Comparison

PocketPipes vs Bagpipe Tutorial

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

Head to head
About

PocketPipes

Practice bagpipe tunes with realistic sound and detailed playback options. Manage your music library with import, export, and categorization features. Track your progress with playback statistics to improve your training sessions.

Highlights
  • Realistic bagpipe sound with polyphony and drones
  • Section playback and loop mode for focused practice
  • Import tunes via iTunes, Dropbox, email, or Files App
  • Categorization and search for tune management
  • Playback statistics for training progress
  • Sheet music printing and iCloud Drive upload
  • Dark/light mode support
Features
Read full description

PocketPipes is an iPhone/iPad/iPod touch/Mac player for bagpipe tunes  (abc and bww files) with lot of options. Polyphony and drones produce a very realistic bagpipe sound. A vertical bar shows the note being played on the sheet music. PocketPipes is your partner for practicing, with your own tunes. Statistics about recent playbacks help you to drive your training sessions. PLAYBACK OPTIONS - bagpipe chanter sound or practice chanter sound - polyphonic capacity (one file for each voice: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th). Select the first one to play in a polyphonic way. - defining a section of the tune for playback (to focus on few measures when training, with long press on the sheet music). The area outside the section is grayed. - loop mode - playing with or without drones - C natural, or C natural + F natural - synchronized metronome with the current play - optional 5-7-9 attack before each play - tempo tuning for the current tune TUNES MANAGEMENT - the app proposes to install demo files automatically when the tunes list is empty (it includes few polyphonic sets) - importing tunes from a desktop with iTunes or Finder, a Dropbox(TM) account, or email attachements, or with Files App - file sharing : you can send tunes or sheet music as email attachments - file uploading to the user's iCloud Drive (wav soundtrack and pdf sheet music) - sheet music printing - categorization (tagging) of the tunes allows to work on subsets within the personal tunes (i.e. Marches, Slow airs, To learn, Next performance ....). See guide on website. More flexible than folder hierarchy. When categorized, a tune appears in blue color. - searching by keys, crossed with categories - statistics on recent playbacks, crossed with categories - file edition in textual mode with revert capability to the previous file - backup/restore of the data to/from iCloud, giving a way to align different devices with the same data USER INTERFACE - contextual menu with a long press on the tune title or the sheet music - two pop-up controllers to handle playback options on the sheet music - categories editor - full screen and zooming on sheet music (important for iPhones) - ability to colorize some parts of the tunes (%%bgcolor for ABC files) - support of clear/dark mode - built-in help book to learn how to use the app and including useful links Nota: beat setting and section marks are made persistent at file level. Available ressources on the support web site: Packs of tunes, ABC tutorial, FAQ ... See FAQ for specific questions.

About

Bagpipe Tutorial

Learn to play the Scottish bagpipes with a comprehensive multimedia reference. It features over 700 videos demonstrating techniques, numerous exercises, and helpful documents. Unlock all content permanently or via subscription for guided learning.

Highlights
  • Over 700 instructional videos
  • Embellishment and technique exercises
  • Adjustable video playback speed
  • Offline video and document access
  • Integrated metronome
  • Flashcards with video links
  • Content sharing with friends
Features
Read full description

Recommended by the best pipers in the world! This Bagpipe-Tutorial-App is the most comprehensive multimedia reference in the world on playing the Scottish bagpipes. It contains more than 700 videos demonstrating control of the instrument and finger techniques, including audio-visual information on all the grace notes and embellishments. Numerous exercises convey the essentials of Scottish piping. - More than 700 videos, playable at different speeds - More than 300 embellishment exercises - Unlock all videos and documents forever with Pipe Coins - Full access, subscription for complete activation of the app possible - Download function, videos and documents available offline - Loop function also within the videos for partial sequences - All the exercises and tunes in the bagpipe tutorial book - All books of the bagpipe school - A practical metronome - Helpful documents - Favourites memory - Reminder function - Adjustable video speed - Practical flashcards with video link - Share content with friends to learn together - The eye to learn the names of all embellishments - Many exciting workshops on all bagpipe topics - Available in three languages (French, English, German) - Everything in one practical app and no need to log in to websites - And many other functions The Bagpipe-Tutorial-App is ideal for absolute beginners up to advanced pipers and can be used for independent study or as a source of examples for lessons. Its aim is to give the student basic information about the instrument, a solid foundation in technique and expert guidance on the route to becoming an accomplished piper. This Bagpipe-Tutorial-App by Bagpipe Tutorial is a milestone in the teaching of the Scottish bagpipes. Easily understandable and thorough, it is a worthwhile investment for anyone interested in piping. The Bagpipe Tutorial book, also by Bagpipe Tutorial, is an ideal supplement. Many thanks to Maximilian Huhn-Laubenstein (https://www.jerocom.de/) for their expert support in designing and developing the app. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PocketPipes4 screens
Bagpipe Tutorial4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Bagpipe Tutorial at Free against PocketPipes's $5.99. Bagpipe Tutorial also leads on review sentiment (98% vs 78%). PocketPipes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On ads and device support 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

Bagpipe Tutorial is free to download; PocketPipes costs $5.99 up front. Bagpipe Tutorial sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. PocketPipes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PocketPipes ships an update every 6 weeks, Bagpipe Tutorial every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 17, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PocketPipes versus Bagpipe Tutorial: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPocketPipesBagpipe Tutorial
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating—4.3 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews98.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—8 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperClaude Le DûAndreas Hambsch

Customer experience

PocketPipes

Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%

Bagpipe Tutorial

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive98.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.0%

In-app purchases

None

PocketPipes

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Bagpipe Tutorial

Subscriptions2
  • All contents$8.991 Month
  • All contents$34.991 Year
One-time6
  • 10 Pipe Coins$3.99
  • 25 Pipe Coins$7.99
  • 50 Pipe Coins$14.99
Show 3 more
  • 100 Pipe Coins$24.99
  • 200 Pipe Coins$44.99
  • 500 Pipe Coins$69.99

Questions

Is PocketPipes free?
PocketPipes costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bagpipe Tutorial free?
Bagpipe Tutorial is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PocketPipes or Bagpipe Tutorial have ads?
Neither PocketPipes nor Bagpipe Tutorial shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PocketPipes or Bagpipe Tutorial?
PocketPipes ships an update every 6 weeks, and Bagpipe Tutorial every 3 months. Most recently, PocketPipes was updated on September 17, 2026 and Bagpipe Tutorial on September 17, 2026.

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