads; Unlock all loops; Unlock all lessons and Unlock Metronome)source
MIDI supportsource
Available on Android, Windowssource
Real Drum Online - Touch & Playsource
First steps
MWM
Free, or $18.99/mo or $75.99/yr4.4 from 31,572 reviews, App Store
Pick it if you want a tapping game on a virtual kit, with lessons and a large song catalog to chase a high score.
Skip it if you want to build stick technique on a pad or kit: it is a tapping game on a virtual kit.
Drums by MWM is a tapping game: you follow on-screen instructions on a virtual kit through lessons and a large song catalog and aim for a high score. Know before choosing that the listing describes only tapping the screen, never sticks, a pad or a kit, and the app has not been updated since 2024-02-20.
Sources (5)
Learn thousands of song from a songbook updated every week!source
Get all notes and rhythm perfectly to reach high score.source
Play easily like on a real drum just by following the instructionssource
Just tap and instantly hear the kick drums, cymbals, or snare drums!source
Subscribe for unlimited access to our Premium songs catalog and play with all Drum kitssource
Method
Where the facts come from. Every spec, feature tick and claim comes from the maker's own page, a store listing, a manual or a retailer's spec sheet, read on 2026-10-07, and the exact words relied on are kept with each row (open "Sources" on any card). Store ratings and review counts are the stores' own on that date, pulled through Sonar, an app-store analytics service. A feature is marked yes only when one of those sources says it; when none does, it is shown as unknown rather than as no.
How it was checked. Every row was researched once and then handed to a second, independent pass whose only job was to break it: open the same pages, check every spec, every tick, every rating and every quote. Rows it could not confirm were corrected, marked unknown, or dropped before publishing.
What this page does not measure yet. We have not put a drum recording through every app at half speed and compared how the hits survive. Time-stretching smears sharp attacks, and drums are all sharp attacks, so it matters; when we test it, the method will be here.
Prices. Every price is in US dollars, read on 2026-10-07 on the store or page named next to it, with a link: Sweetwater, Musician's Friend or the maker's own store for gear and books, the US App Store's in-app purchase list or the maker's pricing page for apps. When a maker sells for less on its own website than in the app, both are shown. Prices change, so the date is part of the fact: check the store before you buy. Nothing on this page is an affiliate link.
Photos. Product photos and icons belong to their makers and publishers, taken from their own pages to show which product a card is about. Each card names its source; a maker who wants a photo removed can write to support@upbeat.studio.
Questions drummers ask about apps to learn drums, compared: lessons, practice and rudiments.
It depends on whether you want to be taught or checked. For teaching on video, Drumeo and Mike's Lessons have the deepest courses. For an app that grades what you play, Melodics and Drumr, best with an electronic kit. For building your hands, a rudiment trainer such as Chops. The three questions at the top of the page narrow it to your setup.
A few say they can, through the phone's microphone: Melodics for acoustic kits and practice pads, Drum Journal on a pad or a kit, and Drumr on a practice pad with Apple headphones. Most apps that grade you rely on an electronic kit connected by cable or Bluetooth.
Most apps here have a free part, and the size differs a lot. Melodics gives 20 lessons, Beatlii 21 lessons and two courses, Drumr over 70 scores including all 40 rudiments, and Metronome & Rudiment Practice keeps its full rudiment library free. Drumeo and Mike's Lessons open their full libraries with a one-week trial.
No. Most of these apps work on a practice pad, your knees or the screen; the No kit column shows which say so. Being graded on what you play needs an electronic kit or, for a few apps, a microphone.
Drum Coach, Drumeo, Beatlii, InstaDrum, Drum School, Drumbitious and Real Drum have Android apps. Melodics runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Windows but not Android; Drumr, Drum Journal and Chops are Apple only; Mike's Lessons runs in the browser.
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