Comparison

Tone Scan vs TB Spectrogram

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

Head to head
About

Tone Scan

Analyze live or recorded audio to reveal musical details like pitch, timbre, and tonal balance. This app offers three live scans to help you understand sound more deeply, simplifying tasks like instrument tuning and learning songs by ear.

Highlights
  • Chromatic spectrum analysis
  • Polyphonic tuner
  • Note mix for tonal balance
  • Pitch recognition
  • Timbre analysis
  • Instrument tuning
  • Chord and key spelling
Read full description

Discover musical secrets in any live or recorded audio. Elevate your perception of sound with this unique app. You’ll be amazed. See what you hear — and can’t hear — with three live scans: 1. A chromatic spectrum to see sound partials and pitch 2. A polyphonic tuner to see the pitch accuracy of select notes 3. A note mix to see changes in tonal balance Simplify tasks like: • Pitch recognition • Timbre analysis • Instrument tuning • Chord and key spelling • Tonality analysis • Learning a song by ear Ready to explore? Try the app for free.

About

TB Spectrogram

This app provides real-time audio analysis with a spectrogram, spectrum analyzer, and goniometer. It can be used as a standalone application or as an AUv3 plugin within compatible music production hosts. Visualize your audio in detail with adjustable settings and multiple display options.

Highlights
  • Real-time spectrogram and spectrum analysis
  • Goniometer for stereo signal analysis
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • Adjustable frequency and time resolution
  • Customizable color themes
  • On-screen piano keyboard mapping
Features
Read full description

ToneBoosters Spectrogram shows a real-time spectrogram, spectrum, and goniometer AUv3 plugin! We have taken the stunning visual spectrum analyzer features from our latest and greatest Equalizer Pro plugin and released it as a separate app / AUv3 plugin! The ToneBoosters Spectrogram app captures the microphone input and processes the signals in real time. To use it as a plug-in, use an AUv3-compatible host app such as Steinberg Cubasis, Apple Garageband, Audio Evolution Mobile Studio, Auria, AUM, or others. ToneBoosters Spectrogram will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for effect plug-ins. Key features: - Fully resizable (as AUv3 plugin) - Color themes for the user interface - Max screen support in Garageband - Adjustable color themes for UI and for spectrogram independently - Adjustable dynamic range - Adjustable frequency resolution - Adjustable time resolution - Adjustable spectral slope - Spectrogram AGC and dimming support - Show spectrogram and spectrum analyzer as overlay or individually - Spectrum analyzer also supports peak hold - Split-band goniometer for stereo signal analysis (correlation, left/right balance in one or two bands!) - On-screen piano keyboard to map spectrum analyzer to piano notes - Optimised for iPad and compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch What you should know: - Licenses acquired for this platform are not compatible with other platforms. - Audio Unit (AUv3) extensions require an iPad mini 2, iPad 4 or later models.

Screenshots

Tone Scan4 screens
TB Spectrogram2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TB Spectrogram at 4.4 against Tone Scan's 3.2. TB Spectrogram also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Tone Scan sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. TB Spectrogram asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TB Spectrogram holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TB Spectrogram has 50 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Tone Scan's written reviews are positive against 71% of TB Spectrogram's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tone Scan ships an update every 7 months, TB Spectrogram every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Tone Scan versus TB Spectrogram: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTone ScanTB Spectrogram
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (6 ratings)4.4 (50 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews71.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings650 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.513.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOpenchord Inc.ToneBoosters

Customer experience

Tone Scan

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

TB Spectrogram

All ratings50 ratings
Positive86.0%
Neutral2.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive71.0%
Neutral6.5%
Negative22.6%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Tone Scan

One-time2
  • Audio Free Trial3 variantsFree
  • Unlock Audio$4.99
None

TB Spectrogram

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tone Scan free?
Tone Scan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TB Spectrogram free?
TB Spectrogram is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tone Scan or TB Spectrogram?
TB Spectrogram is rated higher. Tone Scan averages 3.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while TB Spectrogram averages 4.4 from 50 ratings.
Do Tone Scan or TB Spectrogram have ads?
Neither Tone Scan nor TB Spectrogram shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tone Scan or TB Spectrogram?
Tone Scan ships an update every 7 months, and TB Spectrogram every 3 weeks. Most recently, Tone Scan was updated on October 5, 2026 and TB Spectrogram on October 6, 2026.

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