Comparison

LAVA+ vs Fretionary

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

Head to head
About

LAVA+

Enhance your smart guitar experience with this app. Connect to all LAVA smart guitar models, access a vast music library, and instantly generate chord charts from any song. Join a global community to share your musical journey.

Highlights
  • Connects to all LAVA smart guitars
  • Thousands of songs across genres
  • Instant chord chart generation
  • Global music community features
  • Compatible with LAVA STUDIO, GENIE, ME air, ME 4, ME 3, ME Play
Features
Read full description

Change the World with Music. Make the World More Creative, Expressive, and Connected. LAVA+ is the ultimate companion app for the latest LAVA smart guitars. Log in with your LAVA ID to connect with music enthusiasts worldwide and unlock the full potential of your LAVA smart guitar. Key Features • Compatible with All LAVA Smart Devices Seamlessly connect and play with all series of LAVA smart guitars, including LAVA STUDIO, LAVA GENIE, LAVA ME air, LAVA ME 4, LAVA ME 3, and LAVA ME Play. • Thousands of Music at Your Fingertips Explore an extensive library of thousands of music across various styles. Whether you love to play and sing or practice your skills, there’s something for everyone. • lavaAI ChordChart Transform any song into a ChordChart instantly. Simply upload your favorite song's audio and let LAVA+ do the rest. • Global Music Community Share your passion for music with a global community of music lovers. Join challenges, exchange ideas, and celebrate the joy of music together. Contact us: Official Site: https://www.lavamusic.com/ Instagram: @lavamusicofficial Facebook: @lavamusicofficial YouTube: LAVA MUSIC -- Begin your musical journey with 10 free plays of ChordChart, or select from the following subscription options to enjoy more: • 1 month Basic Plan - $3.99/month, billed monthly • 1 month Premier Plan - $3.99/month, billed monthly • 1 year Basic Plan - $35.90/year (25% off monthly), billed annually • 1 year Premier Plan - $71.90/year (25% off monthly), billed annually • Your subscription will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Your current subscription may not be canceled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your Apple Account Settings after purchase. -- TERMS & CONDITIONS • Apple's Standard End-User License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ • Our Privacy Policy: https://g-lavaplus.lavamusic.com/app/protocol/privacy/en.html

About

Fretionary

This app transforms your device into an interactive guitar fretboard, visualizing scales, chords, and progressions. It offers color-coded displays and real audio playback to aid music theory learning.

Highlights
  • Interactive fretboard visualization
  • 14 scales and modes
  • 25 chord types
  • CAGED system shapes
  • Chord progression builder
  • Color-coded by function
Features
Read full description

Fretionary turns your entire fretboard into a visual theory map. Stop hunting for scale shapes on YouTube. Stop forgetting which chord is which. Fretionary puts every scale, chord, and progression you need right on an interactive fretboard — color-coded, labeled, and playable with real guitar audio. FEATURES • 14 scales & modes — Major, Minor, Pentatonic, Blues, Dorian, Lydian, and more • 36 chord types with fingering diagrams — Triads, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, Sus, Add, and more • CAGED system — all 5 shapes color-coded across the neck, with reference chord diagrams • 64 chord progressions — across Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Latin, Motown, Gospel, Classical, Reggae, and more • Progressions builder — Common, Diatonic, or build your own from scratch • Practice drills — Name the Note, Find the Note, String Drill (Beginner to Advanced) • Identify — reverse chord lookup: tap any notes on the fretboard, get the chord name • Progress tracking — daily streak plus scales explored, chords learned, and progressions played • Interactive fretboard up to 24 frets — tap positions directly, focus on any range • Color-coded by function — roots, 3rds, 5ths, and extensions instantly visible • 9 alternate tunings — Standard, Drop D, Drop C, DADGAD, Open D/G/E, Eb Standard, and more • Real guitar audio — sample-based playback for every scale, chord, and progression • Built-in metronome (free) — BPM 40–240, six time signatures, tap-tempo • iPad optimized — full-screen fretboard with side-by-side controls FRETIONARY PRO Unlock all scales, chords, progressions, tunings, and practice modes. • Monthly: $7.99/month • Lifetime: $44.99 one time Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://fretionary.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

LAVA+4 screens
Fretionary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fretionary at 80% against LAVA+'s 28%. Fretionary also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). LAVA+'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. LAVA+ sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Fretionary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fretionary holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 29 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of LAVA+'s written reviews are positive against 80% of Fretionary's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LAVA+ ships an update fortnightly, Fretionary every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
LAVA+ versus Fretionary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLAVA+Fretionary
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (36 ratings)4.5 (29 ratings) — better
Positive reviews27.9% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings36 — better29
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size203 MB58 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperHK LAVA CLOUD SERVICE TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDBrandon Sumner

Customer experience

LAVA+

All ratings36 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral5.6%
Negative38.9%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive27.9%
Neutral10.3%
Negative61.8%

Fretionary

All ratings29 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral3.4%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

LAVA+

Subscriptions8
  • LAVA Songs+ Member3 Months trial$3.991 Month
  • LAVA Songs+ Member$3.991 Month
  • LAVA Songs+ Premium3 Months trial$7.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • LAVA Ultimate Member3 Months trial$15.991 Month
  • LAVA Songs+ Annual Member3 Months trial$35.901 Year
  • LAVA Songs+ Annual Member$35.901 Year
  • LAVA Songs+ Premium Annual3 Months trial$71.991 Year
  • LAVA Ultimate Member3 Months trial$191.991 Year
One-time2
  • Additional lavaAI mins$4.99
  • Additional lavaAI mins$19.99
3 purchases

Fretionary

Subscriptions2
  • Fretionary Pro Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Fretionary Pro Annual$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Fretionary Pro Lifetime$44.99

Questions

Is LAVA+ free?
LAVA+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fretionary free?
Fretionary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LAVA+ or Fretionary?
Fretionary is rated higher. LAVA+ averages 3.3 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Fretionary averages 4.5 from 29 ratings.
Do LAVA+ or Fretionary have ads?
Fretionary shows ads; LAVA+ does not.
Which is updated more often, LAVA+ or Fretionary?
LAVA+ ships an update fortnightly, and Fretionary every 4 days. Most recently, LAVA+ was updated on November 3, 2026 and Fretionary on November 5, 2026.

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