# iStroboSoft vs SteelRadio

The clearest difference is price: SteelRadio at Free against iStroboSoft's $9.99. SteelRadio also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 11). iStroboSoft's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months). On device support there is nothing between them.

SteelRadio is free to download; iStroboSoft costs $9.99 up front. iStroboSoft sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. SteelRadio asks for nothing beyond the download.

SteelRadio holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iStroboSoft has 298 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

iStroboSoft ships an update fortnightly, SteelRadio every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iStroboSoft | SteelRadio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (298 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istrobosoft/id308296029/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steelradio/id6456440100/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **298** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 76.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#27** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peterson Tuners](https://appshunter.io/developer/308296032) | [STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAME](https://appshunter.io/developer/1700444199) |

## What reviewers say

### iStroboSoft

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istrobosoft/id308296029)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This application provides highly accurate tuning for musical instruments, offering professional-grade precision with a real-time strobe display. It supports various tuning modes, temperaments, and input methods, making it suitable for both acoustic and electric instruments.

**Highlights:** 1/10th cent accuracy, Real-time strobe display, Guided Mode Tuning, 12 Temperaments with adjustable root, Assisted Low Note Detection, Drop/Capo mode, Adjustable Concert A

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extended Frequency Modes | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bluegrass Sweeteners | $5.99 | one-time |
| Buzz Feiten Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Guitar & Bass Sweeteners | $5.99 | one-time |
| Orchestral Sweeteners | $5.99 | one-time |
| World Sweetener Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tuning Tools | $9.99 | one-time |
| Steel Guitar Sweeteners | $14.99 | one-time |
| Harmonic Tuning | $19.99 | one-time |
| Keyboard Sweeteners | $19.99 | one-time |
| Full Discounted Upgrade Pack | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Extremely accurate
- 🔒 Reliable and stable
- 👍 Fantastic for instrument setup and intonation
- 👍 Portable and convenient
- 👍 Excellent value for the price

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with iOS updates
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases for additional features
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance, jumps between notes
- 🐛 Struggles with low and high notes
- 🐛 Microphone input not always reliable

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes or crashes on certain iOS versions
- Incorrect note detection on some instruments
- Display issues with newer iPhone/iPad models

**Requested features**

- Add support for more sweetened tunings and temperaments
- Improve display visibility and layout for newer devices
- Integrate with audio apps and allow routing through other apps
- Add Apple Watch app for quick tuning access
- Improve noise filtering and input sensitivity


### SteelRadio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steelradio/id6456440100)

This app broadcasts music, talk, and information dedicated to steel guitar, resophonic, and slide guitar. It features music from legendary players and explores contemporary uses of these instruments.

**Highlights:** Steel guitar music, Resophonic guitar content, Slide guitar information, Talk shows, Hall of Fame broadcasts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iStroboSoft free?

iStroboSoft costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is SteelRadio free?

SteelRadio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iStroboSoft or SteelRadio?

SteelRadio is rated higher. iStroboSoft averages 4.3 out of 5 from 298 ratings, while SteelRadio averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do iStroboSoft or SteelRadio have ads?

SteelRadio shows ads; iStroboSoft does not.

### Which is updated more often, iStroboSoft or SteelRadio?

iStroboSoft ships an update fortnightly, and SteelRadio every 8 months. Most recently, iStroboSoft was updated on October 31, 2026 and SteelRadio on October 30, 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.*