Comparison

Fretzl vs Strumlight

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

Head to head
About

Fretzl

Learn guitar fundamentals and advanced concepts through structured courses on notes, intervals, chords, and scales. This app uses spaced repetition and an intuitive approach to build fretboard skills and ear training, helping you understand your playing beyond memorizing tabs.

Highlights
  • Structured courses on notes, intervals, chords, and scales
  • Spaced repetition for memory retention
  • Intuitive and hands-on learning approach
  • Fretboard skill building
  • Ear training
  • Built-in tuner
Read full description

Learn the language of guitar! Designed for beginners and experienced guitar players who want to understand the instrument deeply, Fretzl guides you through the fundamentals and more on the fretboard. Learn from a structured series of in-depth courses in notes, intervals, chords, chord inversions, scales, and arpeggios. --- Fretzl makes it easy: • Go at your own pace by choosing a daily goal and building a streak! • Unleash your soloing and comping creativity by discovering new chords, scales, and arpeggios • Spaced repetition means we'll keep track of what you need to review and when so you don't forget • Learn the theory with our intuitive and hands-on approach in lessons • Build fundamental fretboard skills you can apply no matter what style or songs you want to play • Break bad habits of memorizing tab numbers and really understand what you're playing with our intervals-based approach • Train your ear so you can play anything you can hear • Get ready for practice with a built-in tuner --- How Fretzl Works Fretzl uses fast modern study methods like spaced repetition to build up your understanding and strengthen your memory along your journey to guitar mastery. Skills are learned in a logical progression and you can take time to review your trouble areas. Whether you hope to play rock, jazz, classical, blues, or any other major guitar style, Fretzl will help you build intuition on the instrument. Give it a try and see how Fretzl can help you on your path. --- Any questions, thoughts, or concerns? We'd love to hear from you at contact@fretzl.com Privacy: https://fretzl.com/#privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Strumlight

This app guides your finger placement on a guitar fretboard with real-time LED lights. Learn chords and scales effortlessly with a built-in song library and lesson plans. Track your progress and receive practice reminders to improve your playing.

Highlights
  • Real-time LED finger guidance
  • Chord and scale learning
  • Built-in song library
  • Lesson plans
  • Progress tracking
  • Practice reminders
Features
Read full description

Strumlight is your personal guitar tutor - right on your fretboard. Attach the slim LED strip to any acoustic or electric guitar neck, connect via Bluetooth, and play along as real‑time lights guide your fingers to every note. No tabs, no guesswork. Just strum and learn. Features: • Real‑time LED guidance for chords & scales • Built‑in song library & lesson plans • Progress tracking & practice reminders • Customizable light patterns & colors Perfect for beginners and pros alike. Start your guitar journey with Strumlight today!

Screenshots

Fretzl4 screens
Strumlight3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Strumlight at none against Fretzl's 2. Strumlight also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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

Both are free to download. Fretzl sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Strumlight asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Fretzl against 5.0 for Strumlight. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fretzl ships an update monthly, Strumlight every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Fretzl versus Strumlight: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFretzlStrumlight
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better3
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDecbl LLCAustin Ketola

Customer experience

Fretzl

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Strumlight

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Fretzl

Subscriptions2
  • Fretzl Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Fretzl Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
None

Strumlight

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Fretzl free?
Fretzl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Strumlight free?
Strumlight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Fretzl or Strumlight?
Fretzl and Strumlight are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do Fretzl or Strumlight have ads?
Neither Fretzl nor Strumlight shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fretzl or Strumlight?
Fretzl ships an update monthly, and Strumlight every 4 days. Most recently, Fretzl was updated on November 3, 2026 and Strumlight on November 5, 2026.

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