Comparison

Chords Genius vs maxChord

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

Head to head
About

Chords Genius

Identify chords by entering their notes and discover close matches. This tool offers chord sequences, scales, and a calculator to find notes within a chord. Hear chords and scales, with VoiceOver support for accessibility.

Highlights
  • Chord identification by note entry
  • Close matching chord alternatives
  • Chord sequence suggestions
  • Chord calculator
  • Scale suggestions
  • Audio playback for chords and scales
  • VoiceOver support
Features
Read full description

What is that chord? Enter the notes in any order and find out what the chord is and any close matching chords. A complete tool for songwriters / musicians. FEATURES Keyboard & guitar interface for easy note entry. * Get close matching chord alternatives. * Offers a variety of chord sequences that go with your chosen chord. * Includes Chord Calculator; enter the name of a chord (e.g. Fm9) and see what notes it comprises. * Get all possible scales that work with your chord. * Hear each chord and scales. * VoiceOver supported.

About

maxChord

Read full description

Chords under your thumb. maxChord turns chord progressions into something you play with one hand. The pads are laid out in whatever key you choose, so everything you touch is already in tune. Tap one to play it. Hold it and drag, and the chord morphs — sevenths, sus, diminished, extensions — each one a direction rather than a menu. Common notes keep ringing while the rest move, so a progression bends instead of jumping. Then build the song. PLAY • Eight chord pads, in key, labelled with roman numerals • Drag any pad in eight directions to morph it live • Chord Lock keeps a variation as the pad's new resting chord • Inversions, slash chords, and automatic voice leading • Three modes: Chords, Arpeggiator, and Lead SEQUENCE • Multi-track sequencer built from chord tiles, not a note grid • Split, resize, and drag tiles to build rhythm by feel • Sixteen patterns, chained into sections to arrange a whole song • Per-track instrument, octave, volume, arpeggiator rate, and effects • Record from the pads or from a MIDI controller in real time SOUND • Sampled instruments: grand piano, upright, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, vibraphone, harp, strings, brass, nylon guitar, church organ, and choir • A fifteen-voice analogue synth bank with real filter envelopes and oscillator detune • Eight effects — drive, filter, chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, delay, reverb — per track and across the whole mix, each swept with a single thumb CONNECT • MIDI in and out, including per-track output • Clock sync in both directions • Play maxChord from a controller, or drive Logic, Ableton, or GarageBand from it maxChord has no account, no ads, and no analytics. It does not collect your data, and it works entirely offline. Your songs live on your device and can be exported to a single file whenever you want them somewhere else. Made for people who hear the chord before they can name it. — maxChord Pro unlocks everything after a 3-day free trial: €1.99/month, €9.99/year, or €22.99 once for lifetime access. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends, and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://maximumschmidt.github.io/maxchord-site/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chords Genius4 screens
maxChord4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Chords Genius at every 3 days against maxChord's every 10 days. Chords Genius also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Chords Genius sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and maxChord sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chords Genius ships an update every 3 days, maxChord every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Chords Genius versus maxChord: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChords GeniusmaxChord
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS9.3 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB317 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFelix MoodMaximilian Schmidt

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Chords Genius

One-time1
  • Upgrade$1.99
3 purchases

maxChord

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is Chords Genius free?
Chords Genius is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is maxChord free?
maxChord is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chords Genius or maxChord have ads?
Neither Chords Genius nor maxChord shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chords Genius or maxChord?
Chords Genius ships an update every 3 days, and maxChord every 10 days. Most recently, Chords Genius was updated on October 26, 2026 and maxChord on October 12, 2026.

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