BOSS Effect Loader vs Chordex
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BOSS Effect Loader
This application allows users to load effects into the PX-1 Plugout FX device. It offers a selection of free effects and the option to purchase additional model passes within the app. An internet connection and Roland Account are required for full functionality.
- Load effects into PX-1 Plugout FX
- 16 free effect models included
- Purchase additional model passes
- Bluetooth or USB connection
- Requires Roland Account
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● BOSS EFFECT LOADER is an app for loading effects into the PX-1 Plugout FX. * Need an internet connection and a registered Roland Account are required to use the BOSS EFFECT LOADER. ● The following 16 models are available for free use: OD-1/SP-1/PH-1/SG-/CS-1/TW-1/SD-1/DS-1/CE-2/OC-2/BF-2/PN-2/DD-2/DF-2 ● Additional Model Passes can be purchased within the app. ● Connect the BOSS PX-1 Plugout FX and your iPhone/iPad via Bluetooth® (*1) or USB cable (*2) to use this app. *1 Set up the Bluetooth connection in the Connection Window displayed after the app is launched. *2 When connecting to an iPhone/iPad equipped with a USB Lightning port, you will need Apple's genuine “Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter.”
Chordex
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You can look up any chord in seconds. But can you remember it, switch to it smoothly, and actually use it in a song? Chordex helps you truly learn your chords — the fingering, the theory behind it, and the muscle memory to play it. Fully offline. No ads. No account needed. Chordex is a chord-learning companion built for guitar beginners and self-taught players. It's more than a chord lookup tool: it helps you understand the music theory behind every chord, so you go from just being able to play it to knowing how to use it. CURATED CHORD LIBRARY No dumping thousands of diagrams on you with zero context. A hand-picked set of the essential voicings, organized by type — major, minor, seventh, suspended, and more — with every chord fully explained. Search by name or attribute (like "Cmaj7" or "sus"), and jump straight to everyday chords like C, G, Am, Em, and D with a single tap. IN-DEPTH CHORD DETAILS Each chord comes with a fingering diagram and a full fretboard view. Tap to hear a realistic strum. See the chord's notes, its interval structure, and the role it plays in a key — plus the classic progressions it shows up in and suggestions for similar chords. Save your favorites and review anytime. REVERSE CHORD LOOKUP Spotted an unfamiliar shape in a chord chart? Press the fingering onto the interactive fretboard, and Chordex instantly identifies the chords it could be. Preview the sound and tap through to the full details. KEY EXPLORER Browse all 12 major keys arranged on the Circle of Fifths. View each key's scale and solfège, its diatonic triads and seventh chords, its chords grouped by tonic, dominant, and subdominant function, and the classic progressions that work in that key. Writing, playing by ear, or transposing — you'll know where you're headed. CHORD CHANGE TRAINER Pick the chord transitions that trip you up, practice along with the beat, and turn chord switching into muscle memory. CHORD OF THE DAY Get a new chord every day based on the date, complete with a short intro and key theory notes. Over time, you'll build your own personal chord dictionary. STRUMMING PRACTICE Five practical strumming patterns built in: quarter-note downstrokes, folk starter, all-purpose folk, full eighth-note strum, and slow pop ballad. Each pattern loops alongside a rhythm diagram, with adjustable BPM and switchable practice chords. Ghost-strum explanations help you build a steady right hand. CLASSIC CHORD PROGRESSIONS Nine timeless progressions, including the Canon progression, the pop four-chord loop, Doo-Wop, the jazz ii–V–I, and the blues. Loop them and strum along chord by chord until your ear knows the backbone of popular music. THEORY ARTICLES Illustrated music-theory guides with chord diagrams, triad comparisons, and capo charts. Each article links directly to the chords and keys it covers, so you can read and practice at the same time. MORE FEATURES Realistic guitar strum sounds, with distinct up- and down-stroke direction and dynamics Built-in music theory engine that parses chord names and derives chord tones and related chords Favorites for building your own chord collection Works fully offline — no internet, no sign-up, no ads Whether you've just picked up a guitar or you're a singer-songwriter looking to fill in the theory gaps, Chordex is here to help you truly learn your chords — not just memorize them.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Chordex at every 5 days against BOSS Effect Loader's every 5 months. BOSS Effect Loader's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. BOSS Effect Loader sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Chordex sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
BOSS Effect Loader ships an update every 5 months, Chordex every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BOSS Effect Loader | Chordex |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Roland Corporation | LIN TSO HSI |
In-app purchases
BOSS Effect Loader
- PW-2 Power Driver$9.99
- XT-2 Xtortion$9.99
- CS-2 Compression Sustainer$9.99
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- DM-2 Delay$9.99
- DC-2 Dimension C$9.99
- OD-2 TURBO OverDrive$9.99
- Bundle for PW-2/XT-2/CS-2$19.99
- Bundle for OD-2/DC-2/DM-2$19.99
Chordex
- Buy the Developer a Coffee$2.99
Questions
Is BOSS Effect Loader free?
Is Chordex free?
Do BOSS Effect Loader or Chordex have ads?
Which is updated more often, BOSS Effect Loader or Chordex?
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