# FretMachine vs MIDI Memos

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MIDI Memos at none against FretMachine's 1. FretMachine's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 days) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FretMachine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MIDI Memos asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for FretMachine against 5.0 for MIDI Memos. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

FretMachine ships an update daily, MIDI Memos every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FretMachine | MIDI Memos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fretmachine-guitar-sequencer/id6772944355/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-memos-recorder-plus-player/id6774037073/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 227 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kyuhwa Choi](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772944357) | [Mayank Sanganeria](https://appshunter.io/developer/527550366) |

## What reviewers say

### FretMachine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fretmachine-guitar-sequencer/id6772944355)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Unlock | $4.99 | one-time |


### MIDI Memos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-memos-recorder-plus-player/id6774037073)

Quickly capture musical ideas with a single tap. Record MIDI from external keyboards or the built-in on-screen piano, then instantly share clean MIDI files to your favorite DAWs. It's a streamlined tool for songwriters and musicians.

**Highlights:** One-tap MIDI recording, On-screen piano keyboard, Background recording, Automatic take splitting, MIDI file sharing to DAWs, Take library with search and favorites, Adjustable tempo and metronome

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FretMachine free?

FretMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MIDI Memos free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FretMachine or MIDI Memos?

FretMachine and MIDI Memos are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do FretMachine or MIDI Memos have ads?

Neither FretMachine nor MIDI Memos shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FretMachine or MIDI Memos?

FretMachine ships an update daily, and MIDI Memos every 3 days. Most recently, FretMachine was updated on October 24, 2026 and MIDI Memos on October 25, 2026.

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