Chronal
What Chronal is
Chronal is a free Android metronome and tuner for beginner and advanced musicians. Its timing tools include beat and subdivision visualization, tap tempo, custom time signatures, and a notation editor for building rhythms. Two synchronized metronomes can play polyrhythms, and conductor mode combines the metronome with the tuner. The app includes seven sound packs and can play audio files at custom tempos. A fullscreen display uses large visuals designed to be seen from a distance.
For tuning, Chronal supports transposition for any instrument and custom frequencies. It can detect BPM in real time through the microphone, provides an A4 reference tone, and lets users set a custom A4 frequency. Chronal is ad-free and open source under the Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal license, with funding from donations. It is available through F-Droid and Google Play, and its source code is published on GitHub. The F-Droid version requires Android 6.0 or newer and lists microphone access while the app is in use.
Who it suits
Chronal suits musicians who want timing and tuning tools in one Android app, from basic beat visualization to custom rhythms and polyrhythms. Its instrument transposition, custom tuning frequencies, and real-time microphone BPM detection also serve musicians with specific tuning or tempo needs.
What it does well
- Combines a metronome and tuner in one app.
- Supports custom rhythms, time signatures, and polyrhythms.
- Includes seven sound packs and custom-tempo audio playback.
- Offers fullscreen visuals designed to be seen from a distance.
- Open source, ad-free, and funded by donations.
What to know first
- Available on Android only.
- F-Droid version requires Android 6.0 or newer.
- Installing the F-Droid APK directly does not provide update notifications.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chronal | Free app; ad-free; donation-funded | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Choose F-Droid or Google Play to get Chronal.
- On F-Droid, use its client if you want update notifications.
- Install the app on Android 6.0 or newer when using the F-Droid version.
- Open the app and use the metronome, tuner, or conductor mode.
Verdict
Choose Chronal if you want a free Android app with detailed rhythm controls, instrument tuning, and microphone BPM detection. It is a fit for beginners and advanced musicians alike. Look elsewhere if you need a platform other than Android.
Questions
How much does Chronal cost?
The listed Chronal plan is free. The app is funded by donations.
Which platforms support Chronal?
Chronal is available for Android through F-Droid and Google Play. The F-Droid version requires Android 6.0 or newer.
Is Chronal open source?
Yes. Its source code is published on GitHub, and the F-Droid listing identifies its license as Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal.
Does Chronal have ads?
No. Chronal is ad-free and funded by donations.
Does Chronal use the microphone?
It can detect BPM in real time through the microphone. F-Droid lists audio recording permission and says the app can use the microphone while it is in use.
Where can I get Chronal?
It is available through F-Droid and Google Play, with source code on GitHub.
Facts from Chronal's own pages
- Ads and funding
- The app listing says Chronal is ad-free, open-source, and funded solely by donations. · f-droid.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Android support
- The listed F-Droid version requires Android 6.0 or newer and provides builds for arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, x86, and x86_64. · f-droid.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The maker describes Chronal as built for beginner and advanced musicians. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Audio playback
- Users can play audio files at custom tempos. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Availability
- Chronal is available through F-Droid and Google Play, and the maker publishes source code on GitHub. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Beat visualization
- The metronome includes beat visualization. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- BPM detection
- The tuner provides real-time BPM detection from the microphone. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Conductor mode
- Conductor mode combines the metronome and tuner. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Custom rhythms
- A notation editor lets users create custom rhythms. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution caveat
- F-Droid notes that directly installing its APK will not provide update notifications and recommends installing its client instead. · f-droid.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Fullscreen display
- A fullscreen mode provides large visuals intended to be visible from a distance. · f-droid.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The product pages opened list no third-party integrations. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The F-Droid listing identifies the app license as Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal. · f-droid.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Maker profile
- The GitHub maker profile lists New Hampshire. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Microphone permission
- F-Droid lists audio recording permission and says the app can use the microphone while it is in use. · f-droid.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Polyrhythms
- It supports two synchronized metronomes for polyrhythms. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Pricing
- The product pages opened do not state a price or subscription plan. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy disclosure
- Google Play reports that the developer declares no data collected and no data shared with third parties. · play.google.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Product
- Chronal is a metronome and tuner app for Android made for beginner and advanced musicians. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Reference tone
- The app provides an A4 reference tone and custom A4 frequencies. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Rhythm tools
- It offers a notation editor, synchronized metronomes for polyrhythms, beat and subdivision visualization, and conductor mode. · f-droid.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Sound packs
- The app includes seven custom sound packs. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The opened product pages provide no stated customer support channel. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Tempo detection
- It can detect the tempo of percussion patterns using the microphone in real time. · f-droid.org, 7 Oct 2026
Where Chronal stands on Freedom251
- Metronome Apps#6 of 26