Comparison

Symphony Pro vs TuneWave

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

Head to head
About

Symphony Pro

Compose music notation on your iPad with intuitive handwriting recognition or traditional input methods. Create scores for various ensembles, import and export in multiple formats, and utilize a wide range of notational elements. Enjoy built-in instruments for playback and auditioning.

Highlights
  • Handwriting recognition for Apple Pencil and touch
  • Compose for various ensembles
  • Import/export MusicXML, MIDI, and more
  • On-screen instrument input
  • Real-time recording and transcription
  • Wide range of notational elements
  • Print via AirPrint
Features
Read full description

Symphony Pro 6 is a complete and intuitive app for writing music notation on iPad. It allows you to compose music for just about any size ensemble, from piano, symphonies, band, lead sheets, chord charts, guitar tabs, and more. Starting Version 5, Symphony Pro now offers handwriting recognition as the only in-app purchase: Perfect with Apple Pencil, and works great with touch or capacitive stylus GETTING STARTED SP provides all of the key options to begin your work. Import a score via MusicXML, MXL, MIDI, or SP file from your computer, or from apps like Dropbox, Mail, iCloud Drive, or Safari. You can base your project on a template, or start a blank score and add additional parts later. EDITING To add notes, choose Pencil mode, and tap anywhere on a bar to begin editing right away. You can quickly specify note properties before or after placing notes. By switching to Select mode with one touch, you can also transpose, erase, cut, and paste multiple notes/tracks. With an on-screen instrument, a QWERTY keyboard, or Core MIDI compatible keyboard, you can quickly enter notes & chords in step entry mode. Record a part in real-time with on-screen instruments to transcribe into notation. Versions 4 & 5 take greater advantage of the iPad touchscreen. With shortcuts and contextual menus to edit note & bar properties, many of the commonly used editing commands are right at your fingertips. SP supports a wide range of notational elements for your composition. Including dynamics & articulations, time & key signature changes, clef changes, pedals, and repeat conventions. Edit chord symbols, lyrics, and annotations using the iPad’s standard keyboard. EXPORT & SHARE When you’re finished, print out your score with AirPrint, or export it as a PDF, MusicXML, AAC, MIDI, or Symphony file. Share files via email or directly to another computer or iPad via Dropbox/iCloud Drive. KEY FEATURES • Introducing Handwriting Recognition for Apple Pencil & touch • Starting Version 5, Handwriting is the only In-App Purchase to enable the complete app • Now download SP on your iPhone • 24+ professionally recorded and sound-designed acoustic instruments, free out of the box Earlier features offered free, to existing & new owners • 114 built-in instruments for playback, and auditioning the notes you entered • Create in standard music notation or tablature • Edit with an on-screen piano, QWERTY keyboard, or a MIDI input device • Dozens of shortcuts & gestures to edit & navigate • Reduce your score size, range, or combination of parts for viewing & editing* • Print directly to AirPrint • Up to 48 instruments, 100 staves, 4 voices/layers per score • Record a part in real-time with clicks at the beat with optional emphasis • Backup & sync your scores with iCloud* • Import MusicXML, MIDI, MXL, or Symphony files • Export as a PDF, MusicXML, MIDI, AAC, or Symphony file • Large selection of articulations & dynamics • Multi-measure rests, including automatic rests • Grace notes • Customizable noteheads & note colors • Chord symbol, lyric, and annotation tools • Edit the properties of multiple notes and rests simultaneously by multi-note select • Copy/Paste function supports partial & multi-bar/staff select • Unlimited undo/redo • Customizable stem directions & note beaming • Transposing & concert pitch score option • Change tempo or clef anywhere in score or bar • Stream audio or share your screen wirelessly with AirPlay • Advanced document management • Create your own custom project template or use a built-in one • Customizable part groupings for SATB and instrument families • Customizable chord symbol, lyric, and annotation font • Loop playback feature • Auto-save support * Previously paid, but now free upgrade in Version 5 For More information, please visit: • http://www.symphonypro.net • http://forums.symphonypro.net • Facebook page at www.facebook.com/symphonyapp • Learn about the iPhone-only app: bit.ly/symphonyiphone

About

TuneWave

A minimalist and efficient instrument tuner that offers quick and easy tuning with a focus on visibility and glanceable feedback. It allows for transposition and base frequency adjustments, along with input volume control for optimal sound.

Highlights
  • Sleek, minimalist design
  • Quick and easy tuning
  • Glanceable feedback
  • Transposition feature
  • Adjustable base frequency
  • Adjustable input volume
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Sleek, efficient, and responsive, TuneWave is the no-nonsense utility that lets you tune your instrument quickly and easily. TuneWave puts everything you need front and center for optimal visibility and glanceable feedback. It can transpose if you’re using an instrument that requires it, and it can even adjust the base frequency to fit your needs. You can even adjust the input volume based on your instrument or surroundings for the best possible results. Forget big dials and fake wood, just get in, get ready, and then get back to your music. "the design is modern and the app has few distracting bells and whistles...minimalist and speedy." - The New York Times

Screenshots

Symphony Pro4 screens
TuneWave2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TuneWave at $0.99 against Symphony Pro's $14.99. TuneWave also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#129 vs unranked). Symphony Pro's advantage is rating (3.8 vs 2.5) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 5 months). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Symphony Pro costs $14.99 and TuneWave $0.99 up front. Symphony Pro sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. TuneWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Symphony Pro holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Symphony Pro has 469 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Symphony Pro's written reviews are positive against 44% of TuneWave's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Symphony Pro ships an update every 4 weeks, TuneWave every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
Symphony Pro versus TuneWave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSymphony ProTuneWave
Price$14.99$0.99 — better
Rating3.8 (469 ratings) — better2.5 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews55.9% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings469 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#129 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS13.5 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size365 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperXenon Labs, LLCforScore LLC

Customer experience

Symphony Pro

All ratings469 ratings
Positive70.1%
Neutral9.8%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews476 reviews
Positive55.9%
Neutral16.4%
Negative27.7%

TuneWave

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral16.7%
Negative38.9%

Bugs and requests

Symphony Pro

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Project menu disappears unexpectedly
  • Ties and tuplets not working correctly
  • Inconsistent behavior when zooming and panning
  • Instruments not transposing properly
  • Frequent crashes when editing complex scores

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add guitar metronome
  • Improve text and lyrics handling
  • Allow more customization of page layout
  • Implement better transposition and chord features
  • Provide more orchestral percussion instruments

TuneWave

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Symphony Pro

One-time2
  • Version 4: Complete Features BundleFree
  • Handwriting Recognition Tool$9.99
None

TuneWave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Symphony Pro free?
Symphony Pro costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is TuneWave free?
TuneWave costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Symphony Pro or TuneWave?
Symphony Pro is rated higher. Symphony Pro averages 3.8 out of 5 from 469 ratings, while TuneWave averages 2.5 from 4 ratings.
Do Symphony Pro or TuneWave have ads?
Neither Symphony Pro nor TuneWave shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Symphony Pro or TuneWave?
Symphony Pro ships an update every 4 weeks, and TuneWave every 5 months. Most recently, Symphony Pro was updated on October 15, 2026 and TuneWave on October 8, 2026.

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