Comparison

Mandolin Chords Compass vs Mandolin Tuner EM

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Mandolin Chords Compass

Access a vast library of mandolin chords with a virtual fretboard and authentic sound. Perfect for beginners and experienced players, it offers offline functionality and supports multiple mandolin family instruments. Master any song with this comprehensive practice and composition tool.

Highlights
  • Massive chord library
  • Virtual fretboard visualization
  • Authentic chord sound playback
  • Supports Mandolin, Mandola, Mandocello
  • Offline functionality
  • Left-handed mode
  • One-time purchase
Features
Read full description

Take your mandolin playing to the next level. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned musician, Mandolin Chords Compass gives you instant access to a massive library of chords across the entire fretboard—accurate, intuitive, and easy to explore. Master 24,000 Chords With Precision And Simplicity:
 Quickly find the right voicing by selecting the chord root, type and addition and explore the options with just a few clicks. View each chord on a virtual fretboard and hear its authentic sound. It supports Mandolin, Mandola and Mandocello! All-in-One Professional Tool for Players and Creators: + Visualize chords in 17 fretboard positions + Listen to chord sounds + Left-handed mode, retina graphics, and adjustable volume + Designed for offline use, no internet or subscriptions required Built for Practice, Composition, and Teaching:
 Ideal for self-taught learners, classroom instructors, or songwriters creating custom progressions. Whether you're developing skills or composing original music, this app is your complete mandolin companion! Get Full Access with a One-Time Purchase:
 No subscriptions. No recurring fees. Just powerful features you own forever. Across all of your Apple devices —iPhone, iPad and Mac! Elevate your music and master the mandolin today! Get Mandolin Chords Compass and start playing with confidence!

About

Mandolin Tuner EM

This application provides a precise tuning experience for mandolin players, supporting various alternate tunings and offering a quick reference for common chords with fingerings. It features automatic string detection and adjustable reference frequencies for accurate tuning.

Highlights
  • Alternate mandolin tunings
  • Adjustable reference note frequency
  • Automatic string detection
  • Common chord fingerings
  • Multiple note naming schemes
Features
Read full description

Alternate mandolin tunings (Piccolo/sopranino, Tenor/alto, Octave/mandola). Adjustable reference note frequency (A440). Automatic detection of tuned strings. Most common chords with fingerings and string tones as quick reference. Various note naming schemes: English (CDEFGAB), German (CDEFGAH), Latin (DoReMiFa...)

Screenshots

Mandolin Chords Compass4 screens
Mandolin Tuner EM4 screens

Verdict

The call

Mandolin Chords Compass and Mandolin Tuner EM both sit at 3.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of Mandolin Tuner EM's written reviews are positive against 17% of Mandolin Chords Compass's. Mandolin Tuner EM also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 64 months). Mandolin Chords Compass's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Mandolin Tuner EM is free to download; Mandolin Chords Compass costs $4.99 up front. Mandolin Tuner EM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mandolin Chords Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for Mandolin Chords Compass against 4.0 for Mandolin Tuner EM. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 9 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 17% of Mandolin Chords Compass's written reviews are positive against 67% of Mandolin Tuner EM's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mandolin Chords Compass ships an update every 64 months, Mandolin Tuner EM every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Mandolin Chords Compass versus Mandolin Tuner EM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMandolin Chords CompassMandolin Tuner EM
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (32 ratings)4.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings32 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 64 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMax SchleemyrApps

Customer experience

Mandolin Chords Compass

All ratings31 ratings
Positive71.0%
Neutral3.2%
Negative25.8%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative83.3%

Mandolin Tuner EM

All ratings9 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral11.1%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Mandolin Chords Compass

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Mandolin Tuner EM

One-time1
  • Premium Upgrade$3.99

Questions

Is Mandolin Chords Compass free?
Mandolin Chords Compass costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mandolin Tuner EM free?
Mandolin Tuner EM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mandolin Chords Compass or Mandolin Tuner EM?
Mandolin Tuner EM is rated higher. Mandolin Chords Compass averages 3.9 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Mandolin Tuner EM averages 4.0 from 9 ratings.
Do Mandolin Chords Compass or Mandolin Tuner EM have ads?
Mandolin Tuner EM shows ads; Mandolin Chords Compass does not.
Which is updated more often, Mandolin Chords Compass or Mandolin Tuner EM?
Mandolin Chords Compass ships an update every 64 months, and Mandolin Tuner EM every 5 months. Most recently, Mandolin Chords Compass was updated on November 5, 2026 and Mandolin Tuner EM on November 3, 2026.

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