# SMD vs Tab Buddy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tab Buddy at 100% against SMD's 50%. Tab Buddy also leads on price (Free vs $19.99) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). SMD's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Tab Buddy is free to download; SMD costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SMD ships an update weekly, Tab Buddy every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMD | Tab Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tab-buddy/id6742390560/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 1 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [YOSHINOBU HONGO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1678909753) | [Gamic Arts LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1514546976) |

## What reviewers say

### SMD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smd-simple-magnetic-detector/id6446756301)

This tool for Apple Watch detects magnetic fields, offering detailed sensor views and customizable notifications. It provides polarity-specific haptic feedback and is recommended for Series 6 and later models for optimal performance.

**Highlights:** Magnetic field component monitoring (X, Y, Z), Customizable sensitivity, Notification interval settings, Significant change detection alerts, Polarity-specific haptic feedback, Analog Watch Mode for optimal performance

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


### Tab Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tab-buddy/id6742390560)

This app helps musicians practice songs by displaying text-based or PDF tab files. Users can adjust scrolling speed, zoom, and font size for an optimal practice experience. It supports various instruments and offers a clean interface for easy file import and playback.

**Highlights:** Open .txt or .pdf tab files, Adjustable scroll speed, Pinch-to-zoom for font size, Clean, easy-to-read interface, Simple file importer, Support for monospaced text and PDF

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMD free?

SMD costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Tab Buddy free?

Tab Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do SMD or Tab Buddy have ads?

Neither SMD nor Tab Buddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMD or Tab Buddy?

SMD ships an update weekly, and Tab Buddy every 3 months. Most recently, SMD was updated on October 15, 2026 and Tab Buddy on October 24, 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.*