Comparison

CUE vs FretMachine

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

Head to head
About

CUE

Features
Read full description

Cue is a DJ set planner and visualizer. Use this app to keep track of your mixes in a 3D space and see how you can link tracks together, add notes and search through spotify. Plan your DJ sets visually. Cue lets you map out every track and transition in your mix, so you always know what plays next. See your set in 3D Your tracks live in an interactive 3D space. Each song is a node, each transition is a link. Pinch, rotate, and fly through your mix like a constellation. Set a starting track and watch the flow radiate outward. Build your tracklist Add songs with title, artist, BPM, key, cover art, and personal notes. Search Spotify as you type to auto-fill track details and artwork, or add tracks manually. Link your transitions Connect tracks that mix well together. Add notes to each transition — drop points, EQ tips, whatever helps you remember the blend. Your links become the edges of your set graph. Card view Switch to a clean scrollable setlist that follows your transition chain from start to finish. Linked tracks appear in set order with numbered positions. Unlinked tracks sit in a separate section so you can see what still needs connecting. Open in Spotify Tap any track to open it directly in Spotify. Remind yourself how a song sounds without leaving your workflow. Set your starting track Pin one track as the head of your set. In 3D mode it anchors to the center. In card mode it becomes track number one. Everything flows from there. Built for DJs Cue is not a Dj mixer

About

FretMachine

This app allows musicians to sketch guitar parts by placing chords on a fretboard and creating strumming patterns. It offers an intuitive alternative to traditional tab workflows, enabling users to build chord progressions and export ideas as MIDI files for DAWs.

Highlights
  • Fretboard chord input
  • Strumming pattern sequencer
  • Chord library with advanced chords
  • Real-time chord analysis
  • MIDI export for DAWs
  • Timeline arrangement
Read full description

Place chords on the fretboard. Sketch guitar parts with strumming patterns. FretMachine is a guitar chord and strumming sequencer for musicians, producers, songwriters, and DAW users. Unlike traditional tab-based workflows, FretMachine provides a more intuitive way to create guitar parts. Place chords on a fretboard-style interface, create strumming patterns in the rhythm sequencer, and arrange your ideas on the timeline. When you place notes on the fretboard, FretMachine analyzes the shape in real time and shows you the chord name. You can also choose chords directly from the chord library and quickly build chord progressions. Once your chords are ready, create strumming patterns on the rhythm grid, arrange them on the timeline, and export your ideas as MIDI files for further production in your DAW. KEY FEATURES • Strum-Based Sequencing Create guitar ideas around chords and strumming rhythms instead of entering notes one by one. • Pattern-Based Sequencer Arrange strumming and rhythm patterns freely on the timeline to structure your song ideas. • Chord Library Supports Basic Triads, 7th chords, tension chords such as 9th/11th/13th, sus/add chords, Altered chords, and a variety of guitar voicings. • Reverse Chord Finder Place notes on the fretboard and see the chord name analyzed in real time. • Fretboard Input Enter and sequence chord shapes while viewing a visual guitar fretboard interface. • Rhythm & Strumming Pattern Editor Design strumming rhythms on a grid using downstrokes and upstrokes. • MIDI Export Export completed guitar parts as MIDI files and bring them into your DAW. FretMachine helps you quickly build guitar-focused ideas, from chord sketches to pattern-based song drafts.

Screenshots

CUE4 screens
FretMachine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CUE at none against FretMachine's 1. FretMachine's advantage is update cadence (daily vs weekly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. FretMachine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CUE asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CUE ships an update weekly, FretMachine daily. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
CUE versus FretMachine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCUEFretMachine
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB227 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid PinaKyuhwa Choi

In-app purchases

None

CUE

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

FretMachine

One-time1
  • Pro Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is CUE free?
CUE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FretMachine free?
FretMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CUE or FretMachine have ads?
Neither CUE nor FretMachine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CUE or FretMachine?
CUE ships an update weekly, and FretMachine daily. Most recently, CUE was updated on October 25, 2026 and FretMachine on November 5, 2026.

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