Comparison

Aurora (MIDI Controller) vs Chord Borrower

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

Head to head
About

Aurora (MIDI Controller)

Transform space weather data into musical expression with this live MIDI controller. Connect to your DAW and map real-time electromagnetic readings to create unique soundscapes and dynamic tracks.

Highlights
  • Live data streaming from observatories
  • Flexible MIDI mapping
  • Connects to DAWs like Ableton Live
  • Cross-platform compatibility (iOS, macOS)
  • Creates ambient and techno music
Features
Read full description

Aurora is a live MIDI controller powered by real-time data from space weather observatories and satellites. Connect Aurora to your favorite DAW (like Ableton Live) and transform electromagnetic readings into musical expression. Features: • Live data streaming from NOAA and Dombås observatory • Flexible MIDI mapping for CC controls • Works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac Catalyst Whether you're crafting ambient soundscapes or building dynamic techno tracks, Aurora connects your music to the rhythms of the planet.

About

Chord Borrower

Features
Read full description

Chord Borrower — Modal Chord Progressions Borrow chords from any mode. Build progressions that sound nothing like everyone else's. Chord Borrower turns your phone into a modal chord instrument. Pick a key, and instantly play the seven diatonic chords of that scale — then stack on chords borrowed from Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, harmonic minor, melodic minor, and every other mode hiding inside your key. Tap through rows of chord buttons to hear how a single root note sounds across completely different modal colors, and build progressions no ordinary chord app could give you. Play in any key, any mode Choose a major or minor key, and your primary row lights up with its seven diatonic triads. Add up to six more rows, each pulled from a different mode built on that same root — the full set of major-scale modes, plus the modes of harmonic and melodic minor. Compare Ionian against Mixolydian, or drop into Phrygian dominant, all without changing key. Shape every chord your way Tap a chord button, then dial in its quality — 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, sus2, or sus4. Each button remembers its own setting, so you can build a progression where every chord has its own color and extension, exactly as you shaped it. Choose your voice Play everything through piano, kalimba, acoustic guitar, or synth — warm, musical presets that make every chord (and every borrowed mode) sound great. Designed to inspire A single clean screen, pastel colors, soft rounded buttons, and a friendly, uncluttered layout keep the focus on your ears, not the interface. Whether you're a songwriter chasing a fresh progression, a music student exploring modal theory, or just someone who loves the sound of an unexpected chord, Chord Borrower makes modal harmony playable, visual, and fun.

Screenshots

Aurora (MIDI Controller)4 screens
Chord Borrower2 screens

Verdict

The call

Aurora (MIDI Controller) and Chord Borrower are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

Aurora (MIDI Controller) costs $2.99 and Chord Borrower $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Aurora (MIDI Controller) versus Chord Borrower: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora (MIDI Controller)Chord Borrower
Price$2.99$2.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB186 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJason SnellAaron Wilford

In-app purchases

None

Aurora (MIDI Controller)

No in-app purchases

None

Chord Borrower

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Aurora (MIDI Controller) free?
Aurora (MIDI Controller) costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chord Borrower free?
Chord Borrower costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Aurora (MIDI Controller) or Chord Borrower have ads?
Neither Aurora (MIDI Controller) nor Chord Borrower shows ads.

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