Comparison

Rutabaga vs UltimateScale

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

Head to head
About

Rutabaga

This app helps musicians practice music theory consistently across all keys. Create custom exercises for scales, chords, and improvisation, with timers and playlists for structured practice sessions. Internalize music fundamentals efficiently.

Highlights
  • Customizable exercises for keys
  • Random root, circle of fourths/fifths
  • Timed practice blocks
  • Save exercises to playlists
  • Practice scales, intervals, chords
  • Improvisation drills
Features
Read full description

Rutabaga was designed to help musicians practice consistently and evenly in every key. Create exercises that loop through random roots, follow the circle of fourths and fifths, or drill a single root. Each root is an exercise prompt for a configurable period of time, measured in beats, seconds or minutes. Schedule the countdown timer to divide your practice into focused blocks. Try Rutabaga with scales, intervals, chords, inversions, progressions, lines, riffs, runs and improvisation. Save exercises to playlists to create a structured practice routine. Use Rutabaga as part of your regular practice routine to make efficient use of your time while internalizing the fundamentals of music theory, language and technique evenly in every key. The following is an example playlist to demonstrate the diversity of exercises Rutabaga is capable of guiding: Scale Mastery F# at 112 bpm for 10 minutes Triad Inversions 12 beats per random root at 72 bpm for 5 minutes ii-V-I Progressions 4 beats per root around the Circle of Fifths at 60 bpm for 10 minutes Bach BWV 999 80 bpm for 10 minutes Improvisations 2 minutes per random root at 80 bpm for 20 minutes We're continuously working to make Rutabaga the ideal practice tool for musicians. If you have feedback or suggestions, please contact us at the support link.

About

UltimateScale

Features
Read full description

UtimateScale is a music scale learning assistant. Are you confused and tired of difficult terms and complex scale structures such as Mixolydian and Locrian? With UltimateScale, you can learn by looking at a composition in staff score, directly touching a synth keyboard key on the app, listening by ear, and moving freely in key. In addition, you can learn the scale efficiently through a quiz using the Leitner System, which is famous for learning by memorization. In addition, you can upload and share comments of various scales and your own learning know-how through the Internet Archive. - Learn the scale by looking at the sheet music and listening to the sound. - The built-in touch synth keyboard allows you to learn while directly pressing the keys. - This app does not support only C key. You can transpose from C to B and see how it performs in different situations. - You can adjust the speed and octave during playback, and you can set the playback instrument as you like. - In the quiz menu, learn various scales by solving problems and using flashcards. - For quiz questions, effective learning is possible using the famous Leitner system as a memorization method. - You can share and download new scales that have not yet been discovered through the Internet Archive, scales with comments containing your own learning know-how, etc. This app is also - Support dark mode. - Compatible with both iPad and iPhone devices. - Press scales using a hardware MIDI keyboard connected via Bluetooth or USB. - MIDI keyboard is also supported in quiz mode.

Screenshots

Rutabaga4 screens
UltimateScale4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rutabaga at none against UltimateScale's 1. Rutabaga also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. UltimateScale sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Rutabaga asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rutabaga ships an update every 2 weeks, UltimateScale every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Rutabaga versus UltimateScale: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRutabagaUltimateScale
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (7 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZachary ProffittBum Tae Yoon

In-app purchases

None

Rutabaga

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

UltimateScale

One-time1
  • 1: Remove all ads$4.99

Questions

Is Rutabaga free?
Rutabaga is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is UltimateScale free?
UltimateScale is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Rutabaga or UltimateScale have ads?
UltimateScale shows ads; Rutabaga does not.
Which is updated more often, Rutabaga or UltimateScale?
Rutabaga ships an update every 2 weeks, and UltimateScale every 5 months. Most recently, Rutabaga was updated on October 24, 2026 and UltimateScale on October 24, 2026.

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