# Peter Vogel CMI vs Mandolin Chords Compass

The clearest difference is rating: Mandolin Chords Compass at 3.8 against Peter Vogel CMI's 2.5. Mandolin Chords Compass also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and price ($4.99 vs $9.99). Peter Vogel CMI's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 64 months) and review sentiment (35% vs 17%). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Peter Vogel CMI costs $9.99 and Mandolin Chords Compass $4.99 up front. Peter Vogel CMI sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mandolin Chords Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mandolin Chords Compass holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 31 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of Peter Vogel CMI's written reviews are positive against 17% of Mandolin Chords Compass's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Peter Vogel CMI ships an update every 3 weeks, Mandolin Chords Compass every 64 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Peter Vogel CMI | Mandolin Chords Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$4.99** |
| Rating | [2.5 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/peter-vogel-cmi/id420212505/reviews) | **[3.8 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-chords-compass/id1001868385/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | **34.7% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 64 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#183** |
| Size | 83 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peter Vogel Instruments Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/415596514) | [Max Schlee](https://appshunter.io/developer/429770420) |

## What reviewers say

### Peter Vogel CMI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/peter-vogel-cmi/id420212505)

Experience the legendary sounds of the 1980s Computer Musical Instrument (CMI) with this retro MIDI player. It offers a byte-perfect re-issue of classic CMI voices and includes a play-only demo of the pioneering 'Page R' rhythm sequencer.

**Highlights:** 500+ legendary CMI sounds, Byte-perfect re-issue of 80s CMI sounds, Play-only demo of Page R sequencer, Browse and play CMI IIX Sounds floppy disk library, Play CMI voices via external MIDI input, On-screen keyboard, Authentic CMI user interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CMI Pro Upgrade | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Authentic Fairlight sounds
- 🕰️ Nostalgic retro experience
- 🎹 Great for composing and sampling
- 💰 Affordable compared to original hardware

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive for a limited feature set
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs on newer iOS versions
- 📺 Clunky and outdated user interface
- 🔒 Lack of export and sharing options

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup for some users
- Keyboard issues and unresponsive controls
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add more Fairlight Series III sounds
- Improve MIDI and Audiobus integration
- Implement a more modern and intuitive UI
- Add support for odd time signatures


### Mandolin Chords Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-chords-compass/id1001868385)

**Currently charting:** #183 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Access a vast library of mandolin chords with a virtual fretboard and authentic sound. Perfect for beginners and experienced players, it offers offline functionality and supports multiple mandolin family instruments. Master any song with this comprehensive practice and composition tool.

**Highlights:** Massive chord library, Virtual fretboard visualization, Authentic chord sound playback, Supports Mandolin, Mandola, Mandocello, Offline functionality, Left-handed mode, One-time purchase

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Peter Vogel CMI free?

Peter Vogel CMI costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Mandolin Chords Compass free?

Mandolin Chords Compass costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Peter Vogel CMI or Mandolin Chords Compass?

Mandolin Chords Compass is rated higher. Peter Vogel CMI averages 2.5 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Mandolin Chords Compass averages 3.8 from 31 ratings.

### Do Peter Vogel CMI or Mandolin Chords Compass have ads?

Neither Peter Vogel CMI nor Mandolin Chords Compass shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Peter Vogel CMI or Mandolin Chords Compass?

Peter Vogel CMI ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mandolin Chords Compass every 64 months. Most recently, Peter Vogel CMI was updated on October 23, 2026 and Mandolin Chords Compass on October 24, 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.*