Chord Calculus vs DroPilot Pentatonics
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chord Calculus
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.
- 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
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ChordCalculus is a tool for players of fretted instruments. ChordCalculus will allow the user to choose from a large number of pre-defined fretted instruments in a variety of tunings. Additionally, the user can define new instruments and/or tunings. Single or multiple capos can be added. The user then picks from one of four operating modes using the segmented selectors at the center top of the display: * (C)hord Calculator: Show all fingerings for chords for a given instrument/tuning, filters, capos, and fret span. * Chord (I)dentifer: For a given instrument/tuning and fingering, display all possible names for a chord * (S)cale Display: For an instrument/tuning, key and scale type, display the scale, and play a two-octave scale * (P)rogression Player: Derived from chord mode, display fingerings for a chord progression. Also plays chords in sequence. In all cases, the chords can be played as a chord or arpeggio and the scale played back. As of version 2.0, an instrument tuner is accessed by long touching the tuning button. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty5eI_DiXhk&t=20s for all the features
DroPilot Pentatonics
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DroPilot Pentatonics helps you master pentatonic and blues scales on guitar, with clear fretboard diagrams and tools built for real practice. Choose major pentatonic, minor pentatonic, major blues, minor blues, or dorian pentatonic. Pick a key, explore all 7 classic positions, and view notes, intervals, or color-coded shapes on the neck. Build chord progressions or use smart suggestions to see which scale fits each moment. Play the scale alone or over a progression with piano, bass, and drum backing. Includes count-in, loop, metronome, and tempo control. Also includes a tuner, pentatonic dictionary, left-handed mode, favorites with backup, and an in-app guide. Available in English and Spanish. DroPilot Pentatonics Pro unlocks advanced features with a one-time purchase. Part of the DroPilot family: Voicings, Arpeggios, Modes, and Pentatonics.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: DroPilot Pentatonics at Free against Chord Calculus's $2.99. DroPilot Pentatonics also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Chord Calculus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On 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
DroPilot Pentatonics is free to download; Chord Calculus costs $2.99 up front. DroPilot Pentatonics sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chord Calculus asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chord Calculus ships an update fortnightly, DroPilot Pentatonics every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chord Calculus | DroPilot Pentatonics |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 74 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Steven Pollack | Pablo Niveiro |
In-app purchases
Chord Calculus
No in-app purchases
DroPilot Pentatonics
- DroPilot Pentatonics Pro$4.99
Questions
Is Chord Calculus free?
Is DroPilot Pentatonics free?
Do Chord Calculus or DroPilot Pentatonics have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chord Calculus or DroPilot Pentatonics?
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