MagicBPM vs True Metronome

MagicBPM listens through a microphone to measure music tempo in real time, with a metronome and song identification. Its BPM readout updates as music plays and shows a confidence indicator as the reading settles; a scrolling tempogram displays tempo changes over time. The metronome supports up to 300 BPM, eight time signatures, accented downbeats, and eighth-note, triplet and sixteenth-note subdivisions. It can listen while music plays aloud from services including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Deezer. Tempo analysis runs on-device, and microphone audio is not recorded or uploaded. Song identification sends an acoustic fingerprint to Apple’s Shazam service, requires internet access, and is disabled on CarPlay and Bluetooth hands-free routes. The app does not import audio files: users measure microphone-captured sound or tap the beat. Apps are listed for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android, with an Apple Watch metronome. The core app is free; iPhone and Android versions show ads, while the Mac app is ad-free.

True Metronome is a metronome app for musicians, with a pendulum display, Italian tempo markings, and natural reverb sound. It supports tempos from 20 to 400 BPM, custom time signatures, and subdivision control. Its frame-accurate audio engine is designed for precise timing, while practice tracking displays daily, weekly, and monthly progress. Beat Detection uses a microphone to identify tempo from an audio source in real time. The maker says this processing happens on the device and audio is never recorded, stored, or transmitted. The web version works in modern browsers without a download and includes tap tempo and pendulum animation. The free version requires no account and has no ads during practice, but free users can use Tap Tempo up to five times per day. Free includes two skins and one bell accent. True Metronome Pro costs 9.99 USD once and adds unlimited Tap Tempo, a Tempo Trainer, live tempo detection, presets, more subdivision patterns, and other features. A special skin costs 0.99 USD once. The app is available on Android, iOS, macOS, and web.