Fretcetera vs Mandolin Tuner EM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Fretcetera
This app helps musicians find chords, scales, and progressions for string instruments in any tuning. It calculates optimal fingerings based on playability and user-defined preferences, and can generate chord transition suggestions.
- Chord and scale finder
- Custom tuning support
- Playability-based results
- Progression builder
- Chord transition suggestions
- Instrument configuration
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Fretcetera is musical calculator that uses algorithms to connect you to chords, scales and progressions on a variety of string instruments in any tuning! This is not just a chord book. Fretcetera computes every way to play chords or scales in any tuning, and returns the top results based on their playability. Fine-tune results by configuring your instrument exactly as you play it. Enter personal preferences and constraints. Select from common tunings or create your own! Build progressions to listen to chord transitions, and even get suggestions based on the chords you are playing!
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.
- Alternate mandolin tunings
- Adjustable reference note frequency
- Automatic string detection
- Common chord fingerings
- Multiple note naming schemes
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Fretcetera at 4.8 against Mandolin Tuner EM's 4.0. Fretcetera also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases 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. Fretcetera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Mandolin Tuner EM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Fretcetera holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Fretcetera's written reviews are positive against 67% of Mandolin Tuner EM's.
Fretcetera ships an update every 3 weeks, Mandolin Tuner EM every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Fretcetera | Mandolin Tuner EM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (11 ratings) — better | 4.0 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Joel Pipher | myrApps |
Customer experience
Fretcetera
Mandolin Tuner EM
In-app purchases
Fretcetera
- Fretcetera Premium$3.99
Mandolin Tuner EM
- Premium Upgrade$3.99
Questions
Is Fretcetera free?
Is Mandolin Tuner EM free?
Which has better reviews, Fretcetera or Mandolin Tuner EM?
Do Fretcetera or Mandolin Tuner EM have ads?
Which is updated more often, Fretcetera or Mandolin Tuner EM?
Other comparisons
