# Mandolin Tuner and Chords — user reviews > 31 indexed App Store user reviews of Mandolin Tuner and Chords by Pedro Daniel Macalupu Cumpen, rated 4.30/5 from 898 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-tuner-and-chords/id1450078301/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-tuner-and-chords/id1450078301.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 633 · 4★ 113 · 3★ 39 · 2★ 16 · 1★ 97 ## What do users think of Mandolin Tuner and Chords? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Helpful tuner with correct octaves - 🎶 Useful chord library for beginners **Cons** - 🤑 Excessive in-app purchases required - 🔍 Misleading about one-time charge - 🙄 Intrusive ads - 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes - 🤖 Unresponsive and unreliable tuner - 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive interface **Commonly reported bugs** - Tuner not picking up certain strings - Settings not accessible without payment **Most requested features** - Option to switch to octave mandolin - More comprehensive chord library ## Newest reviews (14 of 31) ### 1/5 — Horrible interface too many adds *2022-11-30* Not user friendly at all ### 1/5 — Unethical Devs *2022-10-18, version 2.7* Very deceptively designed app that tries to trick you into buying features. ### 1/5 — N’y allez pas ! *2022-06-13* App qui se prétend gratuite mais qui te propose de tout acheter une fois que tu la récupère. Ça peut encore aller, c’est normal de payer les développeurs. Mais non, chaque bouton (accordage, chords etc…) te coûtent 3€. Au final une app qui coûte 10€. Trop cher vu l’ergonomie. ### 1/5 — Nothing is free in this app *2022-03-30* Wanted $$$ for any feature other than very basic tuning. Extremely disappointed. ### 1/5 — BEWARE! *2022-01-11* Potential compromise of personal information. After downloading this App my atm card was used for fraudulent charges and I started receiving spam text messages. The only thing that had changed was downloading this app. ### 1/5 — Worst app don’t download *2021-05-19* Lots of adds tuner works poorly save your time download something else ### 1/5 — Mandolin tuner lite *2021-04-02* Just wanted chords. Ended up making two additional purchases for chords and tuner and then discovered more $$ was needed for more chords and tuner. And if not, it just froze up on prompts for other purchases. Can’t get a refund for the $ spent but am deleting. It is not simple to navigate even from one from one page to page. Why? Because when you press the tuner or chord icons - $$$$ requested. ### 1/5 — Scam *2021-01-05* This app may be a scam and please be advised. I downloaded the free version and while I was trying to find the settings I clicked something that automatically prompted me to pay for the app— and because I was trying to get into the settings my finger was on the confirm button as the prompt appeared. Therefore I payed for the app accidentally. I decided to give it another try since I just paid for it and I still was not able to get it to work, and while I tried to click another button in the settings area it prompted me to pay once again. I have now deleted the app. Just be advised. ### 1/5 — Just plain bad *2021-01-03* Whoever made this is tone deaf. Tuning is off even though it gives the correct hz. Ad right in the middle of trying to tune. Uninstalled ### 1/5 — Confusing *2020-12-17* Not user friendly ### 1/5 — Request refund. *2020-10-11* I was forced to pay for the library twice and then I saw the chords given were very limited. You cannot learn enough chords on this app to start playing mandolin. No instructions on using the app. No sounds of chords. Very weak app. I’m an accomplished guitar player and familiar with many guitar apps. I am very disappointed with this app. ### 1/5 — Tunes well, think? *2020-05-23* Listen, I really couldn’t handle the ads. I got through two strings and it would send me to a really annoying irritating ad. All the other tools are to be purchased. Just make the app for purchase rather than trying to hoodwink me into downloading it for free and turning it into an in-app purchase. Just for that, I’ll go elsewhere. Jesus...it’s not like you’re fooling anyone **Developer response:** Mandolin Tuner Basic will tune all the strings of your instrument, for free. It shows a single ad *ONLY* after tuning all strings, not on a one by one basis. In order to remove the ads, you must purchase the No-Ads feature, or any of the other advanced functions as Chords Library, Tuning Fork or Settings. ### 1/5 — Absolute trash *2020-03-29* This app is absolute garbage. Will push you to buy the version and trick you with pop ups so you accidentally use your thumb print and purchase when you’re not being careful ### 1/5 — crappy chord library *2020-01-03* only gives one variation per chord ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — All ads *2026-06-05* Impossible to use without a barrage of cheap scammy ads - uninstalled after five minutes ### 1/5 — Spam / scam *2025-09-26* First time I opened the app I immediately started getting scam messages my Apple account is being charged large amounts$$$ . I was being requested to click a yes/no link. I deleted and never used the mandolin app. **Developer response:** This claim is completely incorrect — our app does not and cannot send messages, charge accounts, or display pop-ups outside the App Store. We never request payment confirmation links or personal information. It sounds like you may have received unrelated spam messages at the same time by coincidence. The Mandolin Tuner app is 100 % safe, verified by Apple, and available exclusively on the App Store. ### 1/5 — SCAM HORRIBLE DO NOT GET *2025-06-05, version 3.1.5* Want to see incorrectly notated Chords? -Gotta pay for it. Want to use a tuning fork? -Three dollars for it. Heck, want to go into the settings? -You guessed it, pay for it. I accidentally clicked confirm purchase after just trying to see the chords and here we are :/ ### 1/5 — Durch Werbung nicht nutzbar *2025-01-19* Durch den Werbeblock, den man nicht weg bekommt, sind selbst die zugekauften Features nicht nutzbar. **Developer response:** Hallo Jens, danke für dein Feedback! Nach einem In-App-Kauf (z. B. „Werbung entfernen“) werden alle Werbebanner automatisch deaktiviert. Falls Werbung trotzdem erscheint, kann sie meist durch das Wiederherstellen der Käufe („Käufe wiederherstellen“) entfernt werden. Bitte probiere das kurz aus – danach sollte alles wie gewohnt funktionieren. ### 1/5 — Lite version stopped working *2024-07-11* Had the Lite version. Stopped working completely, except as a google ad server and the prompt to ‘buy’ for $3.99. No thanks, and a hearty FU to you, too! Just downloaded another app, for free, with no ads - and it works. Keep looking folks! **Developer response:** Sorry to hear about your experience. The Lite version still works normally — if tuning stopped responding, it’s usually due to the microphone permission being disabled or another app using the mic at the same time. Ads help us keep the tuner free, and every feature can still be unlocked permanently with a one-time purchase (no subscriptions). We appreciate your past use and hope you’ll give it another try. ### 1/5 — Not a one time charge. *2023-07-05* The app says a one time charge. I was charged 3 times. It appears to charge to remove the adds. It charges to use the tuner. It charges to see the chords. It is misleading. It appears the charge didn’t go through. No you’re being charged multiple times. **Developer response:** Sorry for the confusion! Each feature in the app (Remove Ads, Chords, Tuning Fork, etc.) is a separate optional one-time purchase. None of these renew automatically or charge again — they’re all processed securely by Apple, and you’re charged only when you confirm each unlock. You can review or request a refund for any purchase anytime at reportaproblem.apple.com. Thanks for your support and for using the tuner! ### 1/5 — Broken doesn’t work *2023-06-17* Installed, but when opened it doesn’t even function **Developer response:** Sorry to hear it didn’t work right away. The tuner uses your device’s microphone — if microphone access is denied or another app is using it, sound detection won’t start. Please check your mic permission in iPhone Settings → Privacy → Microphone, then reopen the app. It should work normally. ### 1/5 — Don’t buy *2023-04-22, version 2.7* What a piece of crap the worst tuner I’ve ever used!!! ### 1/5 — Dose not do anything unless you pay. *2023-04-17* Pure click bate of the nth degree. If you click any icon if brings up a pay wall. ### 1/5 — A Scam *2023-01-06* Do not even download. It will do nothing but take your money. Literally, I could not get a note out of it. I opened the app and tried to get the tuner to work. Nothing. I tapped the Settings icon and before I knew what was happening, a purchase of the app was made! I didn’t even think I clicked the lock screen button to confirm. ## Most praised reviews (6 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Helpful *2024-11-16* Having the tuner with the correct octaves is helpful. Maybe having the option to switch to octave mandolin would be nicer. As a beginner I love the cord library. ### 5/5 — Saved me some frustration! *2023-11-30* I was working with an old Super Tight tuner and this app solved that one sting the older device couldn’t pick up! Saved me some frustration! ### 5/5 — Thanks *2022-09-05* Free and works well ### 5/5 — I’ve actually never used this app just giving you guys the stars :);):);):);):);):) *2021-06-09* ;):);):) ### 5/5 — It’s FANTASTIC! *2020-03-01* I haven’t looked but do you have a guitar tuner that does the same? I bought a mandolin out of the blue and never played let alone tuned one in my life, and while I googled the basic initial setup having no clue, figured out the basics but when accessing your app I was dialed in within 10 minutes!!! Now I’m trying to figure out how to play mandolin starting with Fur Elise!!! **Developer response:** Dear customer, We are glad that our app meets your needs, because it was designed with speed and efficiency in mind. By the way, you can tune your acoustic, electric or classical guitar with Acoustic Guitar Tuner Lite/ Pro, Electric Guitar Tuner Lite / Pro and Classical Guitar Tuner Lite / Pro.  Please visit our App Store Page https://apps.apple.com/es/developer/id492172409 in order to purchase our Guitar Tuner Pro versions or gettting our Tuner Lite versions for free.  Also, you can purchase many other tuning apps from the the "More Info" (i button) in Mandolin Tuner & Chords. Kindest regards Daikyouju Labs ### 2/5 — Loved it until I didn’t *2025-10-30* Too many adds you’re interrupted constantly and this most recent time it wouldnt even pick anything up so I’m uninstalling and trying a new app. **Developer response:** Sorry to hear about your recent experience. The tuner uses the device’s microphone, so if mic permission was turned off or another app was using it, detection can stop working temporarily. Regarding ads — they help keep all tuning features free, but you can remove them permanently with a one-time “Remove Ads” option in the app. Thanks for having used the tuner for so long — we hope you’ll give it another try! 🎸 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-07.*