# Retro Tuner vs Nova Tuner

The clearest difference is rating: Nova Tuner at 4.7 against Retro Tuner's 3.5. Nova Tuner also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and ratings volume (32 vs 2). Retro Tuner's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $7.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Retro Tuner costs $2.99 and Nova Tuner $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Nova Tuner holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nova Tuner has 32 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Retro Tuner's written reviews are positive against 100% of Nova Tuner's.

Retro Tuner ships an update every 9 months, Nova Tuner every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro Tuner | Nova Tuner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $7.99 |
| Rating | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-tuner/id624598750/reviews) | **[4.7 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-tuner/id1589542148/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **32** |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#176** |
| Size | 25 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Waxing Wave](https://appshunter.io/developer/392942046) | [Thomas J Foster](https://appshunter.io/developer/1299823120) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro Tuner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-tuner/id624598750)

This app provides accurate and fast pitch detection for musical instruments with a retro-inspired analog interface. It supports a wide range of instruments and features adjustable reference pitches for precise tuning.

**Highlights:** Analog panel meter UI, Nixie tube note display, Digital signal processing, Supports 88-key piano range, Adjustable reference pitch (A=440 Hz), Detune factor in cents

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Nova Tuner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-tuner/id1589542148)

**Currently charting:** #176 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

A professional chromatic tuner designed for musicians, especially those in Early Music. It offers extensive temperament support, custom profile creation, and a clean interface for precise instrument tuning. No internet connection or data collection required.

**Highlights:** Extensive built-in temperaments, Add and create custom temperaments, User profiles for quick settings, Sound and Auto detection modes, Adjustable A4 pitch detector, Multiple waveform options, Light and dark mode support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro Tuner free?

Retro Tuner costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Nova Tuner free?

Nova Tuner costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Retro Tuner or Nova Tuner?

Nova Tuner is rated higher. Retro Tuner averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Nova Tuner averages 4.7 from 32 ratings.

### Do Retro Tuner or Nova Tuner have ads?

Neither Retro Tuner nor Nova Tuner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retro Tuner or Nova Tuner?

Retro Tuner ships an update every 9 months, and Nova Tuner every 5 months. Most recently, Retro Tuner was updated on November 7, 2026 and Nova Tuner on November 7, 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.*