AmpliTube CS vs BOSS Tuner
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AmpliTube CS
This app provides a mobile guitar and bass tone studio with a vast collection of virtual gear. Users can build custom rigs, practice, play, and record with professional-sounding tones anytime, anywhere. It offers expandable libraries of amps and effects for a personalized experience.
- Virtual guitar and bass rig builder
- Extensive library of amps and effects
- Live Mode for stage performance
- 2-track recorder (expandable)
- Loop drummer module
- Speed trainer, metronome, and tuner
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Want the ultimate mobile guitar and bass tone studio? AmpliTube gives you a massive collection of virtual gear that you can use to practice, play and record with world-class tone anytime and anywhere. Build your own guitar or bass rig with up to 6 stompbox FX, an amplifier and cabinet with mics. Plug your instrument into your iPhone with one of IK's interfaces like iRig 2 or iRig HD 2, and get ready to be blown away. AmpliTube CS gives you 7 stompbox effects, 3 amplifiers, 3 speaker cabinets and 2 mics, a free Loop Drummer Rock groove pack and a 2-track recorder. You can expand this via a massive library of over 150 amps and stompboxes from top brands like Fender™, Ampeg®, Orange®, Mesa/Boogie®, and many more, or unlock the rigs of your heroes with gear from Joe Satriani, Dimebag Darrell, and Brian May. Ready to hit the stage? AmpliTube’s Live Mode offers an optimized GUI for live use, with all the settings and controls you need in an easy-to-read format. Control your virtual rig just like real gear: change presets, trigger FX, loops and more all right from your feet. AmpliTube pairs with iRig Stomp I/O for a powerful all-in-one stage rig, works wirelessly with iRig Blueboard, and supports other MIDI controllers as well. AmpliTube also offers innovative ways to play, practice and record with an optional Looper, more drum track loops, a full 8-track recorder and DAW-style studio all available for in-app purchase. Whether it’s at home, in the studio or on stage, AmpliTube is the dream rig you’ve always wanted, in a device that’s always with you! AmpliTube CS features: • Create guitar & bass rigs with up to 6 stomps, 1 amp and 1 cab with 2 mics • Includes 7 stomps, 3 amp, 3 cabinet and 2 mics • Expandable with over 150 gear models available from Fender™, Ampeg®, Orange®, Mesa/Boogie®, Joe Satriani, Dimebag Darrell and Brian May • Live Mode shows your entire rig at a glance, with all the parameters you need on stage easily accessible • Included 2-track recorder (in-app purchase unlocks up to 8-tracks) • Studio mode for intuitive DAW-style editing (unlocked via in-app purchase) • Loop drummer module that plays in sync with the recorder • Includes speed trainer, metronome and tuner • Inter-App Audio and AudioBus support • Project sharing between versions and devices • Import and play songs as backing tracks from your Music Library or computer • Export audio via E-mail, SoundCloud or File Sharing • MIDI controllable and with built-in integration for iRig Stomp I/O, iRig Blueboard and other controllers • Low-latency for real-time playing More info: www.amplitube.com/ios Accessory info: www.ikmultimedia.com/irig
BOSS Tuner
This app offers world-renowned chromatic tuning technology for iOS devices, replicating the look and feel of a popular pedal tuner. It uses your device's microphone to tune a wide range of instruments, from guitars and basses to strings and brass. An audible reference pitch function and enlarged meter view enhance the tuning experience.
- Hands-free chromatic tuning
- Audible reference pitch
- Horizontal screen for enlarged meter
- Wide instrument compatibility
- Newsfeed for BOSS updates
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The BOSS Tuner app brings BOSS’s trusted and world-renowned chromatic tuning technology to iOS mobile devices. Available as a free download, the convenient app features the familiar look and intuitive display style of the best-selling TU-3 / TU-3W pedal tuner. Using the mic in your iOS device, you can tune a guitar, bass, and other instruments like violin, cello, brass, etc. Features - Provides hands-free chromatic tuning for a variety of instruments - Audible reference pitch function for tuning by ear - Supports horizontal screen to enlarge meter view - Tuning range: A#0 (29.14 Hz)--G8 (6,271.93 Hz) - Tuning accuracy: +/- 1 cent - Newsfeed for the latest BOSS info Find more BOSS tuner products at: http://www.boss.info/categories/tuners_metronomes/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BOSS Tuner at none against AmpliTube CS's 10. BOSS Tuner also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 31%) and device support (3 vs 1). AmpliTube CS's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 17 months). On price and ads 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. AmpliTube CS sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. BOSS Tuner asks for nothing beyond the download.
AmpliTube CS ships an update every 4 months, BOSS Tuner every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AmpliTube CS | BOSS Tuner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.7 (118 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 30.9% of reviews | 59.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 118 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 17 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 753 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | IK Multimedia US, LLC | Roland Corporation |
Customer experience
AmpliTube CS
BOSS Tuner
User reviews
AmpliTube CS
From App Store reviewsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great for practice and recording
- 👍 Excellent amp and effect modeling
- 🎨 Vast selection of amps and pedals
- 🎛️ Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 💰 Good value for money
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔇 Poor sound quality and latency
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔒 Purchases not transferable across devices
- 🤯 Confusing and cluttered UI
BOSS Tuner
From 118 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✅ Works as expected
- 🆓 Free to use
- 🎶 Covers alternate tunings
- 👍 Simple and focused tuner
- 💯 Highly recommended
Room to improve
- ✉️ Excessive notifications
- 🚫 Spam push notifications
- ❓ News tab empty
- 🎛️ Buttons don't function
- 😵 Random needle movement
Bugs and requests
AmpliTube CS
Reported bugs
5 issues- Compatibility issues with iOS 16
- Distorted and sped-up audio playback
- Metronome and tempo controls not working
- Purchases not restoring after reinstall
- Frequent crashes and freezes
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to import songs from music library
- Improved recording and looping capabilities
- More bass-focused amp and effect options
- Better integration with other music apps
- Grandfathered access to all purchases
BOSS Tuner
Reported bugs
15 issues- Sends spam (marketing) push notifications without consent
- News tab is empty
- Too many notifications
- Needle moves randomly
- Shows wrong notes
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- Not updated for several years, incompatible with newer iOS
- Snapped ukulele string
- Tuner vanishes from iPhone
- App is totally unresponsive on new iPad with iOS 11
- Screen goes into auto lock even when actively using the tuner
- Does not track strings well
- Function buttons do not seem to do anything
- Doesn't work in split screen
- App is not responsive
- Tuner is off, registers tuning fork incorrectly
Requested features
10 requests- Bring back other Boss products as apps
- Add strobe mode
- Ability to change tuning fork note
- Move notifications icon to settings
- Option to disable ads
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Update for newer iOS versions
- Smoother LED motion
- Make more pedals available for guitar/iPhone connection
- Fix screen auto-lock issue
- Add dark mode
In-app purchases
AmpliTube CS
- Chorus$3.99
- Wah$3.99
- Overdrive$3.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Reverb$3.99
- Metal Distortion$3.99
- Clean amp$4.99
- Metal amp$4.99
- Bass amp$4.99
- Recorder + Master FX$19.99
- Fender Collection 1$24.99
BOSS Tuner
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AmpliTube CS free?
Is BOSS Tuner free?
Do AmpliTube CS or BOSS Tuner have ads?
Which is updated more often, AmpliTube CS or BOSS Tuner?
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