iChromatic vs Tuner+
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iChromatic
This app provides precise instrument tuning using your device's microphone and a visual strobe display. It offers frequency readouts and responsive waterfall strobes for accurate pitch matching. Configure reference frequencies and tune a wide range of notes.
- Visual strobe display for tuning
- Frequency readout in Hz and cents
- Accurate waterfall strobe panes
- Concert A reference frequency adjustment
- Wide tuning range
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The HotPaw iChromatic Strobe Tuner uses the built-in microphone on your iPhone to allow you to tune a musical instrument rapidly and precisely via an animated visual display. For your iPad, please see the iChromatic Strobe Tuner HD. For guitar tuning, please see the HotPaw inTuna Strobe Guitar Tuner. Both of these apps are also here in the iOS app store. iChromatic includes both a frequency readout and 3 highly accurate and responsive waterfall strobe panes which allow extremely precise tuning. When the waveform patterns line up vertically as well as stop moving sideways in the strobe panes, this indicates that the input pitch (or a strong harmonic of the pitch) matches the frequency of the nearest equal temperament note. With the waterfall strobe tuning window, even very slight differences in frequency between the pitch detected and the target perfect pitch will cause the abstract waveform to waver or move sideways as it cascades down the strobe window. iChromatic also includes a pitch frequency readout in Hz and cents. Configuration options include a Concert A reference frequency adjustment in both Hz and Cents. Please try the Free inTuna A440 app, also in the iOS App store, before purchasing iChromatic, to see if you appreciate the advantages of using a strobe tuner. Tuning range using the built-in iPhone microphone is from 2 octaves above middle-C to 2 octaves below.
Tuner+
This app provides perfectly tuned reference notes for various musical instruments, allowing users to tune by ear. It offers both real audio and sine wave sounds and supports VoiceOver accessibility. It does not analyze instrument notes but serves as a quick reference for tuning in any key.
- Plays reference notes for tuning
- Supports guitar, bass, piano, and more
- Real audio and sine wave sounds
- VoiceOver accessibility
- Tune in any key
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Tuner+ Tune your Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin, Cello, Violin, Piano, Viola, or Ukulele in seconds. This app plays perfectly tuned notes for you to match your pitch to. The sounds are both real audio and sine wave form. We're also proud to announce that Tuner+ is now supports full VoiceOver Accessibility. This app does NOT analyze the notes of your instrument to tell you if you are sharp or flat. It is just a quick way to get reference notes for ear tuning in any key. Enjoy! Nick Moby Pixel
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Tuner+ at Free against iChromatic's $19.99. Tuner+ also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and review sentiment (82% vs 50%). iChromatic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On 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
Tuner+ is free to download; iChromatic costs $19.99 up front. Tuner+ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iChromatic asks for nothing beyond the download.
Tuner+ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tuner+ has 1.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of iChromatic's written reviews are positive against 82% of Tuner+'s.
iChromatic ships an update every 15 months, Tuner+ every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iChromatic | Tuner+ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.0 (1 ratings) | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 82.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Every 6 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HotPaw Productions | Nick Culbertson |
Customer experience
iChromatic
Tuner+
Bugs and requests
iChromatic
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Tuner+
Reported bugs
2 issues- App crashes on certain devices
- Distortion on some string notes
Requested features
4 requests- Add support for alternate tunings
- Provide visual tuning indicators
- Include a metronome feature
- Expand instrument selection
In-app purchases
iChromatic
No in-app purchases
Tuner+
- Remove Ads - Tuner+$0.99
Questions
Is iChromatic free?
Is Tuner+ free?
Which has better reviews, iChromatic or Tuner+?
Do iChromatic or Tuner+ have ads?
Which is updated more often, iChromatic or Tuner+?
Other comparisons
