Comparison

PolyPhase vs ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer

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

Head to head
About

PolyPhase

Create complex, interwoven melodies and rhythms with a generative sequencer. Control note generation, randomize sequences, and integrate with external MIDI hardware or the included wavetable synthesizer. Save and recall your creations with presets and snapshots.

Highlights
  • Generative melody creation with phase offsets
  • 8 independent sequencers with customizable properties
  • Draw own notes or use intelligent randomization
  • Wavetable synthesizer with FX
  • MIDI output and input support
  • Global Key/Scale filtering and Chord Masks
  • Save/Load presets and Snapshots
Read full description

PolyPhase is a generative sequencer! Melodies on a Master Track are created on the fly & copied, with phase offsets, to Follower Tracks. This structure, along with the interplay of various probabilities, leads to interwoven melodies and rhythms. You can disable the generation of notes & draw your own, or select some of the randomization functions Send MIDI to external hardware, other iOS instruments, or use the included wavetable synthesizer! - 8 independent Sequencers with their own rate, direction, transposition & other properties - Disable the generation of notes to draw your own, or use some of the intelligent functions provided - Random Euclid & Drum Sequences - The Wavetable Synth + FX lets you use PolyPhase even if you don't own any external Instruments - Filter notes to a Global Key / Scale and toggle Chord Masks - Save / Load Presets - Snapshots for install recall of your Sequences - Intelligently Randomize and Morph your Sequences & Synth sounds - Accepts external MIDI clock & can provide clock to other devices - Audiobus (Audio / State) & Inter-App Audio support - Link Support

About

ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer

Quickly create complex chord progressions with a powerful music theory engine. Explore scales, borrow chords, and customize chord details in real-time. Supports multiple patterns and MIDI control for advanced music production.

Highlights
  • Chord progression creation
  • Music theory engine
  • Scale exploration
  • Modal interchange (borrowing chords)
  • Customizable chord modifications
  • Multi-pattern support
  • Real-time editing
Features
Read full description

ChordBud 2 is a MIDI chord sequencer for building unique chord progressions in minutes. Under the hood is a powerful music theory engine with over 40 scales. Select the scales to work with and see them laid out top to bottom on one screen, with the chords inside each scale running left to right, compare scales side by side, or borrow chords from one another through modal interchange. By default, every chord inside the current scale and key is presented at once, and the key can be changed anytime. The settings menu also offers chord progressions to work within, showing only the chords that belong to the selected progression. Build as many patterns as needed, each with its own key, scale, and chord progression. Long-press a pattern to copy, paste, or delete it, with full undo/redo backing every edit so experimentation stays risk-free. Patterns can be triggered via MIDI CC messages, enabling automation or a full song mode. Triads are just the starting point — chords can be extended with add/sus/6/7/9/11/13 and more modifiers. Tap any chord on the timeline to open the chord editor and adjust its mode, velocity, octave, inversion, key, or division. Edits apply live while the sequencer plays, so changes are audible immediately. On the timeline, chords can be repositioned by dragging, or resized by dragging their right edge. Pinch to zoom in or out, or zoom in further to work precisely within subdivisions. Standalone, ChordBud 2 includes a built-in piano sampler for instant playback with zero setup, alongside MIDI, virtual MIDI, and Bluetooth MIDI connectivity for hardware and software instruments. An AUv3 plugin version is also available, dropping straight into any DAW to drive instrument tracks from inside a session. Note: ChordBud 2 AUv3 plugin is a MIDI sequencer app. It does not produce sound itself. You need an audio app in order to get sound. Just route ChordBud 2's MIDI Out to your audio app's MIDI in and arm the sequencer.

Screenshots

ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer at $5.99 against PolyPhase's $19.99. ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). PolyPhase's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.1) and review sentiment (76% vs 44%). On ratings volume, 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

PolyPhase costs $19.99 and ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PolyPhase holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of PolyPhase's written reviews are positive against 44% of ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PolyPhase ships an update every 3 weeks, ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
PolyPhase versus ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolyPhaseChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer
Price$19.99$5.99 — better
Rating4.6 (26 ratings) — better3.1 (24 ratings)
Positive reviews76.2% of reviews — better44.1% of reviews
Number of ratings26 — better24
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS10.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcos KohlerCem Olcay

Customer experience

PolyPhase

All ratings26 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral14.3%
Negative9.5%

ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer

All ratings24 ratings
Positive37.5%
Neutral20.8%
Negative41.7%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive44.1%
Neutral23.5%
Negative32.4%

In-app purchases

None

PolyPhase

No in-app purchases

None

ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PolyPhase free?
PolyPhase costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer free?
ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PolyPhase or ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer?
PolyPhase is rated higher. PolyPhase averages 4.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer averages 3.1 from 24 ratings.
Do PolyPhase or ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer have ads?
Neither PolyPhase nor ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PolyPhase or ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer?
PolyPhase ships an update every 3 weeks, and ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer weekly. Most recently, PolyPhase was updated on October 24, 2026 and ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer on October 18, 2026.

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