Comparison

Tunebook for iPad vs Loop Maker

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

Head to head
About

Tunebook for iPad

This app is a viewer for music written in the ABC format, a simple text-based notation. It allows users to import, organize, search, and play thousands of freely available tunes, primarily folk music. Users can view tunes in musical notation and create custom collections.

Highlights
  • ABC format music viewer
  • Import tunes from websites
  • Search tunes by title, key, time signature
  • Display musical notation
  • Play tunes with various voices
  • Organize tunes into tunebooks
Features
Read full description

Tunebook for iPad is now identical to the Tunebook application - don't buy both! I keep both on the App Store because it's not possible to provide an upgrade path to a single app without forcing some users to pay twice. Tunebook is a viewer for music expressed in the ABC format. ABC is a simple text-based notation for music and many thousands of tunes are freely available in this format on the Web. ABC is also supported by many music applications. See http://abc.sourceforge.net/ for more details on the ABC format. The format is primarily geared towards traditional folk music where tunes are short and fit on a single page. Tunebook allows you to import files in the ABC format from websites into its database. You can then list the tunes, search for tunes by words in the title, by key and by time signature. Selecting a tune will display it in musical notation and allow you to play it in a variety of voices. You can also create tunebooks to organize your tune collection. Tunebook is based on the well-known abc2ps application, fluidsynth, and the GeneralUser GS soundfont. It is licensed under the GPL. The source code is available from http://www.jhlabs.com/tunebook.

About

Loop Maker

Create professional-quality music loops quickly and easily with an intuitive interface. Features include custom instruments, key signature switching, and advanced rhythmic controls. Export your creations in high-fidelity WAV or MIDI formats.

Highlights
  • Intuitive loop builder with 6 musical layers
  • Customizable instruments for each layer
  • Key signature switching
  • Multiple chord performance styles
  • Rhythmic Repeat Engine for structured motifs
  • High-quality WAV and MIDI export
Features
Read full description

> > > Introducing Loop Maker - Create Music Fast Unlock your musical potential with Loop Maker, the ultimate tool for producing music loops in seconds. Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting, Loop Maker makes music creation easy. Now featuring Custom Percussion Recording, a Free Trial Subscription, high-quality WAV export, the Rhythmic Repeat engine, and a searchable Loop Library. Switch key signatures, configure performance styles, and adjust musical tension directly in the Style Editor with instant previews. > > > Why Loop Maker? * Speed and Simplicity - Build complex loops in seconds. The streamlined design gets you creating without a steep learning curve. * Creative Freedom - Six-layer system - kick, snare, hi-hat, chords, bassline, melody - delivers full-sounding loops with rich harmonic depth. * Intelligent Melodic Compatibility - A custom engine ensures melodies and basslines perfectly match your chords for effortless harmonic synergy. * Effortless Manipulation - Tweak individual layers or your full composition in real-time. * Loop Library - Save and access your favorite loops anytime! * Custom Percussion Recording - Record your own drum and percussion samples directly in the app! Complete with waveform visualization, trimming, and processing to build your perfect custom kit. * Custom Instruments - Choose unique voices for each layer, rename them, or record your own custom percussion. Mix and match to discover your signature sound. * Percussion Performance Mode - Perform live on kick, snare, and hi-hat layers, or generate them automatically. * Chord Performance Styles - Select between standard chords, arpeggios, or strums to shape your loop's harmonic feel. * Tension Controls – Control harmonic complexity directly from the Style Editor with real-time audio and visual previews. * Rhythmic Repeat Engine - Create professional-sounding loops with structured, repeating motifs and adjustable space controls. * High-Quality Output - Export high-fidelity WAV or MIDI files for seamless use in any DAW. * Key Signature Switching - Instantly change the musical key of your loop to match your vibe or explore new harmonies. * Free Trial Subscription - Experience all premium features with our new free trial before subscribing. * Cloud & Local Sync - Download loops and voices to your device and sync seamlessly via iCloud. > > > Ready to Make Music? Download Loop Maker now and start creating music like never before. Unleash your creativity, share your loops, and discover your next hit. With Loop Maker, the possibilities are endless. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Tunebook for iPad3 screens
Loop Maker2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tunebook for iPad at none against Loop Maker's 3. Tunebook for iPad also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 50%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Loop Maker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Tunebook for iPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Tunebook for iPad against 4.5 for Loop Maker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 8 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Tunebook for iPad's written reviews are positive against 50% of Loop Maker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tunebook for iPad ships an update every 2 months, Loop Maker monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Tunebook for iPad versus Loop Maker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTunebook for iPadLoop Maker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (11 ratings) — better4.5 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews81.8% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB18 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperJH LabsKirstie Moffat

Customer experience

Tunebook for iPad

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%

Loop Maker

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Tunebook for iPad

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Loop Maker

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Annual1 Month trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is Tunebook for iPad free?
Tunebook for iPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Loop Maker free?
Loop Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tunebook for iPad or Loop Maker?
Tunebook for iPad is rated higher. Tunebook for iPad averages 4.6 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Loop Maker averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.
Do Tunebook for iPad or Loop Maker have ads?
Neither Tunebook for iPad nor Loop Maker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tunebook for iPad or Loop Maker?
Tunebook for iPad ships an update every 2 months, and Loop Maker monthly. Most recently, Tunebook for iPad was updated on October 21, 2026 and Loop Maker on October 4, 2026.

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