# Fret Buddy vs BeatLab

The clearest difference is update cadence: BeatLab at fortnightly against Fret Buddy's every 2 months. Fret Buddy's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fret Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and BeatLab sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Fret Buddy ships an update every 2 months, BeatLab fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fret Buddy | BeatLab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beatlab-drum-machine-metronome/id6755929889/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pavlo Tatarenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1792392966) | [辉豹 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852432615) |

## What reviewers say

### Fret Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fret-buddy/id6740985464)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fret Buddy Full Version | $2.99 | one-time |


### BeatLab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beatlab-drum-machine-metronome/id6755929889)

This app offers a professional metronome and beat sequencer for musicians. Customize click sounds, create custom rhythm patterns, and track your practice sessions for improved timing and tempo control.

**Highlights:** Pro-grade metronome with stable timing, Powerful beat sequencer for custom patterns, Custom sound library with own samples, Musical groove engine with multiple tones, Practice tracking for consistency monitoring, Supports all instruments and music creators

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $3.99 | per year |
| Permanent Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fret Buddy free?

Fret Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BeatLab free?

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

### Do Fret Buddy or BeatLab have ads?

Both Fret Buddy and BeatLab show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fret Buddy or BeatLab?

Fret Buddy ships an update every 2 months, and BeatLab fortnightly. Most recently, Fret Buddy was updated on October 25, 2026 and BeatLab on October 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*