SmartScales vs AltoClef
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SmartScales
This app transforms scale and arpeggio practice into an engaging experience with specially composed backing tracks. It closely aligns with the ABRSM syllabus, offering interactive scores, adjustable tempos, and a built-in metronome. Explore various music styles and practice with looping exercises for instruments like piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
- Interactive scale and arpeggio practice
- ABRSM syllabus alignment
- Specially composed backing tracks
- Adjustable tempo control
- Looping exercises
- Built-in metronome
- Toggleable audio tracks
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SmartScales makes practising scales and arpeggios interactive and fun! A collaboration between highly experienced music educators and leading music software developers, SmartScales ensures you’ll be making beautiful music thanks to specially-composed backing tracks in a broad range of styles. The graded exercise packs, available as in-app purchases, closely follow the syllabus of the ABRSM, the UK’s largest music education body and the world’s leading provider of music exams. Free content allows you to try exercises in each grade before buying. Content for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass available today, more instruments coming soon! • Follows the complete ABRSM syllabus*, including all exercise variations • Choice of music styles for every exercise • Fully interactive score follows the music • Adjustable tempo as you build towards ABRSM's suggested playing speed • Loop the exercise so the music goes on while you play • Built-in metronome helps you keep in time • Toggle lead, backing and metronome tracks on and off • Music can be used as jam along tracks * The syllabus on which SmartScales is based is © by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is reproduced by permission of the copyright owner.
AltoClef
A game designed to help viola players improve their sight-reading speed. It offers a focused learning experience for musicians looking to master alto clef notation.
- Sight-reading practice
- Alto clef focus
- Viola player learning
- Basic gameplay
- Future updates planned
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AltoClef is a game for viola players who are learning to sightread AltoClef faster! The game is basic for now, but it will get better in the future releases.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: AltoClef at 5.0 against SmartScales's 4.2. AltoClef also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 17) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). SmartScales's advantage is ratings volume (38 vs 5). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. SmartScales sells 17 one-off in-app purchases. AltoClef asks for nothing beyond the download.
AltoClef holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartScales has 38 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of SmartScales's written reviews are positive against 100% of AltoClef's.
SmartScales ships an update every 5 months, AltoClef daily. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartScales | AltoClef |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (38 ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Greater Heights Media Ltd | Khaleel Jamal Annajjar |
Customer experience
SmartScales
AltoClef
Bugs and requests
SmartScales
Reported bugs
10 issues- Cannot delete app from iPad
- In-app purchase server connection issues
- App crashes after purchase
- App crashes after opening
- Unable to locate in-app purchases
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- App crashes after 1 second
- App crashes on iPad
- App doesn't load
- App keeps re-downloading
- Doesn't get past unpacking files screen
Requested features
22 requests- Add ABRSM clarinet options
- Add ABRSM piano syllabus updates
- Pro version for school use with all grades enabled
- Search for key signature and browse octaves
- Add MIDI support
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- Add guitar as an instrument
- Add brass instruments
- Add wind instruments
- Add band instruments
- Add classical guitar
- Add woodwind instruments (clarinet)
- Add tuba
- Add more instruments (orchestra)
- Add tuner
- Add drone (chord or single tone)
- Include all three and four scale octaves
- Offer alternative backing tracks (e.g., piano sound)
- Check intonation and provide analysis
- Highlight or change note head color
- Add fingerings or display pitches
- Create new rhythm patterns
- More than 2 note slur option (3,4,6,8)
AltoClef
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SmartScales
- Cello Grade 1$0.99
- Violin Grade 1$0.99
- Piano Grade 1$0.99
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- Piano Grade 2$1.99
- Double Bass Grade 3$1.99
- Violin Grade 5$2.99
- Viola Grade 5$2.99
- Violin Grade 7$3.99
- Cello Grades 1 to 4$4.99
- Violin Grades 1 to 4$4.99
- Piano Grades 1 to 4$4.99
- Double Bass Grade 8$4.99
- Cello Grades 5 to 8$9.99
- Violin Grades 5 to 8$9.99
- Cello Grades 1 to 8$12.99
- Violin Grades 1 to 8$12.99
- Viola Grades 1 to 8$12.99
AltoClef
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SmartScales free?
Is AltoClef free?
Which has better reviews, SmartScales or AltoClef?
Do SmartScales or AltoClef have ads?
Which is updated more often, SmartScales or AltoClef?
Other comparisons
