Comparison

Banjo Chords Compass vs ChordAid

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Banjo Chords Compass

This comprehensive banjo chord library offers over 24,000 professional-quality chord tabs for both 4-string and 5-string banjos. It supports various tunings, includes authentic chord sounds, and features a left-handed mode for all skill levels.

Highlights
  • 24,000+ chord tabs
  • Supports 4 and 5-string banjos
  • Authentic banjo chord sounds
  • 56 chord types
  • Multiple common tunings
  • Left-handed player mode
Features
Read full description

Whether you're a beginner or a professional, Banjo Chords Compass is your complete banjo chord library. Master banjo chords instantly with the most comprehensive chord reference app available. Banjo Chords Compass delivers over 24,000 professional-quality chord tabs across all 17 fretboard positions for both 4-string and 5-string banjos. Key Features: + Access over 24,000 chord tabs in all fretboard positions + Supports both 5-string and 4-string banjos + Play and hear authentic banjo chord sounds + Includes 56 chord types: Maj, Min, Dim, Aug, Sus2, Sus4, 5, and more + Supports many common tunings: Open G, Standard C, Open D, Old-Time D, and others + Left-handed player mode available + Volume control for customized practice + High-resolution Retina graphics for exceptional clarity Built for: + Beginners who want to learn chords quickly + Intermediate players expanding their chord knowledge + Advanced musicians composing, recording, or teaching + Anyone looking for a reliable, pro-level banjo reference tool Why Choose Banjo Chords Compass: + One-time purchase - no subscriptions or recurring fees + Buy once! Use forever! Across all your Apple devices— iPhone, iPad and Mac! + Instant offline access to your complete chord library + Professional-grade tool used by teachers Transform and elevate your banjo playing today! Get Banjo Chords Compass and unlock every chord you'll ever need!

About

ChordAid

This app serves as a comprehensive chord reference and finder for various stringed instruments. It supports numerous tunings and chord types, allowing users to compare, practice, and customize chord shapes. Features include a reverse chord finder and the ability to translate chords between instruments.

Highlights
  • Chord reference and finder
  • Supports standard and alternate tunings
  • Over 45 chord types including slash chords
  • Adjustable chord shape complexity
  • Reverse chord finder mode
  • Translate chords between instruments
  • Favorite chord marking
Features
Read full description

Chord reference and chord finder for guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, mandolin and bouzouki. Supports standard and alternate tunings and includes more than forty-five chord types: both simple and complicated ones used in jazz music, including slash chords. You can display, compare and practice several different chords at once. They may be the chords of a song or different variations of the same chord. You can adjust the complexity of the chord shapes shown according to your skill. In addition to the usual chord shapes, ChordAid lets you choose among more difficult chord shapes with two barres and big stretching between fingers. Several strumming options or finger-picking style are available. Supports left handed players. You can translate chords from one instrument to another. You can mark individual chord shapes as favorites. Then you can switch to a display mode that shows you favorite shapes only. In this way you can build a chord library of your own. In a "Reverse Chord Finder" mode, you can select a few notes on the fretboard and the app will show you the names of the chords that match. You can then add the chord to the chord list and the app will show other fingerings. Here is a list of the currently supported instruments and tunings: • Guitar 6 strings - Standard - Open C, D, G, A, B, E, C#, D minor, G minor - Modal D, G - Drop C, D, B - Tenor (Mandola) • Bass guitar 4 strings - Standard - Drop C, D • Bass guitar 5 strings - Standard - Tenor • Ukulele - Concert, Concert low G - D - Canadian - Baritone - Bass • Mandolin - Standard - Mandola • Bouzouki - Three, four courses - Irish - Octave mandolin - Open D, G • Guitalele • Banjo 5 strings - Open G, D, A - Drop C, Double C, Old time D, Sawmill • Banjo 4 strings - Standard(CGDA), Celtic, Chicago, Plectrum • Waldzither Please visit our support page if you have questions about using the application or if you have any issues. Drop us a line if you do not see your favourite feature or if you have suggestions for improvement. Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook to get notified for new releases and updates. http://emsi.eu/chord-aid https://www.facebook.com/chordaid https://twitter.com/altichord Happy playing!

Screenshots

Banjo Chords Compass4 screens
ChordAid4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ChordAid at Free against Banjo Chords Compass's $4.99. ChordAid also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 64 months). Banjo Chords Compass's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

ChordAid is free to download; Banjo Chords Compass costs $4.99 up front. ChordAid sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Banjo Chords Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChordAid holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 66 and 282 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Banjo Chords Compass's written reviews are positive against 49% of ChordAid's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Banjo Chords Compass ships an update every 64 months, ChordAid every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Banjo Chords Compass versus ChordAid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBanjo Chords CompassChordAid
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (66 ratings)4.5 (282 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.1% of reviews48.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings66282 — better
Update frequencyEvery 64 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.010.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB76 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMax SchleeEMSI SOFT

Customer experience

Banjo Chords Compass

All ratings66 ratings
Positive63.6%
Neutral7.6%
Negative28.8%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive21.1%
Neutral5.3%
Negative73.7%

ChordAid

All ratings270 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral4.4%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive48.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative48.6%

Bugs and requests

Banjo Chords Compass

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

ChordAid

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Total fail on SMS confirmation
  • Chords disappear after a couple of days
  • Tutorial not working
  • Cannot get it to display any chords

Requested features

10 requests
  • Flow view or print out for favorited chords
  • Make chords flow down like responsive web
  • Add finger numbers
  • Add slash chords
  • Add support for banjo
Show 5 more
  • Display chord progressions
  • Display power chords
  • Add YouTube additions
  • Add more advanced features for beginners
  • Improve tutorial

In-app purchases

None

Banjo Chords Compass

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

ChordAid

One-time3
  • All Chords$4.99
  • All Tunings$4.99
  • All Chords and Tunings$7.99

Questions

Is Banjo Chords Compass free?
Banjo Chords Compass costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChordAid free?
ChordAid is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Banjo Chords Compass or ChordAid?
ChordAid is rated higher. Banjo Chords Compass averages 3.7 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while ChordAid averages 4.5 from 282 ratings.
Do Banjo Chords Compass or ChordAid have ads?
Neither Banjo Chords Compass nor ChordAid shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Banjo Chords Compass or ChordAid?
Banjo Chords Compass ships an update every 64 months, and ChordAid every 3 weeks. Most recently, Banjo Chords Compass was updated on October 21, 2026 and ChordAid on October 24, 2026.

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