Tunebook for iPad vs Loop Maker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- 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
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> > > 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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Tunebook for iPad | Loop Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (11 ratings) — better | 4.5 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | JH Labs | Kirstie Moffat |
Customer experience
Tunebook for iPad
Loop Maker
In-app purchases
Tunebook for iPad
No in-app purchases
Loop Maker
- Monthly$1.991 Month
- Annual1 Month trial$14.991 Year
- Lifetime$29.99
Questions
Is Tunebook for iPad free?
Is Loop Maker free?
Which has better reviews, Tunebook for iPad or Loop Maker?
Do Tunebook for iPad or Loop Maker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Tunebook for iPad or Loop Maker?
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