Let’s say you need to tune a guitar.
Alright, that seems rather simple.
But what if you’re jsut starting out with a guitar and still can’t hear some notes?
What if you’re at a party and don’t have a tuner on you?
That’s why sometimes an app is a lifesaver. In this article, we will list some of the best guitar tuner apps for both iOS and Android.
The Comparison Table
To help you better understand how all of these apps are different from each other, we hvae put them into an easy-to-read table. Here you can see the major characteristics of said apps; for more detailed reviews, read the article below.
| App | Platform | Price | Instruments |
| Guitar Tuna | iOS/Android | Free with in-app pruchases | Guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo |
| Fender Tune | iOS/Android | Free with in-app pruchases | Guitar, bass |
| BOSS Tuner | iOS/Android | Free | Guitar, bass, violin, cello, brass |
| Pitched Tuner | iOS/Android | Free with in-app purchases | Guitar, ukulele, violin, mandolin, flute |
| Pano Tuner | iOS/Android | Free | Guitar, bass |
GuitarTuna
Platform
Price
Free. Offers in-app purchases.
Features
GuitarTuna is a free application that does what you expect from it: you pluck a note, it tells you what note it is. It offers an auto-tuning mode for beginners: while tuning, the app will signal when the note is in the right pitch. Manual mode, on the other hand, leaves control to the user.
GuitarTuna can help you tune a variety of string instruments like bass, ukulele, and banjo. Apart from tuning, the app has a cord library and gamified guitar lessons. But keep in mind you will have to buy the full version of the app to get lessons.
Fender Tune
Platform
Price
Free. Offers in-app purchases.
Features
Fender Tune has four tuning modes:
Auto — the app guides you during the tuning process;
Manual — you tap on the string on the app to hear the note, then tune your guitar to make sure you hit it;
Chromatic — the tuner can recognize 12 chromatic steps of the equal-tempered scale.
Most other tuners offer only standard tuning, while this one packs 26 tunings presets like standard (EADGBE), Open D, Drop C, Open G, and Drop D. In addition to that, the app allows you to create your own presets and have them saved on your account.
BOSS Tuner
Platform
Price
Free
Features
Boss tuner is a predominantly chromatic guitar tuner.
The interface of the application resembles the front panel of the best-selling BOSS tuners: TU-3 / TU-3W. The app can be used to tune instruments like guitar, bass, violin, cello, brass.
The app also has a newsfeed where the user can learn the latest BOSS news.
Pitched Tuner
Platform
Price
Free. Offers in-app purchases.
Features
The application works great for a wide range of instruments: ukulele, violin, mandolin, flute, and guitars. You can even use it to practice singing notes. The interface is quite minimalistic and easy to understand for non-tech-savvy users.
There are two tuning modes:
- Instrument tuner — you choose the tuning, and the app shows you the target notes, which you play. The app listens to the notes and notifies you if you are in tune.
- Chromatic tuner — the app shows you a note you play. You have to manually tune the instruments to the notes you need.
Pano Tuner
Platform
Price
Free
Features
Pano Tuner is a completely chromatic tuner with a straightforward design and skeuomorphic feel to it. So, you play a note and see what it is on the smartphone screen.
Apart from standard tuning, the application offers several others like Pythagorean, Just intonation, 1/4-comma meantone, and so on. Also, the tuner allows for sensitivity adjustments for more accurate tuning.
How to Choose the Best Guitar Tuner App
Best mobile guitar tuner apps can differ in terms of their design, primary and additional features. Most of those applications require a payment to unlock all of their features, so it is important to make sure that the app has everything you need before you pay for it.
Here’s what you need to look for when choosing the best guitar tuner app for ios or android:
Platform. It is as simple as it gets — you have to make sure that the app supports your particular device.
Price. The best paid guitar tuner app is not always better than the best free guitar tuner app. Compare the offering from different developers and always stack up the price against the number of features the particular tuner has.
Tuning. Depending on the instrument you play, the tuner of your choice must be able to tune it. You might be looking for the best electric guitar tuner app, but what if you switch to the ukulele from time to time? The variety here is key. Also, check it against the regular guitar tuner to see if it’s accurate and sensitive enough. See what tuning presets the app has, so you would be able to tune the instrument down correctly.
Additional features. Those are mostly nice-to-haves, but you might get a ton of benefit from them. For instance, the included metronome is nice when you pay for the world’s best guitar tuner app and want it to have a lot of features. Some even may have chord libraries for you to learn.
Conclusion
Here you have them — some of the best guitar tuner apps on iOS and Android.
Pretty much every tuner app can do its jobs well these days. Most of them also are cross-platform, meaning there are two versions of the app for two major mobile OSs.
So, the choice here comes down to the number of features you want: if you are looking for something like a swiss-army knife — GuitarTuna is your best option.
On the other hand, if a minimalistic approach is your thing and you just need a simple tuner — something like Pano Tuner will work great for you.
FAQ
Will I be able to tune a guitar in a noisy room?
Absolutely, the app does a great job at blocking the background noise.
What tuning range does it have?
The range here is A=420Hz to A=460Hz.
Can I use the app horizontally?
Yes, the app does support landscape mode.
What if the app doesn’t have the tuning I need?
You can email the developer of the app and request a specific tuning.
Does it have a built-in metronome?
No, the app only allows for tuning instruments.
