Synchestra vs Tomplay: a Tomplay 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 Tomplay, and when Tomplay may suit you better.
Looking for an app like Tomplay?
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.
Tomplay may suit you better if you
- practise on a tablet or a phone today: Tomplay runs on iPad, Android tablets and iPhone. 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: Tomplay lists over 100,000 scores. Among those, by our count on 4 September 2026, about 95 are complete classical concertos with full orchestra accompaniment. Tell us which work you need;
- prefer recordings of musicians: Tomplay's accompaniments are recordings. We build the orchestra from the score, so it plays in different tempi and the pitch stays;
- need only your own solo instrument's part.
Synchestra vs Tomplay
| Synchestra | Tomplay | |
|---|---|---|
| How it's made | Built part by part from the score, with virtual instruments | Recordings |
| Accompaniment | The full orchestra | Orchestra or piano |
| You pay | Once per work: the complete work or a movement | Per movement and instrument (typically €2.99 to €9.99), or €19.99 a month, €149.99 a year on its website |
| Try first | Free app. All available works can be tried out, with some passages at a lower volume | A preview of about a minute on work pages, without an account; 14-day trial (annual plan) |
| Mute one instrument | Any individual instrument, down to the divisi | On a few "Multitrack" listings only, for a limited set of instruments |
| Left and right hand, pedal | You can practise the left hand, the right hand and the (organ) pedal separately | Separate hands, by its own pages |
| Conductor score | With every work, in the same purchase | A few works have orchestral scores |
| Play an orchestral part | Every part | In a few ensemble editions |
| 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 slider, loops |
| Follows the player | In development | No |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac; iPhone, iPad and Android on the way | Windows PC, Mac, iPad, Android tablet, iPhone |
| Catalogue | Classical works with orchestra, added one at a time | Over 100,000 scores, all genres. About 95 full concertos (checked 4 September 2026) |
Questions
Is Synchestra a Tomplay 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. Tomplay is ahead on devices and on range: by our count on 4 September 2026 it has about 95 complete concertos with orchestra accompaniment, and it runs on PC, Mac, iPad, Android tablets and iPhone, with recordings of musicians.
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. Tomplay uses recordings of musicians.
Is Tomplay worth it for concertos?
It can be, especially if you play on a tablet or want recorded musicians. Tomplay sells the Bach Double by movement and by solo part, so one solo part costs less there (prices read on 2 November 2026). It also offers a subscription by the month or the year. With Synchestra, one purchase of the complete work gives you every part and the conductor score, with no subscription.
Error on this page?
If you believe some factual data on this page are not correct, please use our contact form, and we'll review your input immediately. Thank you!
