Comparison

WretchUp vs FretMachine

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

Head to head
About

WretchUp

This app offers a unique audio manipulation experience, allowing users to create sonic mayhem with pitch-shifted delays, filters, and sampling. It's designed for live performance and studio use, enabling musicians and sound enthusiasts to generate wild noises and unique effects.

Highlights
  • Pitch-shifted delay with feedback and filter
  • Live performance-oriented controls
  • Gesture-based play
  • Record vocals and instruments
  • Sample and manipulate loops
  • Inter-App-Audio and Audiobus support
Features
Read full description

An effect instrument anyone can play - sonic anarchy in the palm of your hand. iOS Mars: "Barely controlled chaos“, "sonic extremes“, "well suited for live use“ Music App Blog: "if you like the occasional dose of sonic mayhem, then this is an app that will let you make it" WretchUp is the sonic instrument from the imagination of Mouse on Mars Instruments. Used by the duo in their live performances, it's a playable effect inspired by analog hardware. Sing into it, speak into it, plug in an instrument, sample sounds, and then make sonic mayhem. It's been tested in Mouse on Mars' live shows and used in studio albums. But now it's available to anyone - whether you're a musician wanting to create unique sounds or you just want to make some wild noises and frighten friends and enemies. // FEATURES - Pitch-shifted delay with feedback and filter - Unique controls, designed to be used in live performance and tested onstage - Play with gestures, even without looking closely at the screen - Record vocals or instruments from the built-in mic or another input - Sample loops and change their speed - Adjust the feedback loop, pitch, and filter for unique sounds - Make inputs by holding down your finger, or lock input for continuous sampling - Inter-App-Audio supported - Audiobus supported www.mouseonmars.com/mominstruments Features artwork by Rupert Smyth. Pure Data-based, open source patch created by Florian Grote and Peter Kirn with Mouse on Mars. App design by Oliver Greschke. Powered by free and open source software libpd. Note: like all mic-based effects, you need to enable microphone input. If you accidentally did not allow mic input, you can allow later via: Device settings, WretchUp, Data settings, Microphone, allow mic input.

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

WretchUp3 screens
FretMachine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: FretMachine at Free against WretchUp's $4.99. FretMachine also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.1) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). WretchUp's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (9 vs 1). On ads and device support 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

FretMachine is free to download; WretchUp costs $4.99 up front. FretMachine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. WretchUp asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FretMachine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WretchUp has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WretchUp ships an update every 3 weeks, FretMachine daily. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
WretchUp versus FretMachine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWretchUpFretMachine
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.1 (9 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB227 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMoMinstruments GbRKyuhwa Choi

Customer experience

WretchUp

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

FretMachine

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

In-app purchases

None

WretchUp

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

FretMachine

One-time1
  • Pro Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is WretchUp free?
WretchUp costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FretMachine free?
FretMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, WretchUp or FretMachine?
FretMachine is rated higher. WretchUp averages 3.1 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while FretMachine averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do WretchUp or FretMachine have ads?
Neither WretchUp nor FretMachine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WretchUp or FretMachine?
WretchUp ships an update every 3 weeks, and FretMachine daily. Most recently, WretchUp was updated on November 1, 2026 and FretMachine on November 5, 2026.

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