Comparison

Fretionary vs Study Shield

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

Head to head
About

Fretionary

This app transforms your device into an interactive guitar fretboard, visualizing scales, chords, and progressions. It offers color-coded displays and real audio playback to aid music theory learning.

Highlights
  • Interactive fretboard visualization
  • 14 scales and modes
  • 25 chord types
  • CAGED system shapes
  • Chord progression builder
  • Color-coded by function
Features
Read full description

Fretionary turns your entire fretboard into a visual theory map. Stop hunting for scale shapes on YouTube. Stop forgetting which chord is which. Fretionary puts every scale, chord, and progression you need right on an interactive fretboard — color-coded, labeled, and playable with real guitar audio. FEATURES • 14 scales & modes — Major, Minor, Pentatonic, Blues, Dorian, Lydian, and more • 36 chord types with fingering diagrams — Triads, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, Sus, Add, and more • CAGED system — all 5 shapes color-coded across the neck, with reference chord diagrams • 64 chord progressions — across Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Latin, Motown, Gospel, Classical, Reggae, and more • Progressions builder — Common, Diatonic, or build your own from scratch • Practice drills — Name the Note, Find the Note, String Drill (Beginner to Advanced) • Identify — reverse chord lookup: tap any notes on the fretboard, get the chord name • Progress tracking — daily streak plus scales explored, chords learned, and progressions played • Interactive fretboard up to 24 frets — tap positions directly, focus on any range • Color-coded by function — roots, 3rds, 5ths, and extensions instantly visible • 9 alternate tunings — Standard, Drop D, Drop C, DADGAD, Open D/G/E, Eb Standard, and more • Real guitar audio — sample-based playback for every scale, chord, and progression • Built-in metronome (free) — BPM 40–240, six time signatures, tap-tempo • iPad optimized — full-screen fretboard with side-by-side controls FRETIONARY PRO Unlock all scales, chords, progressions, tunings, and practice modes. • Monthly: $7.99/month • Lifetime: $44.99 one time Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://fretionary.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Study Shield

This app helps you focus on studying by blocking distracting applications and tracking your progress. It offers individual and group study sessions, gamified elements, and detailed analytics to build effective study habits.

Highlights
  • App blocking focus timer
  • Class and grade tracking
  • 24/7 study rooms
  • Live study groups with chat
  • Leaderboards and school comparisons
  • Habit building streaks
  • Detailed study analytics
Features
Read full description

Study Shield is the study timer that actually blocks your phone. Start a focus session and your distracting apps lock until you're done. No willpower required — your hours do the talking. TRACK EVERY HOUR • Focus timer with app blocking (Pomodoro or straight-through) • Add your classes by semester — hours roll up to each class • Post test scores and final grades. 128 hours → A- hits different • Stats that matter: streaks, heatmaps, peak hours, hours by class STUDY TOGETHER • Official 24/7 study rooms — drop in and grind with students everywhere • Study groups with live presence and chat • The Curve: real leaderboards for students, squads, and schools • Rep your school. Your campus vs everyone BUILD THE HABIT • Daily, weekly, and per-class • Streaks that keep you honest • Semester Wrapped: your year in a spotlight —— SUBSCRIPTION —— Study Shield requires a subscription to use, beginning with a 7-day free trial. After the trial: • Study Shield Pro (Monthly) — $4.99/month • Study Shield Pro (Annual) — $49.99/year (2 months free) Your subscription unlocks everything: the focus timer with app-blocking, goals, countdowns, analytics & heat map, levels & badges, squads & leaderboards, and live study groups. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account of the free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://studyshieldapp.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://studyshieldapp.com/privacy

Screenshots

Fretionary4 screens
Study Shield4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Fretionary at free with in-app purchases against Study Shield's subscription. Fretionary also leads on ratings volume (25 vs 1). Study Shield's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, 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. Fretionary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Study Shield sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Study Shield holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fretionary has 25 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Fretionary versus Study Shield: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFretionaryStudy Shield
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (25 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings25 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 days—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrandon SumnerLambtor LLC

Customer experience

Fretionary

All ratings25 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%

Study Shield

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Fretionary

Subscriptions2
  • Fretionary Pro Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Fretionary Pro Annual$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Fretionary Pro Lifetime$44.99
2 purchases

Study Shield

Subscriptions2
  • Study Shield Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Study Shield Pro Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Fretionary free?
Fretionary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Study Shield free?
Study Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Fretionary or Study Shield?
Study Shield is rated higher. Fretionary averages 4.6 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Study Shield averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Fretionary or Study Shield have ads?
Fretionary shows ads; Study Shield does not.

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