Comparison

Modes vs bandcabin

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

Head to head
About

Modes

Features
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Modes is a hands-on music theory lab for iPhone and iPad. Whether you're writing a song, preparing for a lesson, or exploring new harmonic territory, Modes gives you instant access to scales, chords, voicings, and modulation paths, all in one beautiful, distraction-free interface. Now with Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight search, and Home Screen widgets. SCALE & CHORD FINDER Play notes on the interactive multi-octave keyboard or connect a MIDI controller. Modes identifies the chord you're playing in real time: major, minor, diminished, augmented, extended, suspended, and more. It ranks every matching scale by note coverage. Filter results by scale category (diatonic, melodic minor, harmonic minor, pentatonic, bebop, symmetric, world, and more) to zero in on the sound you're after. 65 SCALES & MODES From the seven diatonic modes through melodic minor, harmonic minor, double harmonic, Neapolitan, bebop, the full set of pentatonic modes, blues, whole tone, diminished, augmented, and world scales like Hirajōshi, Kumoi, In Sen, Persian, and Enigmatic. Every scale is spelled out with interval tokens and highlighted on the keyboard. NOTES IN KEY Pick any root and scale to see every in-key note highlighted across two octaves. Instantly visualise which notes belong and where the root sits. SCALE CHORDS Generate diatonic triads or sevenths for every degree of your chosen scale. View roman numerals, chord names, harmonic function badges (tonic, subdominant, dominant, and 30+ detailed labels), and voiced keyboard renderings, all aligned for easy comparison. 8 VOICING TYPES Build chords in tertian, sus2, sus4, sixth, add, quartal, quintal, and power voicings. Choose from triads up to thirteenths, with every extension automatically labelled. SHARED NOTES & SHARED CHORDS Compare any two keys side by side. See which notes overlap, which are unique, and which chords both keys share. Essential for smooth modulation and reharmonisation. BORROWED CHORDS Analyse your key for native diatonic chords alongside every borrowed option from parallel modes, grouped by source mode. Discover fresh harmonic colour without leaving your tonal centre. CIRCLE OF FIFTHS Interactive dual-ring circle (major outside, natural minor inside). Tap a sector to retune the key. See dominant, subdominant, relative, parallel, and nearby key relationships at a glance, with modulation difficulty badges and key-signature details. CIRCLE OF THIRDS Explore chromatic mediant relationships on a diminished-cycle diagram. Major and minor buttons for every pitch class reveal mediant, relative, and parallel connections. Perfect for cinematic and neo-Riemannian modulation planning. MIDI SUPPORT Connect any class-compliant MIDI keyboard or controller. Played notes merge with on-screen taps for seamless detection. SIRI, SHORTCUTS & SPOTLIGHT Ask Siri or run a Shortcut to show a scale's notes, list the chords in a key, identify a scale or chord, spell a chord, find the interval between two notes, transpose a note, or open the circle of fifths and borrowed chords. Scales and chords are indexed in Spotlight, so you can search for them straight from your Home Screen. HOME SCREEN WIDGETS Add the Scale of the Day and Chord of the Day widgets to your Home or Lock Screen for a daily dose of theory, tappable straight into the app. DESIGNED FOR MUSICIANS • Runs entirely offline. No account, no ads, no tracking • Dark-mode aware interface • Adaptive layouts for iPhone and iPad • Enharmonic spelling: automatic, sharps, or flats • Pinch-to-zoom keyboard from 1 to 9 octaves Whether you're a producer sketching chord progressions, a guitarist learning modes, a pianist studying jazz harmony, or a student preparing for theory exams, Modes puts deep music theory at your fingertips. Fast, visual, and always within reach. Try free for 7 days! After the trial, unlock full access with a one-time purchase — no subscriptions.

About

bandcabin

Features
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BandCabin brings calm to the chaos of band life. Rehearsals, gigs, setlists, files, money, and communication are finally organised under one roof. Built by musicians, for musicians. Open BandCabin and instantly see what’s next. Rehearsals, gigs, notes, setlists, and updates are all in one place so your band always knows what’s happening. Your music library stays exactly where it is. Use your existing Google Drive for PDFs, chord charts, and documents. BandCabin becomes the fast, musician‑friendly viewer with offline support and tools like the scrolling teleprompter. Plan rehearsals and gigs with confidence. See clear event details and call times. Track attendance and RSVPs. Share notes, files, and plans. Build setlists that update instantly for the whole band. Money becomes simple and transparent. Track payments, expenses, and fair splits without spreadsheets or awkward conversations. Every member sees exactly what they need to know. Tools for performing keep you focused on the music. Your charts, notes, and tempo are always at hand. Use the scrolling teleprompter for lyrics and breakdowns and leave paper chaos behind. See your band’s story over time. Track attendance, earnings, and engagement across rehearsals and gigs. From first enquiry to final payment, every show lives in one clean workflow. BandCabin is built for the way real musicians work. A calmer, clearer way to run your band — from rehearsals to performances.

Screenshots

Modes4 screens
bandcabin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: bandcabin at none against Modes's 1. bandcabin also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. Modes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. bandcabin asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Modes versus bandcabin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterModesbandcabin
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGITCIan McDonald

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Modes

One-time1
  • Full Access$9.99
None

bandcabin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Modes free?
Modes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is bandcabin free?
bandcabin is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Modes or bandcabin have ads?
Neither Modes nor bandcabin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Modes or bandcabin?
Modes ships an update every 3 weeks, and bandcabin every 3 weeks. Most recently, Modes was updated on September 24, 2026 and bandcabin on September 8, 2026.

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