# MusicTools Music Dictionary vs Tenuto

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tenuto at none against MusicTools Music Dictionary's 3. Tenuto also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (667 vs 23). MusicTools Music Dictionary's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.8). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

MusicTools Music Dictionary costs $2.99 and Tenuto $4.99 up front. MusicTools Music Dictionary sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Tenuto asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tenuto holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tenuto has 667 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 94% and 94% positive.

MusicTools Music Dictionary ships an update every 7 months, Tenuto every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MusicTools Music Dictionary | Tenuto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.4 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musictools-music-dictionary/id344920107/reviews) | **[4.7 (667 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tenuto/id459313476/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **667** |
| Positive reviews | **94.3% of reviews** | 94.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#8** |
| Size | 11 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.8 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OnStage Technologies, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/344920110) | [musictheory.net](https://appshunter.io/developer/459313479) |

## What reviewers say

### MusicTools Music Dictionary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musictools-music-dictionary/id344920107)

This app provides a comprehensive music dictionary with thousands of definitions, abbreviations, and performance notations. It includes quick reference charts for tempo, symbols, and more, with support for multiple language variations. Designed for musicians of all levels, it aids in understanding both modern and historical musical terms.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive music dictionary, Thousands of definitions and abbreviations, Quick reference charts, Multiple language variations, Historical notation support, Fast search engine

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Drum Rudiments Chart | $0.99 | one-time |
| Circle of Fifths | $0.99 | one-time |
| Precision Metronome | $1.99 | one-time |


### Tenuto

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tenuto/id459313476)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Paid · Music, #46 Top Paid (US App Store)

Enhance your musicality with a comprehensive suite of 24 customizable theory exercises and six essential musical calculators. Practice note and chord identification, ear training, and construct musical elements. Tools include accidentals, intervals, scales, chords, analysis symbols, and twelve-tone matrices.

**Highlights:** 24 customizable theory exercises, Note and chord identification, Ear training for intervals and scales, Musical construction exercises, Accidental calculator, Interval calculator, Chord calculator

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Essential for musicians
- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Perfect app
- 👍 Wonderful app
- 👍 Highly recommend

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Wrong billing
- 🐛 Piano tone is so bad
- 🐛 Not good
- 🐛 Great but buggy
- 🐛 All sounds stopped working

**Reported bugs**

- Sound cuts out
- Unresponsive at times
- Freezes up
- Doesn't work well for guitar
- Incorrect chord/key associations

**Requested features**

- Cadences and inversions for ear training
- Chord progressions for ear training
- Melodic and harmonic minor modes for scale recognition
- 6th, 9th, 11th and 13th chord extensions for chord recognition
- Melodic dictation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MusicTools Music Dictionary free?

MusicTools Music Dictionary costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Tenuto free?

Tenuto costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MusicTools Music Dictionary or Tenuto?

Tenuto is rated higher. MusicTools Music Dictionary averages 4.4 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Tenuto averages 4.7 from 667 ratings.

### Do MusicTools Music Dictionary or Tenuto have ads?

Neither MusicTools Music Dictionary nor Tenuto shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MusicTools Music Dictionary or Tenuto?

MusicTools Music Dictionary ships an update every 7 months, and Tenuto every 3 months. Most recently, MusicTools Music Dictionary was updated on October 27, 2026 and Tenuto 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.*