Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

djay vs Groovepad

djay 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner djay
Groovepad 4.8★ · Free + IAP 60

djay is the better choice for serious DJs and those who want professional-grade features, while Groovepad is more suited for casual beat-making despite its aggressive monetization.

Full reviews: djay · Groovepad

djay offers a more professional DJ experience with robust features for mixing and controller support, though it requires a paid subscription for full functionality. Groovepad is a simpler beat-making app, but its free version is heavily interrupted by ads and limits most content to paid subscribers.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: djayR2R3R7R9
djay djay is praised for its professional features, including on-the-go mixing, seamless integration with controllers, and advanced options like beat syncing and FX R2R34. However, some users report issues with specific features like equalizer auto-resetting, track loading, and Spotify integration R7R9R16.
Groovepad Groovepad is seen as a fun app for making beats and songs, offering lessons and various sound selections . Users appreciate the ability to record music they've made . However, many lament the lack of diverse genres, new content, and the inability to search for specific sounds . Some also feel it's not for creating original songs but rather for pre-made beats .
Ease of Use tieR18R28R34
djay djay is described as easy to navigate and upload songs to, especially for those who purchase the app R28R34. However, some users find it hard to use or log in R18.
Groovepad Groovepad is generally considered easy to use for beat-making R28R34.
Reliability & Performance edge: djayR6R11R37R38
djay djay users report issues with the app crashing during live streams and glitches R6R11R37. There are also reports of cue points moving, audio not playing, and problems with external hardware connectivity R38R39.
Groovepad Groovepad users report that the app sometimes deletes all their saved beats .
Price & Value tieR1R3R12R13
djay djay is heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization, with users stating that almost everything requires payment and that the free version is useless R1R3R13R20. Many feel ripped off, especially after paying for a year and being asked to pay again R12. However, paying users find it a worthwhile investment for professional use and appreciate the seamless sync with music apps R34.
Groovepad Groovepad is also heavily criticized for its subscription model and the high cost, with many features and songs locked behind a paywall R63R69R79. Users are frustrated by the constant ads in the free version, which appear after almost every action R63R70R72.
Customer Support edge: djayR39
djay djay users report a lack of manual support and customer service being unhelpful in resolving persistent issues like cue points moving R39.
Groovepad Groovepad reviews do not provide specific feedback on customer support.
Pick djay if

You are a professional DJ or aspire to be one, value advanced mixing features, and are willing to pay for a subscription to unlock full functionality and controller support R3R34.

Pick Groovepad if

You are a casual user looking to experiment with beat-making, don't mind frequent ads, or are willing to pay for a subscription to access more content and remove ads .

Evidence note: The evidence for customer support is one-sided, with only djay having specific feedback, which is negative. Groovepad's reviews are overwhelmingly focused on ads and subscription costs, making it harder to assess other dimensions.

