# Chords Pad vs Chordio

The clearest difference is ads: Chordio at none against Chords Pad's shown. Chordio also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks). Chords Pad's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (77% vs 62%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chords Pad sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Chordio sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Chords Pad holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chords Pad has 96 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Chords Pad's written reviews are positive against 62% of Chordio's.

Chords Pad ships an update every 6 weeks, Chordio every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chords Pad | Chordio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (96 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chords-pad/id1462256877/reviews)** | [4.4 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chordio-compose-and-learn-music/id1580214821/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **96** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **77.4% of reviews** | 61.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 203 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Loop-Sessions.LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/414215366) | [One In A Billion Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/479881389) |

## What reviewers say

### Chords Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chords-pad/id1462256877)

Explore musical chords with an interactive keyboard display and customizable pads. Visualize chord tones, experiment with progressions, and play notes via MIDI. Unlock advanced features and sounds through in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Chord tone display on keyboard, Customizable chord pads, Chord progression builder, MIDI Bluetooth support, Multiple chord list layouts, Adjustable keyboard range

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All sounds are available | $0.99 | one-time |
| All chords are available | $2.49 | one-time |
| Always remove ads. | $7.99 | one-time |


### Chordio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chordio-compose-and-learn-music/id1580214821)

This app is a music composition and theory tool that helps musicians explore chords and scales interactively. It offers features for creating, storing, and rearranging chord progressions, along with integrated music theory lessons and practice tools. It's designed to spark creativity and enhance music learning for producers, composers, and educators.

**Highlights:** Chord progression generator, Custom chord creation and editing, Real-time MIDI input visualization, Scales and modes practice, Music theory lessons and quizzes, Sheet music practice tools, Chord Suggestion AI

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free Chord Pack | Free | one-time |
| Chord Progressions 251 No.1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Jazz Progressions 01 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Neo-Soul Progressions 01 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Neo-Soul Tunes 01 | $5.99 | one-time |
| RnB Chords No.1 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Classical Progressions 1 | $5.99 | one-time |
| II-V-I Progression | $5.99 | one-time |
| RnB Progressions 01 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Unlock App | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chords Pad free?

Chords Pad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chordio free?

Chordio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chords Pad or Chordio?

Chords Pad is rated higher. Chords Pad averages 4.9 out of 5 from 96 ratings, while Chordio averages 4.4 from 8 ratings.

### Do Chords Pad or Chordio have ads?

Chords Pad shows ads; Chordio does not.

### Which is updated more often, Chords Pad or Chordio?

Chords Pad ships an update every 6 weeks, and Chordio every 8 days. Most recently, Chords Pad was updated on November 3, 2026 and Chordio on November 3, 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.*