Comparison

FretMachine vs Laser Harp

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

Head to head
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.

About

Laser Harp

Features
Read full description

Turn your screen into a stage of living light. Laser Harp is a touch instrument you actually play - drag your fingers across glowing laser beams and music pours out. In Scale Mode there are no wrong notes. Pick a key, choose a sound, and every swipe sounds intentional. Beginners make beautiful music in seconds; players go deep with real expression. PLAY THE LIGHT • Drag, tap and glide across volumetric laser beams • Scale, Chord, Arpeggio, Split and Dual-Layer play modes • Per-finger expression; pitch bend, vibrato, brightness and volume follow how you move • 13 scales, including Middle-Eastern makam A REAL SOUND ENGINE • 50+ handcrafted instruments: leads, pads, plucks, bells, basses, FX and more • Low-latency synthesis; supersaw, FM, wavetable, filters, reverb, delay, chorus • Stack two instruments, or split bass and lead across the stage BUILT-IN RHYTHM • Analog drum machine with hundreds of grooves • 50+ ready-to-play drum performances across every genre • Lock your tempo and jam RECORD THE SHOW • Record a performance; replay re-stages both the sound AND the light • Export your take as audio and share it A STAGE THAT TRANSFORMS • Themes shift color, fog, glow and sound together • Tune the laser rig: beam count, fan perspective, thickness, glow and haze COMFORT & ACCESSIBILITY • Reduced Flash and a strobe-safety limit for photosensitive players • High contrast, color-blind-safe palette, night-soft mode, larger controls, left-handed layout LASER HARP PRO Unlock everything with a single one-time purchase: remove ads and open every theme, sound and creator tool; yours forever, no subscription. Touch the light. Make it sing.

Screenshots

FretMachine4 screens
Laser Harp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: FretMachine at none against Laser Harp's shown. 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. FretMachine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Laser Harp sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
FretMachine versus Laser Harp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFretMachineLaser Harp
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size227 MB48 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperKyuhwa ChoiAlper Kahriman

In-app purchases

1 purchases

FretMachine

One-time1
  • Pro Unlock$9.99
1 purchases

Laser Harp

One-time1
  • Laser Harp Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is FretMachine free?
FretMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Laser Harp free?
Laser Harp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FretMachine or Laser Harp have ads?
Laser Harp shows ads; FretMachine does not.

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