Comparison

Tonality vs Rhythmloop

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

Head to head
About

Tonality

This app is a comprehensive music theory reference tool for musicians. It offers extensive chord and scale dictionaries, ear training exercises, and interactive tools like the Circle of Fifths. It also includes MIDI functionality for composition and performance.

Highlights
  • Chord and scale dictionaries
  • Chord identification from microphone
  • Interactive Circle of Fifths
  • Ear training exercises
  • MIDI and AUv3 plugins
  • Chord pads for composition
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

"Best music app tool I own, period!" "Never downloaded an app so fast in my life" "Excellent app for music theory. It is brilliantly supported by the developer who is continually updating it... The app is indispensable for the reference and learning of music theory." Tonality is the ultimate chord, scale, and general music reference tool for musicians of all skill levels. It allows you to explore a large database of chords and scales and comes with tons of MIDI/AUv3 functionality, including chord pads for composition and performance. NOTE: Tonality will always be a one-time purchase with free upgrades. All IAPs are for tips only. CHORDS: • Chord dictionary with over 1,000 chords for piano and guitar • Listen to a chord by tapping, or arpeggiate by swiping • Reverse search for chords using piano or fretboard • Identify chords from the microphone using a cutting-edge ML algorithm • Search for chords by root, quality, and/or extension • View different inversions and omittable notes • View related scales GUITAR CHORD CHARTS: • View charts for any chord • Supports multiple tunings and instruments (including custom tunings) • Generate voicings by criteria including fret range, number of fingers used, and finger stretch • Left-handed option SCALES: • Scale dictionary with over 1,000 scales • Search for scales by root and name, and filter by various tags • Reverse search for scales using piano or fretboard • View scale degrees and note names • View ascending and descending versions • View all modes and scale chords CIRCLE OF FIFTHS: • Interactive circle of fifths: view key signatures and scales for major and minor keys • Focus on diatonic chords in a given key and view Roman numeral analysis EAR TRAINING: • Learn to recognize notes, melodies, intervals, chords, and scales by ear! • After each session, view what gave you trouble and create a level with just those items • View detailed statistics about each training session and your training history MUSICAL TERMS DICTIONARY: • View musical terms and their definitions/illustrations • Tempo, symbol, articulation, dynamics, and more MUSICAL TYPING KEYBOARD: • Special keyboard for typing and previewing chord symbols • Works wherever iOS keyboard does - enable it from Settings->General->Keyboard->Keyboards->Add New Keyboard... ---- Includes 4 AUv3 MIDI Plugins! ---- CHORD/SCALE IDENTIFICATION: • View the names of the piano chords/scales you play in real time • Record identified chords and export as text/MIDI CHORD PADS: • Add chords via list, scale chords, fretboard, name, or MIDI input • Drag and drop to and from other apps or plugin instances • Full voicing control: edit individual notes' octaves and velocities • Grid sizes from 2x2 to 12x12 • Strum bar for performing arpeggios or individual notes • MIDI trigger mappable with MIDI learn capability • Automation parameters for footpedal control • CC mapping on XY axes • Multiple velocity sensitivity modes • Custom presets can be saved and shared across hosts • Patchstorage integration for community sharing • Export pad sets as MIDI/XML files • Import Scaler chord packs (XML) GRAND STAFF: • View MIDI input in a grand staff in real time • Detects chord names CIRCLE OF FIFTHS: • Control other apps with a circle-of-fifths layout • Modify inversion, octave, extensions, and bass notes on the fly • Auto-voice lead option CUSTOMIZATION/ADVANCED: • Create your own chords, scales, fingerings, ear training levels, and definitions • Show set theory information for any pitch class set, including Forte numbers, pitch constellations, and Tonnetze • Choose the playback instrument (load any .sf2 file) • Choose note naming (English or Solfège)

About

Rhythmloop

Read full description

Discover music that fits your moment, and turn inspiration into tracks, sets, and live moments people can feel with Rhythmloop. For curious listeners, working artists, and everyone between. For listeners, find your next favorite sound. For musicians, turn ideas into music people can hear. Terms of Use (EULA): Apple Standard EULA https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Tonality4 screens
Rhythmloop3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Rhythmloop at Free against Tonality's $7.99. Rhythmloop also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). Tonality's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 7 months). On 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

Rhythmloop is free to download; Tonality costs $7.99 up front. Tonality sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Rhythmloop asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tonality ships an update fortnightly, Rhythmloop every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Tonality versus Rhythmloop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTonalityRhythmloop
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (129 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews97.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings129 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#184 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size110 MB46 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperBryce Hostetlerjon harrison wood

Bugs and requests

Tonality

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • MIDI mappings reset when switching keys
  • AUv3 version not showing up in AUM
  • Difficulty assigning pads to MIDI controller
  • Trouble identifying inverted chords

Requested features

15 requests
  • Add pedal function for note release
  • Add arpeggios
  • Add fingering diagrams
  • Ability to set global MIDI mappings on pads
  • Solfege audio unit (fixed and movable do)
Show 10 more
  • Chord progression generator
  • Mode for practicing music reading
  • Mac version
  • Print out or capture of chord sequences
  • Sustain hold for chord pads
  • Octave up/down per chord for pads
  • Easy triggering of pads from external MIDI keyboard
  • Presets full of chords
  • Strummer with omnichord type function (range of octaves)
  • Ability to play back sequences of chords as progressions

Rhythmloop

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Tonality

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$5.99
None

Rhythmloop

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tonality free?
Tonality costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Rhythmloop free?
Rhythmloop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Tonality or Rhythmloop have ads?
Rhythmloop shows ads; Tonality does not.
Which is updated more often, Tonality or Rhythmloop?
Tonality ships an update fortnightly, and Rhythmloop every 7 months. Most recently, Tonality was updated on October 29, 2026 and Rhythmloop on October 25, 2026.

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