Picking the best metronome app can be a little difficult since the only way to test out an app is to buy it. Most only cost a few dollars, but that can add up pretty quickly given the number of apps that are available.
Earlier this week I asked which metronome apps you thought were the best, and you nominated 20 of your favorites. Based on the number of nominations I received, here are your top five:
Metronome Plus
Metronome Plus (iOS – $1.99) is a simple, elegant, and easy to use metronome app. It’s accurate and loud, includes a tapping feature to gauge tempo, and allows for some customization of meters and customizations. It also has multitasking capabilities, so you could read sheet music on your iPad, while keeping the metronome going in the background. But most of all, Metronome Plus is easy to use, and has a beautifully uncluttered interface. It’s about as intuitive and visually attractive a metronome app as you’ll find.
UPDATE (6.21.2019): The Metronome+ app is now part of a larger suite of practice tools (via in-app purchases), but the metronome functions are totally free.
Tempo/Tempo Advance
Tempo (iOS – $1.99 & Android – $.99) and its more full-featured sibling Tempo Advance (iOS only – $2.99) is another popular metronome app. Offers the usual range of features, from a variety of time signatures and compound meters to saving of custom rhythm presents and the ability to keep the metronome going even when your device is locked or running another app. The Advance version adds additional customization options and nice little touches like the ability to control the volume of the app independently of the phone’s volume.
Time Guru
Time Guru (iOS – $2.99 & Android – $1.99) is a unique metronome app developed by guitarist Avi Bortnick. It does all the things you’d expect a metronome to do, but it’s killer feature is that the app gives you the ability to selectively – or randomly – mute the sound. This can be very revealing, and let you know if you have a tendency to rush or drag. It could also help you develop a stronger internal sense of time, rather than becoming reliant on a continuous external beat.
Dr. Betotte
Dr. Betotte (iOS – $9.99) is the most expensive of the top five, and the most Dr. Beat-like of the bunch. Most musicians will probably never use half of what it’s capable of, but it does all sorts of weird funky rhythms and allows you to save all of these settings for future practice sessions (unlike apps like Polynome, which won’t save your settings). It also has a cool feature where you can program it to slowly increase the tempo over time, which can come in handy when you want to start working a tricky passage slowly, and gradually get it up to full speed without having to fiddle with the metronome settings in between reps.
Metronomics
Metronomics (iOS – $2.99) is not the most attractive metronome in the world, but it has a unique beat randomization feature (which looks and sounds cool, but I can’t for the life of me figure out how/why I’d use this – what am I missing here?). You can save your rhythm settings, and even send/receive them with other Metronomics-using friends. This app also has an “Independence” setting which allows you to mute the sound for a certain number of bars. This is similar to Time Guru’s random muting, just without the randomness.
The winner!
Metronome Plus was the resounding winner, with 79% of the votes.
Honorable mention goes to Polynome (iOS – $1.99), and Mobile Metronome (Android – free) also gets a nod.
Have something to say about one of the finalists? Want to make a case for your favorite, even if it didn’t make the top five? Make your case down below.
What's the Best Metronome App?
- Metronome Plus (79%, 41 Votes)
- Tempo/Tempo Advance (12%, 6 Votes)
- Time Guru (6%, 3 Votes)
- Dr. Betotte (4%, 2 Votes)
- Metronomics (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 52
Loading ...
92 Responses
Metron by Sintraworks is the best if you are working on a multimeter, lots of tempo changes. You can customize your score into it- including accels and rits. I find it amazing for learning challenging works. A life saver really. I own 4 or 5 metronome apps and it’s by far the one I use the most.
Thanks, Amy. It did look like a pretty polished app. Perhaps your comments will help get the word out!
Viziklik is a sound-optional visual metronome that you will never struggle to hear and that won’t bleed into quiet acoustic recordings.
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/viziklik/id566465306?mt=8
Cheers!
Gary
I just started using TimeGuru and am a big fan – thanks for running this poll! Do you have any plans to do a similar survey on the best tuners (or tuner apps)?
That’s a great idea – perhaps in a month or two?
