# Polychord vs C.ARP

The clearest difference is monetization model: C.ARP at free against Polychord's paid. C.ARP also leads on chart position (#105 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Polychord costs $9.99 and C.ARP $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Polychord against 4.3 for C.ARP. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 115 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 74% positive.

Polychord ships an update every 2 months, C.ARP every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Polychord | C.ARP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polychord-chord-instrument/id402625491/reviews)** | [4.3 (115 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carp/id1481916004/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 39 | **115** |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 74.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#105** |
| Size | 23 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apposite](https://appshunter.io/developer/481890610) | [Paolo Giorgi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481916003) |

## What reviewers say

### Polychord

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polychord-chord-instrument/id402625491)

Create music with an intuitive interface that makes playing chords easy for everyone. Explore songwriting, strum and solo with confidence, and even add auto-accompaniment. Advanced MIDI features allow integration with popular music production software.

**Highlights:** Play chords from diverse palettes, Strum and solo in key, Auto-accompaniment band feature, MIDI control for DAWs, Songwriting tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Intuitive chord progression interface
- 🎹 Excellent MIDI controller functionality
- 🎸 Digital Omnichord replacement
- 📱 Audiobus integration support
- 🎼 Great for music theory learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ App no longer actively developed
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 📦 Limited built-in sound variety
- 🔄 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🎚️ Limited chord selection at once (3x3 grid)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during recording
- Incompatible with iOS 8+ on older devices
- MIDI off messages not sent properly
- Sporadic glitches with Logic Pro and GarageBand
- Sound occasionally disappears until app restart

**Requested features**

- Custom chord creation and palette selection
- Copy and paste functionality
- Save and load configurations/presets
- Additional instrument sounds and drum kits
- Retina display support


### C.ARP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carp/id1481916004)

**Currently charting:** #105 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This app offers a unique approach to music creation, inspired by vintage instruments. It allows users to play chords and melodies with intuitive touch controls, apply real-time audio effects, and utilize a dynamic rhythm section. Advanced features include sampling, MIDI output via Bluetooth, and an iPad-optimized interface.

**Highlights:** Chord and melody playing, Real-time audio effects, Dynamic rhythm section, Sampling and looping, MIDI output via Bluetooth, iPad optimized interface, In-app tutorial

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Authentic omnichord sound
- 💡 Great for learning music theory
- 🤩 Fun and enjoyable to use
- 📱 Accessible on mobile devices
- 💰 Affordable alternative to real omnichord

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔊 No sound issue
- 💥 Frequent crashes
- 🤔 Confusing interface/menus
- 🐌 Slow UI responsiveness
- 🎚️ Limited sound design options

**Reported bugs**

- Sound doesn't work
- No sound
- App crashes when opening
- App crashes when trying to open
- App auto-quits on start

**Requested features**

- Rearrange layout to be chromatic
- AUV3 support
- Inter-app-audio / GarageBand integration
- MIDI out functionality
- Save last state


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Polychord free?

Polychord costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is C.ARP free?

C.ARP costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Polychord or C.ARP?

Polychord is rated higher. Polychord averages 4.4 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while C.ARP averages 4.3 from 115 ratings.

### Do Polychord or C.ARP have ads?

Neither Polychord nor C.ARP shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Polychord or C.ARP?

Polychord ships an update every 2 months, and C.ARP every 3 weeks. Most recently, Polychord was updated on October 24, 2026 and C.ARP on October 29, 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.*