Comparison

Fretcetera vs Chordial

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

Head to head
About

Fretcetera

This app helps musicians find chords, scales, and progressions for string instruments in any tuning. It calculates optimal fingerings based on playability and user-defined preferences, and can generate chord transition suggestions.

Highlights
  • Chord and scale finder
  • Custom tuning support
  • Playability-based results
  • Progression builder
  • Chord transition suggestions
  • Instrument configuration
Features
Read full description

Fretcetera is musical calculator that uses algorithms to connect you to chords, scales and progressions on a variety of string instruments in any tuning! This is not just a chord book. Fretcetera computes every way to play chords or scales in any tuning, and returns the top results based on their playability. Fine-tune results by configuring your instrument exactly as you play it. Enter personal preferences and constraints. Select from common tunings or create your own! Build progressions to listen to chord transitions, and even get suggestions based on the chords you are playing!

About

Chordial

This app provides a comprehensive guide to musical scales and chord charts for various stringed instruments. It allows users to explore every possible chord and scale, with customizable instrument and tuning options. The application also offers a companion experience on Apple Watch.

Highlights
  • Chord and scale charts for guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, bass
  • Customizable instruments and tunings
  • Interactive fretboard with note playback
  • Right- and left-handed fretboard display
  • Editing mode for creating custom chords and scales
  • Apple Watch companion app
Features
Read full description

Chordial is a complete guide to scales and chord charts for guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele and bass guitar. Every possible chord can be displayed on every instrument, in any tuning.  Tap a note to show and play the chord or scale. The fretboard can display both right- and left-handed orientations. Use the Editing mode to create an unlimited number of instruments, tunings, chords, and scales. This app does not display "standard" chord charts; it computes the note positions based on the key, showing every possible place for each note. Use this information to decide where you want to play each chord or scale. The full application also runs on the Apple Watch, with all of the standard instruments, tunings, chords, and scales, but no editing mode. Swipe left or right across the frets to display or dismiss the menus.

Screenshots

Fretcetera4 screens
Chordial4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Fretcetera at free against Chordial's free with in-app purchases. Fretcetera also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Chordial's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 92%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Fretcetera sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Chordial sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chordial holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Fretcetera's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chordial's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Fretcetera versus Chordial: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFretceteraChordial
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (11 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews91.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoel PipherJim Haungs

Customer experience

Fretcetera

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral9.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative0.0%

Chordial

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Fretcetera

One-time1
  • Fretcetera Premium$3.99
7 purchases

Chordial

One-time7
  • Free VersionFree
  • Instruments$0.99
  • Tunings$0.99
Show 4 more
  • Scales$0.99
  • Tip the Developer$0.99
  • Combo Pack$1.99
  • Editing - Pro Feature$4.99

Questions

Is Fretcetera free?
Fretcetera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chordial free?
Chordial is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Fretcetera or Chordial?
Chordial is rated higher. Fretcetera averages 4.8 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Chordial averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Fretcetera or Chordial have ads?
Neither Fretcetera nor Chordial shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fretcetera or Chordial?
Fretcetera ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chordial every 3 weeks. Most recently, Fretcetera was updated on October 1, 2026 and Chordial on September 30, 2026.

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