Mandolin Tuner EM vs Chordial
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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...)
Chordial
This app provides a comprehensive guide to musical scales and chord charts for various stringed instruments. It allows users to explore every possible chord and scale, with customizable instrument and tuning options. The application also offers a companion experience on Apple Watch.
- Chord and scale charts for guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, bass
- Customizable instruments and tunings
- Interactive fretboard with note playback
- Right- and left-handed fretboard display
- Editing mode for creating custom chords and scales
- Apple Watch companion app
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Chordial is a complete guide to scales and chord charts for guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele and bass guitar. Every possible chord can be displayed on every instrument, in any tuning. Tap a note to show and play the chord or scale. The fretboard can display both right- and left-handed orientations. Use the Editing mode to create an unlimited number of instruments, tunings, chords, and scales. This app does not display "standard" chord charts; it computes the note positions based on the key, showing every possible place for each note. Use this information to decide where you want to play each chord or scale. The full application also runs on the Apple Watch, with all of the standard instruments, tunings, chords, and scales, but no editing mode. Swipe left or right across the frets to display or dismiss the menus.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Chordial at 5.0 against Mandolin Tuner EM's 4.0. Chordial also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). Mandolin Tuner EM's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Mandolin Tuner EM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Chordial sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Chordial holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Mandolin Tuner EM's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chordial's.
Mandolin Tuner EM ships an update every 5 months, Chordial every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Mandolin Tuner EM | Chordial |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (9 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | myrApps | Jim Haungs |
Customer experience
Mandolin Tuner EM
Chordial
In-app purchases
Mandolin Tuner EM
- Premium Upgrade$3.99
Chordial
- Free VersionFree
- Instruments$0.99
- Tunings$0.99
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- Scales$0.99
- Tip the Developer$0.99
- Combo Pack$1.99
- Editing - Pro Feature$4.99
Questions
Is Mandolin Tuner EM free?
Is Chordial free?
Which has better reviews, Mandolin Tuner EM or Chordial?
Do Mandolin Tuner EM or Chordial have ads?
Which is updated more often, Mandolin Tuner EM or Chordial?
Other comparisons
