Comparison

REF vs Singio

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

Head to head
About

REF

Features
Read full description

REF-440: The tuner that disappears when you need to play. REF-440 is designed for musicians who demand precision and clarity. Inspired by Dieter Rams and Teenage Engineering, every pixel serves a purpose. No ads. No clutter. Just a precision instrument that helps you tune and get back to making music. Precision You Can Feel REF-440 uses the McLeod Pitch Method (MPM) algorithm, optimized for real-time guitar tuning. With ยฑ2ยข accuracy, adaptive smoothing, and intelligent note locking, you get stable readings that don't jump around โ€” even in noisy environments. Designed Like an Instrument The interface mimics a hardware tuner: a dark "faceplate" display panel, needle meter with ghost trails, and LED indicator. The 135-point note display is readable from across the room. Orange means action, neutral means success. Context-Aware Instructions Forget "flat" and "sharp." REF-440 tells you what to do: TIGHTEN or LOOSEN for strings, TUNE UP or TUNE DOWN for chromatic mode. Physical actions for physical instruments. Every Guitar Player's Needs Guitar โ€” 12 tuning presets including Standard, Drop D/C/B, Open G/D, DADGAD, and more Bass โ€” Standard, Drop D, Half-Step Down, 5-String Ukulele โ€” Standard (High-G), Low-G, Baritone Chromatic โ€” Detect any pitch across the full frequency spectrum Thoughtful Customization Reference pitch from 415 Hz (Baroque) to 466 Hz (bright orchestral) Capo support (0-12 frets) Sharp/flat display preference (A# vs Bb) Adjustable noise gate for any environment Optional in-tune chime (customizable sound) Keep screen on while tuning Premium Details Standby mode saves battery โ€” tap to resume Home screen and Control Center widgets (iOS 18+) Siri Shortcuts for reference tones Live Activity during tuning sessions VoiceOver accessible with meaningful labels Respects Dynamic Type and Reduce Motion settings Built for Musicians, by Musicians REF-440 is a single-purpose tool that does one thing exceptionally well. No subscriptions, no premium upgrades, no feature gates. Just a tuner that works.

About

Singio

Transform song phrases into vocal warm-ups. Practice melodies, adjust tempo and key, and train riffs and runs. Create custom exercises or use the built-in library for singers of all levels.

Highlights
  • Vocal warm-ups in any key and tempo
  • Custom singing exercise creation
  • Built-in vocal exercise library
  • Riffs and runs training
  • Practice song fragments
  • Improve pitch and intonation
Features
Read full description

Turn song phrases into powerful vocal warm-ups. Practice melodies, slow down riffs & runs, and train in any key and tempo. Vocal warm-ups in any key and tempo Practice singing exercises in any key and custom tempo. Perfect for vocal warm-ups, range development, and daily voice training. Create custom singing exercises Singio's standout feature lets you create your own melodies and turn them into vocal exercises. Ideal for: - practicing song fragments - improving pitch and intonation - training intervals and melodic patterns - internalizing difficult melodies Built-in vocal exercise library Explore a curated collection of vocal warm-ups and scales, including: - common scales and modes - classic singing patterns - exercises used in pop and contemporary vocals (*coming soon) Train riffs and runs - Gradually increase the tempo to improve: - riffs and runs - vocal agility, speed, control, and coordination For singers at any level: - beginner and advanced singers - vocal students and teachers - anyone looking for smart vocal practice Singio is a powerful vocal warm-up app, singing trainer, and voice training tool built for real singers. Practice smarter. Sing better. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://singio-e686e.web.app/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

REF4 screens
Singio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: REF at none against Singio's 4. REF also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). Singio's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Singio sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. REF asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

REF ships an update every 3 days, Singio every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 5 level
REF versus Singio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterREFSingio
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviewsโ€”100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 3 days โ€” betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
Monetizationโ€”Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS17.015.6 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size6 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAmr RashedUGA DOOGA LLC

In-app purchases

None

REF

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Singio

Subscriptions4
  • Singio Premium โ€“ Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Singio Pro โ€” Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Singio Premium โ€” Annual7 Days trial$25.491 Year
Show 1 more
  • Singio Pro โ€” Annual7 Days trial$58.901 Year

Questions

Is REF free?
REF is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Singio free?
Singio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do REF or Singio have ads?
Neither REF nor Singio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, REF or Singio?
REF ships an update every 3 days, and Singio every 9 days. Most recently, REF was updated on October 5, 2026 and Singio on October 8, 2026.

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