# iStroboSoft vs Steel Sidekick

The clearest difference is price: Steel Sidekick at Free against iStroboSoft's $9.99. Steel Sidekick also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 11). iStroboSoft's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 9 months) and chart position (#15 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Steel Sidekick holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 298 and 63 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of iStroboSoft's written reviews are positive against 81% of Steel Sidekick's.

iStroboSoft ships an update fortnightly, Steel Sidekick every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iStroboSoft | Steel Sidekick |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (298 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istrobosoft/id308296029/reviews) | **[4.8 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steel-sidekick/id802758051/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **298** | 63 |
| Positive reviews | 76.0% of reviews | **81.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#15** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peterson Tuners](https://appshunter.io/developer/308296032) | [John Sohn](https://appshunter.io/developer/802758054) |

## What reviewers say

### iStroboSoft

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

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Paid · Music, #134 Top Paid (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


### Steel Sidekick

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steel-sidekick/id802758051)

This app helps pedal and lap steel guitarists find scales and chords. It supports numerous string configurations and tunings, allowing users to add custom copedents and tunings for a personalized experience.

**Highlights:** Scale and chord finder, Pedal steel guitar copedents, Lap steel guitar tunings, Custom copedent and tuning support, Support for 8, 10, 12 string configurations, Multiple scale and chord types

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iStroboSoft free?

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

### Is Steel Sidekick free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iStroboSoft or Steel Sidekick?

Steel Sidekick is rated higher. iStroboSoft averages 4.3 out of 5 from 298 ratings, while Steel Sidekick averages 4.8 from 63 ratings.

### Do iStroboSoft or Steel Sidekick have ads?

Neither iStroboSoft nor Steel Sidekick shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iStroboSoft or Steel Sidekick?

iStroboSoft ships an update fortnightly, and Steel Sidekick every 9 months. Most recently, iStroboSoft was updated on October 26, 2026 and Steel Sidekick on October 23, 2026.

---

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