# StringMaster vs Gibson

The clearest difference is price: Gibson at Free against StringMaster's $14.99. Gibson also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (13K vs 24). StringMaster's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 61%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Gibson is free to download; StringMaster costs $14.99 up front. StringMaster sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Gibson sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for StringMaster against 4.8 for Gibson. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gibson has 13K ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of StringMaster's written reviews are positive against 61% of Gibson's.

StringMaster ships an update every 3 months, Gibson every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StringMaster | Gibson |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $14.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringmaster/id509014353/reviews) | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gibson-learn-to-play-guitar/id1116032929/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 61.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#59** |
| Size | 172 MB | 184 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Great Apptitude Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1519213669) | [Zoundio](https://appshunter.io/developer/493858308) |

## What reviewers say

### StringMaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringmaster/id509014353)

This comprehensive music learning app offers tools for chord building, scale visualization, songwriting, and instrument tuning. It supports a wide range of instruments and provides features for both beginners and seasoned musicians.

**Highlights:** Chord building and detection, Scale visualization and playback, Songwriting tools, Chromatic tuner and metronome, Fretboard learning, Alternate tuning and capo support, Piano keyboard mapping

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fretlight Support | $4.99 | one-time |
| StringMaster Pro Upgrade | $7.99 | one-time |


### Gibson

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gibson-learn-to-play-guitar/id1116032929)

**Currently charting:** #59 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

Learn guitar at your own pace with interactive lessons, real songs, and instant feedback. This app offers a comprehensive learning path for all skill levels, from beginner to advanced, with a vast library of content and practice tools.

**Highlights:** Interactive step-by-step learning path, Real-time feedback on playing, Large library of lessons and songs, Guitar tuner and metronome, Tempo control and looping tools, Practice tracking and skill growth, Gibson TV for inspiration

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gibson Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Gibson Premium Monthly | $22.99 | per month |
| Gibson Monthly + famous songs | $24.99 | per month |
| Gibson Premium Monthly+ | $32.99 | per month |
| Gibson Yearly | $129.99 | per year |
| Gibson Premium Yearly | $139.99 | per year |
| Gibson Yearly + Famous Songs | $159.99 | per year |
| Gibson Yearly + Famous Songs | $159.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $199.99 | per year |
| Gibson Premium Yearly+ | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Beginner-friendly
- 🚀 Effective teaching style
- 🚀 Plenty of songs
- 🚀 Interactive and immersive
- 🚀 Accurate feedback

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
- 🔒 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Limited free content
- 🔒 Headphones required
- 🔒 Lack of PC/Mac support

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Unreliable note/chord detection
- Upside down screen orientation issues
- Subscription issues (unable to access content)
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to pause, rewind, and adjust speed
- More comprehensive song library
- Skill-level based lessons
- Option to hear own guitar sound
- Improved note/chord detection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StringMaster free?

StringMaster costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Gibson free?

Gibson is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, StringMaster or Gibson?

Gibson is rated higher. StringMaster averages 4.7 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Gibson averages 4.8 from 13K ratings.

### Do StringMaster or Gibson have ads?

Neither StringMaster nor Gibson shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StringMaster or Gibson?

StringMaster ships an update every 3 months, and Gibson every 10 days. Most recently, StringMaster was updated on October 12, 2026 and Gibson on October 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*