# Fiddle by Ear vs Mandolin Sim

The clearest difference is price: Mandolin Sim at Free against Fiddle by Ear's $12.99. Mandolin Sim also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.0). Fiddle by Ear's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Mandolin Sim is free to download; Fiddle by Ear costs $12.99 up front. Mandolin Sim sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Fiddle by Ear asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mandolin Sim holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Fiddle by Ear ships an update every 7 months, Mandolin Sim every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fiddle by Ear | Mandolin Sim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $12.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fiddle-by-ear/id6444867490/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-sim/id6739505137/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 141 MB | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oleg Sokolov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1628122395) | [Alper Kahriman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054578352) |

## What reviewers say

### Fiddle by Ear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fiddle-by-ear/id6444867490)

Master the fiddle by ear with this efficient ear training tool. Learn melodies and understand chords quickly, accelerating your musical journey from years to weeks. Practice with your phone or a real instrument.

**Highlights:** Learn fiddle by ear, Efficient ear training, Understand chords, Practice with smartphone or real fiddle, Accelerated learning method

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mandolin Sim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-sim/id6739505137)

Explore the authentic sounds of the mandolin with this simulator app. It offers various play modes, customizable interfaces, and recording features to help you create and share music across different genres.

**Highlights:** Authentic mandolin sounds, Orchestral and extra-orchestral tones, Customizable interface, Three dynamic play modes, Built-in performance recorder, Screen recording for visual sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Get Premium | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fiddle by Ear free?

Fiddle by Ear costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mandolin Sim free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Fiddle by Ear or Mandolin Sim?

Mandolin Sim is rated higher. Fiddle by Ear averages 2.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Mandolin Sim averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Fiddle by Ear or Mandolin Sim have ads?

Mandolin Sim shows ads; Fiddle by Ear does not.

### Which is updated more often, Fiddle by Ear or Mandolin Sim?

Fiddle by Ear ships an update every 7 months, and Mandolin Sim every 3 months. Most recently, Fiddle by Ear was updated on October 12, 2026 and Mandolin Sim on October 1, 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.*