# REF vs Tone Gen Studio

The clearest difference is price: REF at Free against Tone Gen Studio's $0.99. REF also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

REF is free to download; Tone Gen Studio costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

REF ships an update every 3 days, Tone Gen Studio every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | REF | Tone Gen Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tone-gen-studio/id6758694837/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Size | 6 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Amr Rashed](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864768976) | [Scott Manley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864388985) |

## What reviewers say

### REF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-440-tuner/id6757130720)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Tone Gen Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tone-gen-studio/id6758694837)

Generate precise audio frequencies, conduct sweep tests, and analyze sound with a built-in microphone tuner and RTA analyzer. This toolkit is designed for musicians and audio engineers needing accurate tone and measurement tools.

**Highlights:** Pure tone generator with custom frequency, Preset tone pads, Sweep generator, Noise profiles (white, pink, brown), Binaural beats, Mic tuner with real-time display, RTA analyzer

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is REF free?

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

### Is Tone Gen Studio free?

Tone Gen Studio costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do REF or Tone Gen Studio have ads?

Neither REF nor Tone Gen Studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, REF or Tone Gen Studio?

REF ships an update every 3 days, and Tone Gen Studio every 6 weeks. Most recently, REF was updated on October 5, 2026 and Tone Gen Studio on October 7, 2026.

---

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