Comparison

Banjo Tuner vs Video tachometer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Banjo Tuner

This application provides standard tuning notes for the 5-string banjo. It's a simple tool designed to help banjo players achieve accurate tuning.

Highlights
  • Standard tuning notes
  • 5-string banjo support
  • Accurate tuning reference
Features
Read full description

Tune your 5-string banjo with accurate standard tuning reference notes.

About

Video tachometer

This app uses slow-motion video to create a strobe light effect, allowing you to measure rotational speeds. It records video with detailed information like frame rate and exposure, and offers customizable text overlays.

Highlights
  • Strobe light effect simulation
  • Rotational speed measurement (RPM/Hz)
  • Slow-motion video recording
  • Customizable text overlays on video
  • Adjustable frame rate and exposure
  • Records 4K video (if supported)
Read full description

When the frame rate of a video matches the speed of a particular part, the effect is the same as using a strobe light. In the video, that part freezes. Since the frame rate of a video can be adjusted, this effect can be used to determine the rotational speed of a part. The smartphone must support slow-motion video recording (filming at a high frame rate). This is the case for all smartphones starting with iPhone 5S. The range is as follows: • 0.5—240 Hz (30—14400 RPM), for all phones from iPhone 6 onward • 0.5—120 Hz (30—7200 RPM), for iPhone 5S THE HERTZ (Hz) VALUE IS MORE ACCURATE THAN THE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (RPM) VALUE, SINCE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE ARE CALCULATED FROM HERTZ AND ROUNDING IS DONE. To get a clear image, good lighting is important. The clarity of the image is controlled by the exposure of the video (exposure time and light sensitivity (ISO)). If the exposure time is reduced, the image will increase in clarity, but brightness will lower. To increase the brightness, you need to raise the camera's light sensitivity (ISO), but then the amount of noise increases. You also need to manually adjust the focus of the camera. The app can record video. The video format depends on the selected format in the app settings. If your iPhone supports 4K video format (3840x2160), then you can record 4K video at the frame rate supported by your iPhone. Text with important information is added to the frames of the recorded video: the selected frame rate, exposure duration, ISO, time stamp, time difference between the current and previous frames (Tcurr. − Tprev.), the sequence number of the frame in the recorded video. If you want any other information to be added, then let me know. You can choose to add only part of this information, and you can choose a different text color. You also have the option of not adding any information. You can change the information that is added and the color of the text while recording a video. At high frame rates, frames that do not have time to be processed may be discarded. This does not affect subsequent frames and can be controlled using the time difference between the current frame and the previous frame (Tcurr. − Tprev.). Dropping frames affects the video frame rate displayed in the "Photos" app. But the time interval between frames that were taken one after another and were not discarded will correspond to the selected frame rate. Frames may be dropped even when shooting slow motion video using the "Camera" app. You can check this by looking at the frame rate for slow motion video in the "Photos" app. Video containing the app's interface can be captured using the iOS "Screen Recording" function. The app can take a photo with the measurement result, date, and time written on the photo. The exposure time and ISO settings will be saved in the photo's metadata. To take a photo that shows the app interface, tap the "Pause" button and take a screenshot. It is possible to choose a video format that has the best quality, but has a significantly lower maximum frame rate. The difference between the formats is clearly visible only when using the digital zoom. Also, when using a format with better quality, the Rolling Shutter effect is stronger. Therefore, the best quality format can be used at speeds less than about 2000 rpm. You can turn on hints for easier observation of changes in rotation speed. Hints show how to change the frame rate (decrease or increase) depending on the direction of rotation of the mark. The hints are selected manually, but then you do not need to remember this information. The hints are relevant for frequencies close to the rotation frequency. If the direction of rotation of the impeller is known, hints can be selected in advance. The arrow showing the direction of rotation of the impeller must correspond to the "+" button. The video tachometer measures the rotational speed in exactly the same way a stroboscopic tachometer would.

Screenshots

Banjo Tuner1 screens
Video tachometer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Banjo Tuner at none against Video tachometer's 1. Banjo Tuner also leads on ratings volume (394 vs 84). Video tachometer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (84% vs 53%). On price, rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Video tachometer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Banjo Tuner asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Video tachometer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 394 and 84 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Banjo Tuner's written reviews are positive against 84% of Video tachometer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Banjo Tuner ships an update every 15 months, Video tachometer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Banjo Tuner versus Video tachometer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBanjo TunerVideo tachometer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (394 ratings)4.6 (84 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.3% of reviews83.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings394 — better84
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlvin YuDmitriy Kharutskiy

Customer experience

Banjo Tuner

All ratings391 ratings
Positive84.9%
Neutral4.6%
Negative10.5%
Written reviews92 reviews
Positive53.3%
Neutral6.5%
Negative40.2%

Video tachometer

All ratings84 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.5%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive83.9%
Neutral1.8%
Negative14.3%

User reviews

Banjo Tuner

From 394 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and easy to use interface
  • 🎵 Plays correct tuning notes accurately
  • 💰 Free app with no cost
  • ⚡ Quick and lightweight download
  • 🎧 Blind-friendly and accessible with VoiceOver

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App frequently doesn't work or produce sound
  • ⏱️ Notes cut off too quickly to adjust tuning
  • 📢 Excessive ads cluttering the interface
  • 🎚️ Only supports standard tuning, no alternatives
  • 👂 Requires good ear training to use effectively

Video tachometer

From 84 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Clever approach
  • 🚀 Works beautifully
  • 👍 Very handy
  • 👍 Accurate measurements

Room to improve

  • 💸 Too much in paid version
  • 💰 Free version limited
  • 🤔 Confusing settings initially
  • 👎 Unclear about recording
  • 👎 No built-in video recording

Bugs and requests

Banjo Tuner

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • No sound output despite app being enabled
  • Buttons do not respond when pressed
  • Audio cuts off mid-note
  • Multiple notes playing simultaneously
  • Pitch notes are flat or inaccurate
Show 3 more
  • App depends on ringer volume instead of app volume
  • Sporadic functionality - works sometimes, not others
  • Scam pop-ups offering iPad giveaways

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add microphone input to detect instrument pitch
  • Support for alternate tunings (tenor, Irish tenor, etc.)
  • Continuous note playback instead of single play
  • Visual feedback for tuning accuracy
  • Ability to customize tunings per string
Show 4 more
  • Better audio quality and longer note sustain
  • Remove or reduce advertisements
  • Auto-repeat note functionality
  • Compatibility with different string instruments

Video tachometer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Does not read anything
  • Pop-ups for paid features
  • Interface visible in screen recording

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to record video
  • Slow phase shift mode
  • Improved UI for initial setup
  • Long press for gradual increment/decrement

In-app purchases

None

Banjo Tuner

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Video tachometer

One-time1
  • Full version$2.99

Questions

Is Banjo Tuner free?
Banjo Tuner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Video tachometer free?
Video tachometer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Banjo Tuner or Video tachometer?
Video tachometer is rated higher. Banjo Tuner averages 4.4 out of 5 from 394 ratings, while Video tachometer averages 4.6 from 84 ratings.
Do Banjo Tuner or Video tachometer have ads?
Banjo Tuner shows ads; Video tachometer does not.
Which is updated more often, Banjo Tuner or Video tachometer?
Banjo Tuner ships an update every 15 months, and Video tachometer every 3 months. Most recently, Banjo Tuner was updated on November 1, 2026 and Video tachometer on November 7, 2026.

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