Comparison

MIDI FX PRO vs maxChord

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

Head to head
About

MIDI FX PRO

This app is a powerful MIDI workstation for iOS and Mac, allowing users to control and process MIDI signals. It offers features like harmonization, transposition, arpeggiation, and sequencing for external or virtual synths. It also includes internal instruments and effects for mobile music creation.

Highlights
  • MIDI signal processing
  • Harmonize, Transpose, Arpeggiate
  • Sequencer for synths
  • Delay/looper
  • Internal instruments (drums, piano, synth)
  • Filter notes by velocity
Read full description

Buy once and get the iOS and Mac apps (with Family Sharing) This is the Unlocked Version of MIDI FX. You can buy this version instead of unlocking the free one through IAP Control your MIDI signals and process them in any combination of ways: Harmonize, Transpose, Arpeggiate, etc... Or use the Sequencer to play any external or virtual synth. Use a MIDI interface to unlock the power of the app to control multiple synths with one keyboard, play one note and generate chords, basslines, etc... Use the delay/looper or filter notes based on velocity or other parameters to send to different synths/effects. A MIDI workstation in your pocket (or your iPad/Mac) You can also use some internal instruments (drums sampler, piano or synth) if you are away from your MIDI gear, and sequence whole songs inside the app, or use other synth apps as input/output for MIDI FX. Your imagination is the limit!

About

maxChord

Read full description

Chords under your thumb. maxChord turns chord progressions into something you play with one hand. The pads are laid out in whatever key you choose, so everything you touch is already in tune. Tap one to play it. Hold it and drag, and the chord morphs — sevenths, sus, diminished, extensions — each one a direction rather than a menu. Common notes keep ringing while the rest move, so a progression bends instead of jumping. Then build the song. PLAY • Eight chord pads, in key, labelled with roman numerals • Drag any pad in eight directions to morph it live • Chord Lock keeps a variation as the pad's new resting chord • Inversions, slash chords, and automatic voice leading • Three modes: Chords, Arpeggiator, and Lead SEQUENCE • Multi-track sequencer built from chord tiles, not a note grid • Split, resize, and drag tiles to build rhythm by feel • Sixteen patterns, chained into sections to arrange a whole song • Per-track instrument, octave, volume, arpeggiator rate, and effects • Record from the pads or from a MIDI controller in real time SOUND • Sampled instruments: grand piano, upright, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, vibraphone, harp, strings, brass, nylon guitar, church organ, and choir • A fifteen-voice analogue synth bank with real filter envelopes and oscillator detune • Eight effects — drive, filter, chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, delay, reverb — per track and across the whole mix, each swept with a single thumb CONNECT • MIDI in and out, including per-track output • Clock sync in both directions • Play maxChord from a controller, or drive Logic, Ableton, or GarageBand from it maxChord has no account, no ads, and no analytics. It does not collect your data, and it works entirely offline. Your songs live on your device and can be exported to a single file whenever you want them somewhere else. Made for people who hear the chord before they can name it. — maxChord Pro unlocks everything after a 3-day free trial: €1.99/month, €9.99/year, or €22.99 once for lifetime access. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends, and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://maximumschmidt.github.io/maxchord-site/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MIDI FX PRO1 screens
maxChord4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: maxChord at Free against MIDI FX PRO's $9.99. maxChord also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly). MIDI FX PRO's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and device support (4 vs 1). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

maxChord is free to download; MIDI FX PRO costs $9.99 up front. maxChord sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. MIDI FX PRO asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI FX PRO ships an update monthly, maxChord every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MIDI FX PRO versus maxChord: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI FX PROmaxChord
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.7 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size263 MB317 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJorge ArroyoMaximilian Schmidt

In-app purchases

None

MIDI FX PRO

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

maxChord

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is MIDI FX PRO free?
MIDI FX PRO costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is maxChord free?
maxChord is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MIDI FX PRO or maxChord have ads?
Neither MIDI FX PRO nor maxChord shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI FX PRO or maxChord?
MIDI FX PRO ships an update monthly, and maxChord every 10 days. Most recently, MIDI FX PRO was updated on October 2, 2026 and maxChord on October 12, 2026.

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