Comparison

Guitar Tabs X vs Guitar Tab Maker

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

Head to head
About

Guitar Tabs X

Create, edit, and save professional-looking guitar, bass, and ukulele tabs. Preview and play your compositions, and export them as PDF or MIDI files. Ideal for musicians of all levels to capture and organize musical ideas.

Highlights
  • Interactive tablature interface
  • Special tab editing keyboard
  • Insert chords with a slide
  • Export tabs to PDF
  • Export song to MIDI
  • Supports bass and ukulele tabs
  • Preview and play tabs
Features
Read full description

Guitar Tabs X is a powerful guitar tabs editor. It is intended as the guitar and bass players' notebook so you can easily write and save your ideas and songs as pro looking guitar tabs. As an addition the app supports ukulele tabs. All tabs can be previewed and played. 
Supports bass tabs. Great tool for bands, composers, guitar schools and even beginners. 
With Guitar Tabs X you can write your chords fast so you never again forget your ideas. Guitar Tabs X exclusive features:
 - Interactive tablature interface
 - Special tab editing keyboard (like fretboard)
 - Insert chords with a slide
 - Full screen guitar tab read and edit
 - Smart bar metrics algorithms
 - dedicated tab file format - readable and small
 - easy chord edit
 - export tabs to PDF ( print ready )
 - export song to MIDI (which you can import to any DAW) other features:
 - Fast tempo change
 - One touch bar metrics change
 - Copy, paste, insert, delete and clear bars
 - In-place edit title, artist and author
 - legato
 - bend up and bend down 
- vibrato
 - P.M.
 - Bass tabs support
 - Ukulele tabs support - undo last actions
 - send songs via email
 - send songs to server
 - free guitar tabs server
 - fast repeat chords - distortion guitar and bass sounds You can access your tabs via iCloud or iTunes share feature. To export songs as MIDI or PDF and to store more than 5 songs on the device you should unlock the PRO features via In-App purchase. All other features are available free and the app has no ads. Should you choose to upgrade to a Pro features, payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your may choose monthly subscription (paying per month),yearly subscription (paying per year) or one-time payment. (Price may vary by location.) Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period and cancellation of the current active subscription period is not allowed. Auto-renewal may be turned off in your Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. You can also manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. Guitar Tabs X Terms of Service: http://guitartabsx.com/termsandconditions/ Guitar Tabs X Privacy Policy: http://guitartabsx.com/privacypolicy/

About

Guitar Tab Maker

Create and edit guitar tablature with ease on your iOS or macOS devices. Sync across platforms, export to various formats, and even listen to your compositions with audio playback. Supports multiple string instruments and offers advanced features through an optional purchase.

Highlights
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Export to PDF and GTAB
  • Audio playback of tabs
  • Support for multiple string instruments
  • Designed for guitar tabs
Features
Read full description

Create, edit, and share guitar tabs with ease. Here’s the Riffs & Licks: Guitar Tab Maker is a powerful yet straightforward tablature editor designed for guitarists, bassists, and other stringed-instrument players. Whether you're capturing a new riff, transcribing a song, or organizing your ideas, Guitar Tab Maker makes writing tabs fast and intuitive. Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with seamless syncing across your devices. FREE FEATURES • Create and edit guitar tabs in an intuitive editor • Sync your tabs automatically with iCloud • Listen back with built-in audio playback • Export tabs for sharing and backup • Support for guitar, bass, ukulele, and 7- and 8-string instruments • Available across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS PREMIUM FEATURES • Upgrade to Premium to unlock: • Unlimited tab creation • Advanced editing tools • Watermark-free exports • Backup all tabs ability • Additional organization & customization options • Future Premium enhancements as they're released ~ New User Special ~ Start with a free 7-day Premium trial. No strings attached. Whether you're sketching ideas, practicing songs, or building a personal tab library, Guitar Tab Maker helps keep your music organized and accessible wherever inspiration strikes. User Guide: https://kylegorlick.com/guitartabber/guide/ Questions, feedback, or feature requests? Email: kyle@kylegorlick.com Your support is much appreciated. Thank you! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Guitar Tabs X4 screens
Guitar Tab Maker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Guitar Tab Maker at 4.6 against Guitar Tabs X's 4.1. Guitar Tab Maker also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 55%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). Guitar Tabs X's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Guitar Tabs X sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Guitar Tab Maker sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Guitar Tab Maker holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 353 and 507 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Guitar Tabs X's written reviews are positive against 80% of Guitar Tab Maker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Guitar Tabs X ships an update every 3 months, Guitar Tab Maker monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Guitar Tabs X versus Guitar Tab Maker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGuitar Tabs XGuitar Tab Maker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (353 ratings)4.6 (507 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews79.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings353507 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleksandar MlazevKyle Gorlick

