TEFpad vs Strum Machine
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TEFpad
This app is a tablature editor for iOS devices that allows users to open, display, print, and play TablEdit files. It supports importing various music file formats and offers editing capabilities for creating new arrangements or modifying existing ones. Advanced features and unlimited saving are available through an in-app purchase.
- Import various music file formats
- Create new tablature arrangements
- Edit and save tablature files
- Display tablature and standard notation
- MIDI playback with real-time control
- Export to PDF, ABC, MIDI, WAV, and Music XML
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TEFpad is a tablature editor designed for the iPad that implements most features available in the TablEdit desktop program. It is also compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch. Just like TEFview for iOS, our free file viewer, TEFpad opens, displays, prints and plays all TablEdit files (.tef format). It imports as well many types of music files (ASCII tablatures, ABC files, MusicXML, MIDI, Guitar Pro, PowerTab...). In addition to this, TEFpad opens TabRite files and lets you create new tablature arrangements from scratch. The files you have created on your device with TEFpad can be edited and saved without any limitation. Warning: You can edit files not created with TEFpad or imported into TEFpad, but only the first 16 measures can be saved. Likewise the app does not allow copying the contents of one of these files into another .tef file. To get rid of these limitations, you can upgrade to TEFpad Pro (available as an In-App purchase). The .tef files saved with TEFpad can be opened and modified in the TablEdit desktop program that offers advanced capabilities not completely available in TEFpad. Please submit your suggestions and bug reports to http://www.tabledit.com/contact/feedback/ Specifications: - Open/Import TablEdit, ASCII, ABC, MIDI, Music XML, PowerTab, TABrite and GuitarPro files - Optical recognition of tablatures and scores (PDF or image) - Extracts TablEdit files contained in a zip archive - Display tablature and/or standard notation - English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Chinese and Italian language support - Embedded Help (tap the info button in the top-right corner of the screen) - File manager with subdirectory management - Email files as attachment - PDF export. The PDF can be emailed or opened in a third party app - iTunes file sharing - WIFI file sharing - Integration with the Files app - MIDI Playback with full real time control (speed, pitch, volume and MIDI instrument) - Metronome and count down settings - Ability to change the soundfont and to access all the presets - Playlist - Customize background color for screen, special keyboard, palettes, - Print to an Air Printer - ABC, MIDI, ASCII, WAV file, Music XML export - Time and Key signature setup along with a transpose feature - Measures management (Add/Delete/Copy/Move/Pick-up measure) - Instrument setup (String number, Tuning, Capo, Clef...) - Quantize notes (after a MIDI import) - Enter notes and rests in the tablature or standard notation - Edit notes (duration, velocity, special effect, staccato...) - Create chord diagrams - Insert text, tempo changes, pick strokes and fingerings and format them - Create and edit lyrics - Reading guides (repeats and endings) - Fingerboard or keyboard view - External keyboard support - Support for Page turners - Print options dialog - Support drum tabs and pedal steel guitar tabs - Simple grace note management - iPad Pro support
Strum Machine
Generate realistic backing tracks for practice with real instrument audio. Customize chord progressions, keys, and tempo. Features a large song library, song editor, and band customization options. Works offline and syncs across devices.
