Synchestra vs Metronaut: a Metronaut alternative
Synchestra is a free app for Windows and Mac that plays the orchestra around you, with classical works sold one by one. Here is where it differs from Metronaut, and when Metronaut may suit you better.
Looking for an app like Metronaut?
Synchestra suits you if you
- are preparing one of the works in our shop;
- want every soloist and orchestral part, and the conductor score, in one purchase; for example, you can pick the Violino principale, or Violino I, or Violino II divisi b, or any of the four Horns;
- like to set the tempo yourself, section by section;
- practise on a Windows PC or a Mac.
Metronaut may suit you better if you
- want the orchestra to follow your tempo as you play: Metronaut says its app does. Ours is in development;
- practise on a tablet or a phone today: Metronaut runs on iOS and Android. Our iPad app is expected by December 2026 and our Android app by the first quarter of 2027;
- need a piece we don't have: Metronaut lists over 20,000 titles. Among those, by our count on 4 September 2026, 12 are complete classical concertos with full orchestra accompaniment. Tell us which work you need;
- prefer recordings of musicians: Metronaut's accompaniments are recordings. We build the orchestra from the score, so it plays in different tempi and the pitch stays.
Synchestra vs Metronaut
| Synchestra | Metronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| How it's made | Built part by part from the score, with virtual instruments | Recordings, piano or orchestra |
| Accompaniment | The full orchestra | Orchestra or piano |
| You pay | Once per work: the complete work or a movement | A subscription (prices by region) or a Lifetime plan; its App Store listing also has a "Piece" at €5.99 |
| Try first | Free app. All available works can be tried out, with some passages at a lower volume | 7-day trial (annual plan) |
| Mute one instrument | Any individual instrument, down to the divisi | Only the solo instrument |
| Left and right hand, pedal | You can practise the left hand, the right hand and the (organ) pedal separately | Left or right hand on supported piano pieces (App Store text) |
| Conductor score | With every work, in the same purchase | No |
| Play an orchestral part | Every part | No |
| Display on several screens at once | Yes, for example the conductor score on one screen and your part on another | No |
| Responsive scores | Conductor scores in 3 or 4 responsive sizes, instrument parts in 6 responsive sizes | No |
| Tempo | You set it per section or per loop, or live, with a touch screen or a MIDI controller | Tempo control |
| Follows the player | In development | By its own account: "Interpret (AI Tempo)" |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac; iPhone, iPad and Android on the way | iOS, Android, macOS, web |
| Catalogue | Classical works with orchestra, added one at a time | Over 20,000 titles (App Store text). 12 full concertos (checked 4 September 2026) |
Questions
Is Synchestra a Metronaut alternative?
For the works in our shop, yes. You buy the complete work once, with every part and the conductor score, and play it in our app for Windows or Mac. Metronaut is ahead on devices and on range: by our count on 4 September 2026 it has 12 complete concertos with orchestra accompaniment, and it runs on iOS, Android, macOS and the web, with recordings of musicians. It can mute only the solo instrument. For the Bach Double, its versions of the first movement are listed with piano accompaniment (read 2 November 2026), while ours has the full orchestra.
Does Synchestra follow my tempo as I play?
Tempo following is in development. Today you set the tempo yourself, for the whole work or section by section, or change it live with a MIDI controller. Metronaut says its Interpret (AI Tempo) mode follows the player now.
Can I use Synchestra on an iPad?
Windows and Mac today. An iPad app is on the way and expected by December 2026. Android is expected by the first quarter of 2027. If you need a tablet now, Tomplay, Metronaut, Cadenza and G-Phil list iPad apps.
Is the orchestra a recording?
We build each orchestra part by part from the score, with virtual instruments, so you can mute any one of them. Metronaut uses recordings of musicians.
Error on this page?
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