How about android metronome’s? the best one I’ve found is Visual Metronome (MA APPS one as there is two) animating needle is a great reference for me.
Unfortunately this nomination misses the only metronome app which can produce perfect beats with zero latency – TrueMetronome. Check it out: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/truemetronome/id574204413
I use both Dr Betotte and Metronomics for different types of applied practicing. Dr Betotte is great for working with younger students to get them to start to subdivide beats, while the random-beat feature in Metronomics seems to make it easier for more advanced students to learn to internalize their time feel as opposed to relying on a constant, steady click.
Hi, I am looking at getting one for my yoga/breath workshop, to count breaths, any suggestions, please. Dont need anything fancy …thanks
I just found drummer’s metronome on the playstore. I tested almost every single metronome app from the store, but this beats em all!
check it out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.stefanpledl.drummersmetronome
I just found this new little gem. JEOS: Groove Metronome is good looking and has some cool features like drum patterns in different styles. All drum patterns can be played in any time signature. It also has shuffle and variable swing.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jeopeo.musiciansmetronome
Cool, thanks Daniel. I’ll check it out.
it doesn’t have an iOS version? How lame. It’s exactly what I need but isn’t available for me. How frustrating
Thanks Daniel.
I checked it out and actually does what I want from a metronome + it gives grooves instead of just a tic tac tac tac etc etc.
Since i play a lot of jazz the feature to adjust swingrate works perfect with the swingride.
First i had trouble setting the tempo but after working with it was actually pretty dynamic to use both the turning knob and the +/- buttons.
Maybe the colors could be better, though i like the white theme.
Good post! these apps are awesome and helpful. it will help a lot of student who will study musical instruments and develop their timing when reading a music sheets.
Great article! There are so many different metronome app options available, but I think the key is that you find a good one that suits your needs and then you have to use it! Don’t just let it sit on your phone unused!
Here is a free metronome app I helped develop (with Okunarium Labs)
Keep Time
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/keep-time/id574330593?mt=8
Hi!
As a fitness instructor, I’m looking for a metronome app that can “listen” to music and relay the tempo, or bpm. Do you know of any apps that have this feature?
Thanks a bunch!
-Dana
Hi Dana,
It sounds like you are looking for a “tap tempo” type function, where you tap the beat of the song, and the metronome tells you the bpm. There may be a free app that does this, but Metronome Plus has this feature, as well as Tempo, if I’m not mistaken.
I am looking for an android metronome that will pick up the tempo from music in the room and tell me what the meter is. So a member of the band can play a bit of a song and I can get the tempo from it. Any of those mentioned do that? Thanks.
Hi Matt,
I’m not aware of any metronome with this function (though that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist), but some do have a “tap” function, where the app will tell you the tempo if you tap along with the beat.
The one I know of is called “LiveBPM”.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.DanielBach.liveBPM&hl=en
I enjoy Metronomics quite a bit–I think of it as a cross between a metronome and a drum machine. The sounds are a bit cheesy, and the bass drum is nearly inaudible on my iPhone. However, hook up the phone or iPad to external speakers, and you have a programmable mini-drumbox.
Thanks for the article. I use Tempo Advance and I am happy with its functions. I am looking for a way to move to the next saved song in a playlist without having to touch the screen of my phone (so I can keep drumming).
Do any of these apps support remote (bluetooth) page turning devices such as AirTurn or PageFlip Cicada?
Thank you :]
That’s a great question, Simon. I don’t have the answer, but I suspect if anybody would know it’d be Hugh Sung, the founder of AirTurn.
Tempo does, so I would also assume Tempo Advance does.
Great article. Hi, if you are looking for an inexpensive, easy to use pace setter / metronome app for your fitness training or yoga workshops, please check out Runner Drummer on the App Store.
This iPhone app plays professionally recorded dance drum sounds (bass drum, high hat, snare drum and cowbell) on your iPhone with exceptionally accurate audible beat timing.
You only need to tap a tempo button for desired tempo in beats per minute (BPM) and start running.
This app makes it really simple and fun to keep desired cadence (walking, jogging or temporun).
Check out Runner Drummer –>
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/runner-drummer/id691110763?mt=8