Tiny Instrument vs Contrapunctus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tiny Instrument
This app simplifies playing, recording, and exploring MIDI keyboards with real-time visual feedback. It allows users to record performances, import MIDI files, and customize instruments and playback settings.
- Plug & Play MIDI keyboard connection
- Real-time note visualization on staff
- Record and save MIDI performances
- Import and play MIDI files
- Customizable instruments with SF2 support
- Flexible playback and display settings
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Learn music by playing it. Tiny Instrument is a keyboard-first way to learn music theory, train your ear, and practice scales, chords, and songs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Instead of treating theory like a textbook, it turns learning into something hands-on: play notes on the keyboard, hear how they sound, build chords and scales, train your ear, and explore ideas as you go. Start with the basics of notes, rhythm, intervals, scales, and chords. Then grow into keys, harmony, progressions, modes, and composition. Tiny Instrument keeps the experience light and musical with guided lessons, playful warm-ups, open-ended exploration, ear training, and beginner-friendly practice tools. Why Tiny Instrument feels different: - Learn theory through the keyboard, not away from it - Reinforce concepts with ear training and practice in the same app - Explore musical ideas through playful exercises and warm-ups - Sketch chord progressions and first song ideas in Compose - Use Aria, an optional learning companion, on supported Apple Intelligence devices - Keep learning across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Connect a MIDI keyboard for a more instrument-like experience Tiny Instrument includes: - Guided music theory lessons - Ear training levels - Play & Explore exercises - Practice for scales, chords, songs, and MIDI - Beginner-friendly composition tools - Focus sessions for intentional practice - Music Library concept browsing - Spotlight search and other Apple-platform integrations The app is free to download and includes a genuine free tier you can keep using: Intro lessons, Keyboard basics, the Scales chapter, starter ear training in every stage, the first Play & Explore group, core practice tools, and Aria on supported Apple Intelligence devices. When you want more, additional chapters and tools are unlocked with one-time purchases. That includes deeper theory chapters, expanded practice and ear training, extra Play & Explore groups, and the Composition path. No subscription required. Whether you are starting from your very first keypress or filling in theory gaps as a self-taught player, Tiny Instrument is designed to make learning music feel more playful, connected, and alive. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Contrapunctus
Create a second, independent musical line to accompany your melody. Draw or import music, and the app generates compliant counterpoint, offering various options and customization. Export your compositions in standard formats for use in other music software.
- Generate independent counterpoint melodies
- Draw melodies or import MIDI/MusicXML
- Real-time rule engine for voice-leading
- Customizable voice movement and harmony
- Standard notation preview
- MIDI and MusicXML export
- Offline functionality
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Give your melody a second voice. Contrapunctus writes counterpoint. Draw a melody on a simple grid — or import a MIDI or MusicXML file — and it composes a genuinely independent second line against it: real first-species counterpoint, obeying the voice-leading rules right down to the cadence. HOW IT WORKS • Draw a melody on the timeline (leave a gap for a rest), import MIDI/MusicXML, or type it in. • Contrapunctus generates a legal counter-line above or below, updating live. • Cycle the distinct valid options — ranked best first — and pick the one your ear likes. • Shape it with two dials: how strictly it favors sweet 3rds and 6ths, and how independently the voice moves. WHAT'S INSIDE • A real rule engine — no parallel fifths or octaves, proper cadences, and a musica-ficta toggle that raises the leading tone in modal keys. • Works in every mode: major, dorian, aeolian and the rest. • Live standard-notation preview of both voices. • MIDI and MusicXML import and export — for MuseScore, Sibelius, Dorico, Finale, or your DAW. • Fully offline. No account, no sign-in, no ads, no in-app purchases. • Private by design — Contrapunctus collects nothing. Your music never leaves your phone unless you export it. Contrapunctus is by Songdeed.
Screenshots
Verdict
Tiny Instrument and Contrapunctus both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Contrapunctus's written reviews are positive against 0% of Tiny Instrument's. Contrapunctus also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). Tiny Instrument's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On rating, ads, monetization model 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
Tiny Instrument is free to download; Contrapunctus costs $4.99 up front. Tiny Instrument sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Contrapunctus asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Tiny Instrument against 5.0 for Contrapunctus. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 0% of Tiny Instrument's written reviews are positive against 100% of Contrapunctus's.
| Parameter | Tiny Instrument | Contrapunctus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 307 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Codeloop | EVAN TRACEN POWERS |
Customer experience
Tiny Instrument
Contrapunctus
In-app purchases
Tiny Instrument
- Small Donation$0.99
- Keyboard Themes$1.99
- Core Theory$2.99
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- Chord Lab$2.99
- Medium Donation$2.99
- Composition Studio$4.99
- Advanced Theory$4.99
- Practice Studio$4.99
- Large Donation$4.99
- Full Library$14.99
Contrapunctus
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Tiny Instrument free?
Is Contrapunctus free?
Which has better reviews, Tiny Instrument or Contrapunctus?
Do Tiny Instrument or Contrapunctus have ads?
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