Comparison

Music Theory Advanced vs Poly Metronome

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

Head to head
About

Music Theory Advanced

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Music theory tests: Notes (Notation / Piano), Key Signatures, Intervals, Chords, and Rhythms, covering basic musicianship at an advanced level. Includes a 'Grade Book' list of all saved results that you can print or share. • Notes, Intervals and Chords include an Ear Training mode that quizzes by audio only, while Rhythms is customizable from easy to nearly impossible. • All pitched quizzes support Treble, Alto, Tenor and Bass clefs. • Interval and chord roots pitches can be random or set before each question. • Set a specific number of questions or grade only the number answered. Notes module tests music notation and piano keyboard knowledge. Key Signatures covers major and minor keys as well as the seven diatonic modes. Set separate maximum number of sharps or flats for the quiz. Intervals includes simple and compound intervals played harmonically, melodically up or down. Intervals covered are major, minor, diminished, augmented 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, 7ths, and diminished, perfect, and augmented 4ths, 5ths, and octaves. Chords include triads and seventh chords played harmonically, melodically up, down or broken. Triads are major, minor diminished and augmented. Seventh Chords are dim7, min7(b5), min7, min(maj7), dominant7, maj7, dominant7(#5), maj7(#5). Rhythms tests your rhythmic and polyrhythmic skills. Develop hand independence with two lines of rhythms. - Customizable options include; up to 16 measures in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 or 5/4, one or two lines of rhythms, each with up to 3 pitches, include specific note/rest values, and exclude grading durations (for percussionists). - Included note/rest values: Whole, Half, Quarter, Eighth, Sixteenth, Dotted Half, Dotted Quarter, Dotted Eighth, Triplet Half, Triplet Quarter, and Triplet Eighth. The Grade Book is filterable by name and subject. Grades include the name, date and time the quiz was taken, all relevant settings (clef, number of questions, etc.), and score (percentage and letter grade).

About

Poly Metronome

Master rhythm with a precise metronome offering advanced features like subdivisions and polyrhythms. Create complex patterns, save setups, and train your timing with built-in tools. Visual, flash, and vibrate modes ensure you stay on beat in any environment.

Highlights
  • Subdivisions per beat
  • Polyrhythm creation
  • Programmable setlists
  • Coach Trainer with mute
  • Automator tempo progression
  • Visual, flash, and vibrate modes
Features
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Poly Metronome is a precise, modern practice tool for musicians who want more than just a click. Set any time signature, shape odd meters with accent groupings, layer polyrhythms, then save your setups as presets and setlists — or build up speed with practice sessions that track your progress. A clean interface scales from iPhone to iPad, with a live pulse ring that shows every voice and accent at a glance — and stays in sync with the sound on the speaker, headphones, AirPods or AirPlay. FREE FEATURES • Studio-grade timing engine, 1–800 BPM • Any time signature: 1–32 beats per bar, counted in quarter or eighth notes — 5/4, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8 and more • Accents and groupings such as 2+2+3 for odd meters • Two-voice polyrhythms such as 3:2 or 4:7 • Count-in before playback • Tap tempo and manual BPM entry • Vibration and LED flash on the beat (iPhone) • Foot pedal and Bluetooth keyboard control • Siri and Shortcuts: start, stop and set the tempo hands-free • Lock Screen, Dynamic Island and Control Center controls • AirPlay and Bluetooth speakers, with a latency notice • Searchable user guide with live examples • Ad-free, with dark, light or system theme PRO FEATURES — one-time purchase, Family Sharing supported • Up to 5 polyrhythm voices, each with its own sound, color, accents and pattern • 18 sound banks (10 metronome + 8 polyrhythm) • 16 built-in rhythm patterns and a custom pattern editor with real notation — even a different subdivision on every beat • Presets: create, edit and duplicate, with notes such as the key or capo shown on stage • Setlists: songs in order, each with its own tempo, notes and auto-advance on the downbeat — the app reopens on the same song if it closes mid-gig • Practice sessions: Coach mutes bars to test your inner time, Automator ramps the tempo by bars or seconds, and session goals keep you on track • Practice log: day streak, minutes per day and your top-tempo progress • Siri and Spotlight for your presets, practices and setlists • iCloud sync across all your devices Ideal for drummers, guitarists, pianists, singers, dancers and any musician serious about timing.

Screenshots

Poly Metronome4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Poly Metronome at Free against Music Theory Advanced's $4.99. Poly Metronome also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 18 months). Music Theory Advanced's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Poly Metronome is free to download; Music Theory Advanced costs $4.99 up front. Poly Metronome sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Music Theory Advanced asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Music Theory Advanced ships an update every 18 months, Poly Metronome every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Music Theory Advanced versus Poly Metronome: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusic Theory AdvancedPoly Metronome
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating—4.3 (204 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—22.6% of reviews
Number of ratings—204 — better
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPatrick Q. KellyImre Virag

In-app purchases

None

Music Theory Advanced

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Poly Metronome

One-time1
  • Pro Version$4.99

Questions

Is Music Theory Advanced free?
Music Theory Advanced costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Poly Metronome free?
Poly Metronome is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Music Theory Advanced or Poly Metronome have ads?
Neither Music Theory Advanced nor Poly Metronome shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Music Theory Advanced or Poly Metronome?
Music Theory Advanced ships an update every 18 months, and Poly Metronome every 5 days. Most recently, Music Theory Advanced was updated on October 26, 2026 and Poly Metronome on October 24, 2026.

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