# iReal Pro vs Strum Machine

The clearest difference is price: Strum Machine at Free against iReal Pro's $21.99. iReal Pro's advantage is ratings volume (11K vs 120) and chart position (#7 vs #171). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Strum Machine is free to download; iReal Pro costs $21.99 up front. iReal Pro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Strum Machine sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for iReal Pro against 4.7 for Strum Machine. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iReal Pro has 11K ratings behind it against 120, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of iReal Pro's written reviews are positive against 89% of Strum Machine's.

iReal Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, Strum Machine fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iReal Pro | Strum Machine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $21.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ireal-pro/id298206806/reviews)** | [4.7 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strum-machine-backing-tracks/id1509158553/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 120 |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **88.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | #171 |
| Size | 179 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Technimo LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/298206809) | [Luke Abbott LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509158552) |

## What reviewers say

### iReal Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ireal-pro/id298206806)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Paid · Music, #28 Top Paid, #106 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

This app provides a virtual band accompaniment for musicians to practice with, offering realistic sounding instruments and a variety of styles. It also functions as a digital chord chart book, allowing users to create, edit, and share their own song charts.

**Highlights:** Virtual band accompaniment, Create, edit, and share chord charts, Thousands of downloadable songs, Chord diagrams and scale recommendations, Practice exercises and transposition, Export charts and audio, Cloud synchronization

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blues style backing tracks | $6.99 | one-time |
| Salsa style backing tracks | $6.99 | one-time |
| Brazilian backing tracks | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for practicing and reading charts
- 👍 Versatile with ability to change keys, tempos, and styles
- 👍 Excellent community and support
- 🚀 Efficient for gigs and rehearsals
- 👍 Indispensable tool for jazz musicians

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with chord voicings and playback
- 🔧 Limited editing capabilities
- 🔧 Clunky interface for some users
- 💰 Expensive for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional skipping or timing issues with playback
- Trouble with registration and login process
- Compatibility issues with newer devices or operating systems

**Requested features**

- Add ability to write rhythm notation
- Integrate with Real Books
- Improve sound quality and add more instrument options
- Add melodies and lyrics support
- Improve chord editing and customization


### Strum Machine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strum-machine-backing-tracks/id1509158553)

**Currently charting:** #171 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iReal Pro free?

iReal Pro costs $21.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Strum Machine free?

Strum Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iReal Pro or Strum Machine?

iReal Pro is rated higher. iReal Pro averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Strum Machine averages 4.7 from 120 ratings.

### Do iReal Pro or Strum Machine have ads?

Neither iReal Pro nor Strum Machine shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iReal Pro or Strum Machine?

iReal Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, and Strum Machine fortnightly. Most recently, iReal Pro was updated on November 7, 2026 and Strum Machine on November 7, 2026.

### Which is more popular, iReal Pro or Strum Machine?

iReal Pro currently peaks at #7 in the App Store charts, and Strum Machine at #171. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*