# Retro Tuner — For guitars, pianos and more

> Retro-inspired digital tuner for guitars, pianos, and other instruments. (iPhone/iPad app by Waxing Wave.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-tuner/id624598750 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Waxing Wave](https://appshunter.io/developer/392942046)
- Category: Music
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 7 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.6 · 25 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2013-03-30
- Data updated: 2026-07-26
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-tuner/id624598750/reviews.md

## What is Retro Tuner?

Retro Tuner is a musical instrument tuner for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.  It features a user interface in the style of an analog panel meter and Nixie tube note display, but below this retro surface are all-new digital signal processing algorithms that determine the pitch of your instrument quickly and accurately.

Retro Tuner was written by the owner of several crappy guitars and a 1920s player piano that is constantly going out of tune, with the idea that if it can tune those, it can tune anything.

Retro Tuner tunes in equal temperament and can handle the full 88-key piano range. The reference pitch defaults to A=440 Hz and can be adjusted via Settings either as a frequency in Hz or as a detune factor in cents.

## Key features

- Analog panel meter UI
- Nixie tube note display
- Digital signal processing
- Supports 88-key piano range
- Adjustable reference pitch (A=440 Hz)
- Detune factor in cents

## Recent user reviews (7 of 7)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-tuner/id624598750/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Just for trying…

*2023-03-15, version 1.5*

…I paid 3,49 € and in the end it is not useable.
No settings for different tunings or anything else.
Notes below C2 on my piano are hard identified with my IPhone 12. Other apps did. a better job.
I can not recommend this app.
And I want my money back, haha. I never heard that worked…

### 5/5 — Retro tuner

*2019-01-28*

Best tuner app ever!

### 5/5 — Guitar Tuner

*2018-09-29*

A really fantastic app that works superb, it is so simple and useable, brilliant!

### 1/5 — Rohrkrepierer

*2015-09-04, version 1.3*

Funktioniert nicht (iPhone 6+, IOS 8.4) und stürzt sofort ab.

### 5/5 — Best Tuner Apt Out There!!!

*2015-06-21, version 1.3*

Thank you for this tuner!  I just love it.  There are no fancy "lessons" or skins to make it look like something else.  This is just a plain and very well-designed tuner.  I have been playing for over (oh crap, I'm old) let's just say I started as a baby and have played for 50 years.  I have actual physical Fender tuners that cost about $50 when I bought them, but that seem to be affected by weather.  Having more than a dozen guitars, I struggle to keep all in tune.  Some do not get played with very often and need tuning when I decide to grab that particular one.  Having tried other tuner aps, I have been disapponted with the tuning parts.  This is a very refreshing design, it works like a champ, and I just tuned an older acoustic spanish guitar in the shortest time ever! The guitars actually sound wonderful, like all along none of them have really been in tune.  WOW!  I am blown away and will recommend this app to everyone I know who plays.  Now I will have a tuner with me everywhere I go, because you never know when you will run into a guitar that needs playing.  (and you don't want those hearing to yell, "Tune it or die!"). Thank you so much for the design and accuracy you built into this app.  I am going to delete all the other apps I downloaded that disappointed me.    This is the real deal.

### 5/5 — Best!

*2013-12-29, version 1.1*

I was looking for a tool like this to help me tuning my piano. I tested a number of offers from the app store and ended, finally, up with this. It is clear and simple as the analogue devices it mimicks, which, however, are pretty expensives even from second hand. I cannot judge the exactness of the reading, but for me it is just the best i could have found. Many thanks to the maker!

### 5/5 — Retro Tuner

*2013-08-30, version 1.0*

Works great. Saved me a lot of time bringing a neglected harpsichord up to pitch.  I know nothing about tuning keyboard instruments to the proper temperament but this app helped get the instrument close to playable condition in short order.

## Frequently asked questions about Retro Tuner

### What instruments can Retro Tuner tune?

Retro Tuner is designed to tune a wide variety of musical instruments, including guitars and pianos. It supports the full 88-key piano range, indicating its broad compatibility.

### How accurate is Retro Tuner?

The app utilizes advanced digital signal processing algorithms to determine pitch quickly and accurately. It is designed to tune even instruments with challenging tuning requirements.

### Can I adjust the tuning reference pitch in Retro Tuner?

Yes, the reference pitch defaults to A=440 Hz but can be adjusted. You can change it either as a specific frequency in Hz or as a detune factor in cents via the Settings.

### What is the user interface of Retro Tuner like?

Retro Tuner features a distinctive user interface styled after analog panel meters and Nixie tube displays, offering a retro aesthetic.

### Is Retro Tuner available on Android devices?

Based on the provided data, Retro Tuner is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. There is no mention of Android compatibility.

### How often is Retro Tuner updated?

The app was last updated on January 28, 2026, indicating a recent update. The latest version is 1.8.

### What is the age rating for Retro Tuner?

Retro Tuner has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### Does Retro Tuner have ads?

No, Retro Tuner does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application without any in-app purchases or ads.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.8 — 2026-01-28

Fixed a bug that could cause a failure to resume operation after an audio interruption such as an alarm or incoming call.

### 1.7 — 2025-10-15

The app has been updated to meet new technical requirements from Apple. The functionality is unchanged.

### 1.6 — 2024-06-07

Code and metadata updates and cleanups, no functional change intended.

### 1.5 — 2018-02-01

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Bug fixes

### 1.4 — 2017-11-03

Added support for iPhone X.

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## More apps by Waxing Wave

- [AG Anagram](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ag-anagram/id628449695)
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- [Spectrolite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrolite/id1480240180)

All apps by Waxing Wave: https://appshunter.io/developer/392942046

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*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 2026-07-26.*