# Pianist vs Metronome

The clearest difference is rating: Metronome at 4.5 against Pianist's 3.6. Metronome also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months) and review sentiment (85% vs 68%). Pianist's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.6). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Pianist costs $3.99 and Metronome $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Metronome holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Metronome has 48 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Pianist's written reviews are positive against 85% of Metronome's.

Pianist ships an update every 6 months, Metronome every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pianist | Metronome |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | [3.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianist/id284622652/reviews) | **[4.5 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metronome-plus/id369098797/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **48** |
| Positive reviews | 68.3% of reviews | **85.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 11 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MooCowMusic Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283853765) | [Gil Estes](https://appshunter.io/developer/349882768) |

## What reviewers say

### Pianist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianist/id284622652)

Experience a realistic piano on your mobile device with a full 88-key keyboard. Record, overdub, and save your musical compositions. Features include virtual pedals, dual keyboard layout, and a configurable metronome for practice.

**Highlights:** Full 88 key piano keyboard, Record and save compositions, Overdubbing and note removal, Virtual soft and sustain pedals, Dual keyboard layout, Configurable metronome

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Best piano app
- 🎹 Realistic piano sound
- 🎶 Great for composing and recording
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎛️ Customizable keyboard layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔇 Low volume output
- 📱 Limited by small screen size
- ⏱️ Slow startup time
- 🔀 Confusing recording/playback controls

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard gets stuck or changes configuration
- App freezes or crashes after extended use
- Sustain pedal not functioning properly
- Bluetooth speaker connectivity issues

**Requested features**

- Add support for iPhone 5/newer displays
- Implement MIDI export/import
- Integrate with music streaming apps
- Expand sound library with more instruments
- Improve scrolling and key accessibility


### Metronome

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metronome-plus/id369098797)

This app provides a highly accurate and reliable metronome designed by professional musicians. It offers a wide tempo range, multiple sound sets, and unique features like intonation drones and live sound drum loops for practice and performance.

**Highlights:** Intonation Drones, Live Sound Drum Loops, CD Quality Recording, Slow Motion Playback, Wide Tempo Range (30-280), Variable Beats per Measure, Subdivision to 16th notes, Tempo Tap In

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Dependable and consistent
- 👍 Indispensable for musicians
- 👍 Great service and quick bug fixes
- 👍 Versatile and handy
- 👍 Trustworthy for professional use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Upgrade issues causing app to sleep
- 🐛 New version is horrible
- 🐛 Turns off after a few minutes
- 🐛 Playback difficult in recorder
- 🐛 Cannot use while listening to other music

**Reported bugs**

- Upgrade tied metronome to display and brightness settings, causing it to sleep
- New version turns off after 3 minutes
- App frozen and won't open
- Erratic first beat in playlist
- Metronome is off after update

**Requested features**

- Set 7/8, 12/8, or 15/16 time signatures
- Timer feature
- Option to record with taps
- App to play metronome and drone simultaneously
- Tempos down to 20 bpm


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pianist free?

Pianist costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Metronome free?

Metronome costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pianist or Metronome?

Metronome is rated higher. Pianist averages 3.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Metronome averages 4.5 from 48 ratings.

### Do Pianist or Metronome have ads?

Neither Pianist nor Metronome shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pianist or Metronome?

Pianist ships an update every 6 months, and Metronome every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pianist was updated on October 23, 2026 and Metronome on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*