Comparison

Strum Machine vs Banjo Tuner Basic

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

Head to head
About

Strum Machine

Generate realistic backing tracks for practice with real instrument audio. Customize chord progressions, keys, and tempo. Features a large song library, song editor, and band customization options. Works offline and syncs across devices.

Highlights
  • Realistic instrument audio backing tracks
  • Customizable chord progressions, keys, and tempo
  • Extensive song library
  • Simple song editor
  • Band and instrument customization
  • Cross-platform syncing and offline mode
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Elevate your music practice with customizable backing tracks generated with audio from real instruments (guitar, mandolin, and standup bass). Strum Machine can play any chord progression, in any key, at any speed. It's the only backing-track app built specifically for players of bluegrass, old-time, fiddle tunes, and other such genres. (Although it works pretty good for some jazz/swing now, too!) Why musicians of all levels love Strum Machine: • Realistic Sound: Backing tracks are assembled in real time from studio-quality instrument recordings. • Quick Adjustments: Instantly adjust the speed/tempo, change the key, loop part of a song, etc. • Auto-Speedup: Gradually increase the BPM at the end of every repetition for training purposes. • Chord Reference: Clean, beautiful chord charts, which can be displayed in letters or numbers (i.e. "1-4-5"). • Extensive Library: Over 1,300 songs (mostly from bluegrass and old-time) ready to go, with thousands more posted on the community forum. • Simple Song Editor: Add your own songs (or edit existing ones) in minutes. Almost every chord you can play on a guitar is available for use. • Customize the Band: Choose from a variety of built-in band styles, then optionally customize each instrument individually – adjust the strumming pattern, add automatic bass runs, and more. • Organize & Share: Create song lists for practicing or even performing, and share them with your friends or on the community forum. • Cross-Platform: Sync your custom songs, lists, and preferences with any device you use Strum Machine on: phone, tablet, or computer. (It works offline, too!) • Responsive Support: If you run into any problems or have questions, write us an email or post a message on the forum and someone will get back to you within a few days! Strum Machine is under active development and we're always working on ways to make the app even more useful to our users... while keeping it uncluttered and intuitive first and foremost. Discover how Strum Machine can improve your music practice today! Download Strum Machine and play a handful of demo songs instantly, without signing up. For the full experience, including access to all built-in songs and the ability to create your own, start a free trial. Terms of Use: https://strummachine.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://strummachine.com/privacy

About

Banjo Tuner Basic

This application provides precise and rapid banjo tuning for musicians of all skill levels. It features an intuitive interface with visual indicators and displays exact sound frequencies in Hz for optimal accuracy. Works across multiple Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Precise frequency display in Hz
  • Instant load and fast tuning
  • High responsiveness and sensitivity
  • Intuitive UI with LED indicator
  • Visual indicators for tuned strings
  • Universal app for iPhone, iPad, iPod
Features
Read full description

Tune your banjo with precision and ease, within seconds! Optimal for beginners, intermediate and advanced musicians! · The most accurate - displays the exact sound frequency in Hz! · Instant load and fastest tuning! - the only tuner optimized for 64 bit! · Highest responsiveness and sensitivity. · Intuitive user interface with LED tuning indicator. · Visual indicators - tuned string lights up. · Universal app - works with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. --- Please make sure to allow microphone access to this app when prompted. Check it under Settings>Privacy>Microphone. Thank you. --- Got ideas? Questions? Please send us your feedback through our site or to feedback@daikyoujulabs.com

Screenshots

Strum Machine4 screens
Banjo Tuner Basic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Strum Machine at 89% against Banjo Tuner Basic's 0%. Strum Machine also leads on price (Free vs $6.99) and rating (4.7 vs 4.2). On update cadence, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Strum Machine is free to download; Banjo Tuner Basic costs $6.99 up front. Strum Machine sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and Banjo Tuner Basic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Strum Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Strum Machine has 118 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Strum Machine's written reviews are positive against 0% of Banjo Tuner Basic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Strum Machine ships an update fortnightly, Banjo Tuner Basic every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Strum Machine versus Banjo Tuner Basic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStrum MachineBanjo Tuner Basic
PriceFree — better$6.99
Rating4.7 (118 ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews88.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings118 — better5
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#166 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.4 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLuke Abbott LLCPedro Daniel Macalupu Cumpen

Customer experience

Strum Machine

All ratings118 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral0.8%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.3%
Negative8.2%

Banjo Tuner Basic

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Strum Machine

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Subscription14 Days trial$4.991 Month
1 purchases

Banjo Tuner Basic

One-time1
  • Remove adsFree

Questions

Is Strum Machine free?
Strum Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Banjo Tuner Basic free?
Banjo Tuner Basic costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Strum Machine or Banjo Tuner Basic?
Strum Machine is rated higher. Strum Machine averages 4.7 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while Banjo Tuner Basic averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Strum Machine or Banjo Tuner Basic have ads?
Banjo Tuner Basic shows ads; Strum Machine does not.
Which is updated more often, Strum Machine or Banjo Tuner Basic?
Strum Machine ships an update fortnightly, and Banjo Tuner Basic every 10 days. Most recently, Strum Machine was updated on September 29, 2026 and Banjo Tuner Basic on October 1, 2026.

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