Chord Calculus Lite vs Chordial
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chord Calculus Lite
This tool helps musicians of fretted instruments find chord fingerings, identify chords, display scales, and play progressions. It offers a limited selection of instruments and tunings, with the ability to add capos.
- Chord calculator
- Chord identifier
- Scale display
- Progression player
- Capo support
- Custom tunings
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Chord Calculus Lite is a limited version of Chord Calculus, 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 Lite version has a limited variety of instruments, and lacks the ability to save new instruments, progressions and configurations. Also, iCloud syncing between devices is disabled. The user 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. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty5eI_DiXhk&t=20s for all the features
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chordial at 100% against Chord Calculus Lite's 0%. Chordial also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0). Chord Calculus Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). 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
Both are free to download. Chordial sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Chord Calculus Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chordial holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Chord Calculus Lite's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chordial's.
Chord Calculus Lite ships an update every 2 weeks, Chordial every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chord Calculus Lite | Chordial |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Steven Pollack | Jim Haungs |
Customer experience
Chord Calculus Lite
Chordial
In-app purchases
Chord Calculus Lite
No in-app purchases
Chordial
- Free VersionFree
- Instruments$0.99
- Tunings$0.99
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- Scales$0.99
- Tip the Developer$0.99
- Combo Pack$1.99
- Editing - Pro Feature$4.99






