# FretMachine vs Orbeat

The clearest difference is monetization model: FretMachine at free against Orbeat's free with in-app purchases. FretMachine also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 6 days). Orbeat's advantage is ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FretMachine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Orbeat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for FretMachine against 5.0 for Orbeat. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orbeat has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

FretMachine ships an update daily, Orbeat every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on August 25, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FretMachine | Orbeat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fretmachine-guitar-sequencer/id6772944355/reviews) | [5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbeat-drum-machine/id6783843640/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **6** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 227 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kyuhwa Choi](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772944357) | [Chih Han Lin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1800248325) |

## 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 | $9.99 | one-time |


### Orbeat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbeat-drum-machine/id6783843640)

This music app offers a unique circular sequencer for beat creation, featuring four distinct drum kits and generative tools. It allows for advanced rhythmic manipulation and can be used as a standalone instrument or an AUv3 plugin. Unlock full features with a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Circular sequencer interface, Four unique drum kits, Generative rhythm patterns, Swing and velocity controls, Probability and polymeter, AUv3 plugin support, WAV export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Orbeat Pro | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FretMachine free?

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

### Is Orbeat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FretMachine or Orbeat?

FretMachine and Orbeat are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 6 ratings respectively.

### Do FretMachine or Orbeat have ads?

Neither FretMachine nor Orbeat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FretMachine or Orbeat?

FretMachine ships an update daily, and Orbeat every 6 days. Most recently, FretMachine was updated on August 25, 2026 and Orbeat on September 14, 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.*