BOSS Tuner vs Spark
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BOSS Tuner
This app offers world-renowned chromatic tuning technology for iOS devices, replicating the look and feel of a popular pedal tuner. It uses your device's microphone to tune a wide range of instruments, from guitars and basses to strings and brass. An audible reference pitch function and enlarged meter view enhance the tuning experience.
- Hands-free chromatic tuning
- Audible reference pitch
- Horizontal screen for enlarged meter
- Wide instrument compatibility
- Newsfeed for BOSS updates
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The BOSS Tuner app brings BOSS’s trusted and world-renowned chromatic tuning technology to iOS mobile devices. Available as a free download, the convenient app features the familiar look and intuitive display style of the best-selling TU-3 / TU-3W pedal tuner. Using the mic in your iOS device, you can tune a guitar, bass, and other instruments like violin, cello, brass, etc. Features - Provides hands-free chromatic tuning for a variety of instruments - Audible reference pitch function for tuning by ear - Supports horizontal screen to enlarge meter view - Tuning range: A#0 (29.14 Hz)--G8 (6,271.93 Hz) - Tuning accuracy: +/- 1 cent - Newsfeed for the latest BOSS info Find more BOSS tuner products at: http://www.boss.info/categories/tuners_metronomes/
Spark
This intelligent amp and app combination creates a virtual band that learns your playing style to generate accompanying bass and drums. Access millions of songs with auto-displayed chords, over 10,000 tones, and voice command functionality. It's designed to enhance your practice and performance experience.
- Auto chord display for millions of songs
- Smart Jam with AI-generated bass and drums
- Voice command control
- BIAS tone engine with 10,000+ presets
- Tempo control and looping for practice
- Realistic virtual tube amps and effects
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The smart amp and app that jam along with you using intelligent technology. Play and practice with millions of songs and access over 10,000 tones powered by our award-winning BIAS tone engine. *Auto Chords* Automatically display chords for millions of songs. Choose any song, and Spark will auto display its chords in real-time as you play. Easy controls let you slow down the song’s tempo or loop a difficult section as you master playing it. *Smart Jam* The Spark amp and app work together to learn your style and feel, and then generate authentic bass and drums to accompany you. It’s a smart virtual band that goes wherever you go! *Voice Command* The Spark app responds to your voice commands. Tell it to stream a rock song or a blues backing track, or ask for a virtual band to follow your playing. *Tone Engine* Whether you play pristine melodies, crunchy chords or soaring leads, Spark gives you a full amp modeling and multi-effects engine, powered by Positive Grid’s state-of-the-art BIAS with the most realistic virtual tube amps and effects on the planet. *Requires Spark Amp* *10,000+ Tones* The Spark app provides over 10,000 killer guitar and bass amp -and-FX presets from famous guitarists, professional session players, expert studio engineers and hit-making producers from around the world. If you have any questions or feedback, contact us via https://help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Spark at 4.8 against BOSS Tuner's 3.7. Spark also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 17 months) and ratings volume (25K vs 118). BOSS Tuner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, 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. Spark sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BOSS Tuner asks for nothing beyond the download.
Spark holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark has 25K ratings behind it against 118, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of BOSS Tuner's written reviews are positive against 55% of Spark's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
BOSS Tuner ships an update every 17 months, Spark every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BOSS Tuner | Spark |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (118 ratings) | 4.8 (25K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 59.6% of reviews — better | 55.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 118 | 25K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 562 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Roland Corporation | Positive Grid Inc |
Customer experience
BOSS Tuner
Spark
User reviews
BOSS Tuner
From 118 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✅ Works as expected
- 🆓 Free to use
- 🎶 Covers alternate tunings
- 👍 Simple and focused tuner
- 💯 Highly recommended
Room to improve
- ✉️ Excessive notifications
- 🚫 Spam push notifications
- ❓ News tab empty
- 🎛️ Buttons don't function
- 😵 Random needle movement
Spark
From 25K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Versatile, powerful, and full of features
- 👍 Great sound quality and tone options
- 🎨 Impressive amp and effects modeling
- 💡 Useful smart jam and play-along features
- 🎸 Excellent for practice and jamming
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity and pairing issues with app
- 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Difficult to organize and find saved tones
- 🔊 Muddy or harsh tones at times
- 🔋 Battery life could be better
Bugs and requests
BOSS Tuner
Reported bugs
15 issues- Sends spam (marketing) push notifications without consent
- News tab is empty
- Too many notifications
- Needle moves randomly
- Shows wrong notes
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- Not updated for several years, incompatible with newer iOS
- Snapped ukulele string
- Tuner vanishes from iPhone
- App is totally unresponsive on new iPad with iOS 11
- Screen goes into auto lock even when actively using the tuner
- Does not track strings well
- Function buttons do not seem to do anything
- Doesn't work in split screen
- App is not responsive
- Tuner is off, registers tuning fork incorrectly
Requested features
10 requests- Bring back other Boss products as apps
- Add strobe mode
- Ability to change tuning fork note
- Move notifications icon to settings
- Option to disable ads
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Update for newer iOS versions
- Smoother LED motion
- Make more pedals available for guitar/iPhone connection
- Fix screen auto-lock issue
- Add dark mode
Spark
Reported bugs
5 issues- App frequently disconnects from amp
- Tone selection issues and inconsistencies
- Sudden loud noises or feedback from amp
- Firmware update process is cumbersome
- Spotify integration not working as advertised
Requested features
6 requests- Add looping functionality
- Improve auto-chord detection and playback
- Allow more customization of signal chain and effects
- Integrate with more music services beyond Spotify
- Add EQ controls for Bluetooth speaker mode
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- Sync saved tones across devices
In-app purchases
BOSS Tuner
No in-app purchases
Spark
- Experience Jimi Hendrix™$19.99