Customer experience

Guitar Tabs X

All ratings353 ratings
Positive76.5%
Neutral9.3%
Negative14.2%
Written reviews154 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral20.1%
Negative25.3%

Guitar Tab Maker

All ratings507 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews158 reviews
Positive79.7%
Neutral8.9%
Negative11.4%

User reviews

Guitar Tabs X

From 353 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy and intuitive user interface
  • 🎵 Quick playback feature for tabs
  • 🎸 Support for various guitar tunings
  • ⚡ Fast tab creation process
  • 💰 Free version available with basic features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent data loss and file deletion bugs
  • 🐛 Save functionality unreliable
  • 📝 No support for chord notation above tabs
  • 🔤 Small font sizes in printouts
  • ⚙️ Limited tuning options for bass

Guitar Tab Maker

From 507 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 🚀 Quick and efficient
  • 💡 Customizable tunings
  • 👍 Great for beginners and experienced players

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or data loss
  • 🔍 Limited annotation options (no hammer-ons, pull-offs, etc.)
  • 🔍 No playback or audio features
  • 🔍 Difficulty organizing and managing tabs
  • 🔍 Lack of print or export options

Bugs and requests

Guitar Tabs X

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • Songs automatically deleted when creating new tabs
  • Multiple songs overwritten to same filename
  • File save not confirmed properly
  • App freezes with 'stop playback to edit' message
  • Playback stops at high tempos (150+ BPM)
Show 8 more
  • Ties/slurs ignored across measure boundaries
  • Incorrect note playback in certain tunings
  • Double copy when changing song title
  • Accidental delete function too sensitive
  • No sound on some newly created tabs
  • Pro version purchase breaks save functionality
  • Slider tempo control glitchy and unresponsive
  • Coding issue with special characters in composer field

Requested features

26 requests
  • Capo/Capodastre functionality
  • Hammer-on and pull-off notations
  • Custom tuning editor for any string configuration
  • 7-string and 8-string guitar support
  • 5-string bass support with more tuning options
Show 21 more
  • Chord names above tabs
  • Tempo changes mid-song
  • Additional time signatures (6/8, 7/4, 8/8)
  • Dotted note options
  • Rest/silence notation
  • Harmonics and pinch harmonics
  • Slides and bend notations
  • Copy and paste functionality
  • Multiple tracks/instruments in one project
  • Text annotations and lyrics
  • First and second ending markers
  • Better metronome and tempo control
  • Auto-save functionality
  • Larger font sizes for printing
  • Ghost notes support
  • Glissando notation
  • Percussion/drum tabs
  • Better sound samples for guitar
  • Shuffle rhythm option
  • Bar numbering
  • Search functionality for saved tabs

Guitar Tab Maker

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Tabs randomly deleted or lost
  • Infinite loading screen when accessing tabs
  • Inability to change tunings in some cases

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for advanced tab notation (slides, bends, etc.)
  • Implement playback and audio features to hear the tabs
  • Improve tab organization and management tools
  • Add print and export options (PDF, MIDI, etc.)
  • Expand to desktop/web version for better workflow

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Guitar Tabs X

Subscriptions2
  • Guitar Tabs X Pro - monthly$0.991 Month
  • Guitar Tabs X Pro - yearly$5.991 Year
One-time1
  • Guitar Tabs X PRO features$11.99
6 purchases

Guitar Tab Maker

Subscriptions5
  • Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Premium (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • Premium (Annual)7 Days trial$12.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Premium (Annual)$12.991 Year
  • Premium (Annual Family)3 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium One-Time Buy$29.99

Questions

Is Guitar Tabs X free?
Guitar Tabs X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Guitar Tab Maker free?
Guitar Tab Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Guitar Tabs X or Guitar Tab Maker?
Guitar Tab Maker is rated higher. Guitar Tabs X averages 4.1 out of 5 from 353 ratings, while Guitar Tab Maker averages 4.6 from 507 ratings.
Do Guitar Tabs X or Guitar Tab Maker have ads?
Neither Guitar Tabs X nor Guitar Tab Maker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Guitar Tabs X or Guitar Tab Maker?
Guitar Tabs X ships an update every 3 months, and Guitar Tab Maker monthly. Most recently, Guitar Tabs X was updated on September 23, 2026 and Guitar Tab Maker on September 21, 2026.

Other comparisons