Frequently asked

Is djay truly free to use?
No, djay is not truly free to use; while it is a free download, users report that you have to pay for "everything" for an actual good DJ experience, and the free version is described as useless or severely limited R1R3R20R33.
Does Groovepad have a lot of ads?
Yes, Groovepad has a significant number of ads; users frequently complain about "too many ads," with ads appearing after almost every button click or action, making the app feel "unplayable" unless a subscription is purchased R63R70R72R80.
Can I use Spotify with djay?
Users report issues connecting Spotify with djay, often being told they need a premium subscription even if they have one, or that Spotify integration is only for premium users R16R27R43. Additionally, some features like vocal/instrumental isolation are not available for Spotify songs R25.
What is the cost of Groovepad's subscription?
Groovepad's subscription costs are reported to be around $60 a month or $150 a year, with many beats and songs locked behind this paywall R69R79R118.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] djay 5/5 · US June: Love it ! Great for on the go mixing
  2. [R3] djay 3/5 · US It’s okay.: You have to pay for EVERYTHING for an actual good DJ experience. But if you pay and are a professional DJ this app is your app!
  3. [R7] djay 1/5 · US Never fixed: Why djay hasn’t ever fixed the equalizer auto resetting after every song load in auto dj mode is annoying as hell since day one.
  4. [R9] djay 3/5 · GB “Track not permitted”: I’m ticked off at the fact that this app has worked like a dream to provide me with the ability to DJ on it. But now all my tracks aren’t permitted for some reason. Either because they’re on files or something else! Help me out with this because I’m confused.
  5. [R18] djay 3/5 · GB Could be good but: Bad so hard to use and log in but good otherwise
  6. [R28] djay 5/5 · US awesome app!: Fun to play with, easy to navigate and upload songs to, def recommend
  7. [R34] djay 5/5 · US Awesome!: I was a bit hesitant at first but I decided to purchase this app and I’m glad I did. It works flawlessly with my Numark controller, it’s VERY easy to use and there are a lot of cool features. Well worth the small investment. Thumbs up! 😁
  8. [R6] djay 3/5 · US I love it but….: I do live streams and I love this app…I hope you can fix the app better so that it doesn’t crash during my live stream
  9. [R11] djay 4/5 · US djay: it glitches sometimes but other than that it’s amazing an AMAZING app
  10. [R37] djay 1/5 · US Automix crashes every time. This app is junk: The title says it all. What do you expect from a free app
  11. [R38] djay 5/5 · US Need to fix: No headphone out on iPad also u can use a usb mixer on the window app I tried to hook my newmark usb mixer it’s not there nor can u download the app to make it work .
  12. [R1] djay 1/5 · US DO NOT DOWNLOAD IF YOUR NOT WANTING TO USE MONEY: It cost money to play because if you don’t pay money you literally can’t do anything
  13. [R12] djay 3/5 · GB 1 year pass: I payed for a full year on here last month and now it’s asking for me too pay again soo I can go on my decks please review it and get back too me please instead of ripping me off
  14. [R13] djay 1/5 · US End of a secret world: Got new phone Can’t use app without subscription. Byebye
  15. [R39] djay 1/5 · US No Manual Support: Update: June 2026 They weren’t able to tell me why my cue points keep moving, switching from their place. Their customer service kept asking for videos showing the issue but even after sending them the data they never provided with a solution or even recognition of that specific issue, at all. I can only use the App for a few minutes since I get frustrated when my inspiration of
  16. [R20] djay 5/5 · US 5 Stars so you see this (Terrible App): Ok first off,why do we need to have premium just to record a single song? Like,it’s just a song. You shouldn’t need premium to literally record a song. 2 it’s MONEY HUNGRY Like Jesus Christ WHY just WHY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD DOES THIS APPP NEED TO BE MONEY HUNGRY?! you have to pay for EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING! Please fix this…I’m losing my patience,no
  17. [R33] djay 1/5 · US Have to pay $13/mo to connect to music apps. I already pay for music apps.: Tired of being ripped off. Was it not bough to buy the dj board but then have to pay a monthly fee to use the board. It’s supposed to be for kids! Now I own a paperweight
  18. [R63] Groovepad 3/5 · US Not bad: I just started and it hit me with subscriptions witch I really hated! Also, when you wanna play beats, it makes you play an ad... 5/10
  19. [R70] Groovepad 2/5 · US The true review for you: The reason why I gave groovepad 2 stars was because it general it would’ve been a good game. I trusted it to be better than beat maker pro. No they are equally 😔. The ads go crazy whenever I clicked a button. It’s showing me ads for games I already have. I already have merge jelly… it could’ve been something great! For you it might be fun, just… not for me.
  20. [R72] Groovepad 3/5 · US Awesome but.: Great app but I get an ad every 2 seconds and I hate it
  21. [R80] Groovepad 4/5 · US Too many ads: I like this game, it’s fun and cool. And I don’t need a subscription, hip-hop is just fine for me, the problem is THE ADS! So many ads, I can’t even click out of it without getting an ad. So annoying.
  22. [R16] djay 1/5 · US No: Won’t even let me add my Spotify account I swear if I don’t get a response I’m messing the whole app up idc
  23. [R25] djay 2/5 · US Spotify Vocal/Instrumental isolation when?!: it sucks you cant make mashups using songs from spotify. please consider allowing Spotify songs with the isolation tools
  24. [R27] djay 1/5 · US Bad: This app sucks I try to put my Spotify account in but it says only for premium users plus I bet if it did work I would have to buy there dumb little subscription.
  25. [R43] djay 1/5 · US Unable to connect Spotify: I downloaded this app trying to explore and enjoy it and other apps similar to this but I can’t link my Spotify. It claims I need a premium subscription in order to do so which I do HAVE and no matter what I try it will not let me log into it because the app claims I don’t have a Spotify premium account when in reality I do have one. I’d be open to give this app another
  26. [R69] Groovepad 3/5 · US You shouldn’t have to pay $60 a month but it’s a pretty good app: It’s a pretty good app, but you shouldn’t have to pay $60 a month or $150 a year
  27. [R79] Groovepad 1/5 · US To much premium beats: Almost every song selection you can chose you have to pay the subscription. Super annoying.
  28. [R118] Groovepad 1/5 · GB This is unplayable: This game has great potential but there are two things that’s stops it from being a great game 1. That you need to pay to play most of the songs. Sure I don’t mind it costing a few bucks but £11?!? Come on!!! Make it like £7 at most 2. ToO mAnY aDs. They are coming like the plague and they aren’t going for at least 2 minutes. If you can fix these things then I’ll rate it a

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store