# Chord Calculus vs Performance Sampler

The clearest difference is price: Chord Calculus at $2.99 against Performance Sampler's $14.99. Chord Calculus also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). Performance Sampler's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Chord Calculus costs $2.99 and Performance Sampler $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Performance Sampler holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Chord Calculus's written reviews are positive against 100% of Performance Sampler's.

Chord Calculus ships an update fortnightly, Performance Sampler every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chord Calculus | Performance Sampler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $14.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chord-calculus/id1239631425/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/performance-sampler-samposium/id6475739371/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 64 MB | 411 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steven Pollack](https://appshunter.io/developer/1239631424) | [Joshua Totemwongse](https://appshunter.io/developer/1720078881) |

## What reviewers say

### Chord Calculus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chord-calculus/id1239631425)

This app helps musicians visualize and understand chords, scales, and progressions for various fretted instruments. It allows customization of instruments, tunings, and capos, and includes a tuner. Play chords, arpeggios, and scales.

**Highlights:** Chord calculator with fingering display, Chord identifier for unknown fingerings, Scale display and playback, Chord progression player, Custom instrument and tuning creation, Capo support, Instrument tuner

**In-app purchases:** none


### Performance Sampler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/performance-sampler-samposium/id6475739371)

Create malleable, performative sound with dynamic, real-time effects. This app offers a tactile approach to sample-based music creation with multi-touch gestures to sculpt audio. Explore new sounds, jam on the go, or perform live with a clean, fluid interface and robust sound-shaping tools.

**Highlights:** Real-time audio manipulation, Multi-touch gestures for sound sculpting, Customizable sample pads with FX chains, Parametric EQ and tuner per pad, Sequencer with up to 512 steps, Ableton Link integration, Resampling and mic/line in recording

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chord Calculus free?

Chord Calculus costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Performance Sampler free?

Performance Sampler costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chord Calculus or Performance Sampler?

Performance Sampler is rated higher. Chord Calculus averages 3.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Performance Sampler averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do Chord Calculus or Performance Sampler have ads?

Neither Chord Calculus nor Performance Sampler shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chord Calculus or Performance Sampler?

Chord Calculus ships an update fortnightly, and Performance Sampler every 2 months. Most recently, Chord Calculus was updated on November 2, 2026 and Performance Sampler on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*