- Realistic instrument audio backing tracks
- Customizable chord progressions, keys, and tempo
- Extensive song library
- Simple song editor
- Band and instrument customization
- Cross-platform syncing and offline mode
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Elevate your music practice with customizable backing tracks generated with audio from real instruments (guitar, mandolin, and standup bass). Strum Machine can play any chord progression, in any key, at any speed. It's the only backing-track app built specifically for players of bluegrass, old-time, fiddle tunes, and other such genres. (Although it works pretty good for some jazz/swing now, too!) Why musicians of all levels love Strum Machine: • Realistic Sound: Backing tracks are assembled in real time from studio-quality instrument recordings. • Quick Adjustments: Instantly adjust the speed/tempo, change the key, loop part of a song, etc. • Auto-Speedup: Gradually increase the BPM at the end of every repetition for training purposes. • Chord Reference: Clean, beautiful chord charts, which can be displayed in letters or numbers (i.e. "1-4-5"). • Extensive Library: Over 1,300 songs (mostly from bluegrass and old-time) ready to go, with thousands more posted on the community forum. • Simple Song Editor: Add your own songs (or edit existing ones) in minutes. Almost every chord you can play on a guitar is available for use. • Customize the Band: Choose from a variety of built-in band styles, then optionally customize each instrument individually – adjust the strumming pattern, add automatic bass runs, and more. • Organize & Share: Create song lists for practicing or even performing, and share them with your friends or on the community forum. • Cross-Platform: Sync your custom songs, lists, and preferences with any device you use Strum Machine on: phone, tablet, or computer. (It works offline, too!) • Responsive Support: If you run into any problems or have questions, write us an email or post a message on the forum and someone will get back to you within a few days! Strum Machine is under active development and we're always working on ways to make the app even more useful to our users... while keeping it uncluttered and intuitive first and foremost. Discover how Strum Machine can improve your music practice today! Download Strum Machine and play a handful of demo songs instantly, without signing up. For the full experience, including access to all built-in songs and the ability to create your own, start a free trial. Terms of Use: https://strummachine.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://strummachine.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Strum Machine at Free against TEFpad's $5.99. Strum Machine also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). TEFpad's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.4). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Strum Machine is free to download; TEFpad costs $5.99 up front. TEFpad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Strum Machine sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Strum Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 118 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of TEFpad's written reviews are positive against 89% of Strum Machine's.
TEFpad ships an update every 5 months, Strum Machine fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TEFpad | Strum Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (46 ratings) | 4.7 (118 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 64.4% of reviews | 88.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 46 | 118 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #149 — better | #161 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 77 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TablEdit | Luke Abbott LLC |
Customer experience
TEFpad
Strum Machine
Bugs and requests
TEFpad
Reported bugs
42 issues- Rating pop-ups ignore iOS settings
- Pro version disappeared after purchase
- App crashes when printing
- Audio quits playing
- Adding pull-offs creates ties across bars
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- Imported Guitar Pro files have errors (triplets, repeat barlines)
- Triplet button inconsistency
- App crashes
- Work not saved when app crashes
- Song title not saved
- Dulcimer TAB not working
- Tab won't switch to dulcimer DAD TAB
- Highlighting and repeating passages is difficult
- Vertical highlighter does not work
- Notes muted during playback due to highlighter issues
- File corruption
- PTB files corrupt
- 1/8 beat time signature issues
- Cannot save as a different name (overwrites original)
- Inserting double bar that cannot be removed
- Reversing tablature issues
- Changing instrument destroys file
- Automatic rests not working correctly
- Saving files beyond 16th measure is lost
- Unable to close options popup
- Notes and playback are 1 octave apart
- Triplets not entering correctly
- Saving a tab deleted it
- Spontaneously closes without saving
- Cannot view bar being edited
- Cannot delete bars without tempo/key dialog
- Cannot delete notes without undo/select/cut
- Cannot save more than 16 bars of a file
- Sudden crashes after update
- Cannot close options popup
- Cannot add bars after Pro upgrade
- Cannot change instrument after import
- Cannot find how to change tempo
- Cannot change instrument assignment and volume
- Deleting past 16th measure on import
- Pages reflow on zoom
- Cannot select multiple measures/notes
Requested features
21 requests- Search function for manual
- Support for Apple Magic Keyboard
- Simultaneous input of text, chords, and TAB numbers
- Ability to change instrument display on sidebar
- Ability to make font larger
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- Add title on first page
- Add D.S. al Coda and Fine
- Add lyrics and chord notation
- Files app support (iOS 11 folder support)
- Open in functionality
- Custom instrument input (number of strings, string notes)
- Solfege notation conversion
- Ability to change pedal steel pedal assignments
- Ability to customize button placement and size
- Swing eighth notes setting
- Better scrolling
- Custom tuning transpose functionality
- Cut-and-paste between files/tunings
- Easier to delete bars/notes
- Delete notes without undoing/cutting
- Double tap to open file
Strum Machine
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
TEFpad
- TEFpad Pro$19.99
Strum Machine
- Monthly Subscription14 Days trial$4.991 Month









