# Mandolin Chords Compass vs Mandolin Tuner EM

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mandolin Chords Compass | Mandolin Tuner EM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-chords-compass/id1001868385/reviews) | **[4.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-tuner-em-1/id1481362092/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 64 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 24 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Max Schlee](https://appshunter.io/developer/429770420) | [myrApps](https://appshunter.io/developer/954211898) |

## What reviewers say

### Mandolin Chords Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-chords-compass/id1001868385)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mandolin Tuner EM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-tuner-em-1/id1481362092)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*