Comparison

MIDI MACHINE vs Chordzilla

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

Head to head
About

MIDI MACHINE

Features
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MIDI MACHINE is a fast, playful performance tool built for generating MIDI melodies on the fly. At the heart of MIDI MACHINE are two creative states: SPARK and STRUCTURE. SPARK mode is all about discoveryβ€”rapidly generating fresh melodic ideas and happy accidents. 17 randomized melodic rows drawn from an vast internal library, everything is locked to your chosen key. Each melody is sliced into 10 playable parts, letting you remix and reshape ideas in real time without ever hitting a creative wall. STRUCTURE mode lets you compose and perform with intention and move seamlessly between key pairs to trigger chords. Additionally, genre-based chord-progression suggestions form a real progression from a selected genre, so you can play a coherent sequence. This mode is designed to serve users with and without knowledge of music theory. "Super inspiring tool for sketching melodies quickly, whether you’re in the studio or on the move with a minimal setup. You just start playing around and happy accidents happen."
— early user feedback Core Features * 17 MIDI melody rows per set, automatically harmonized to your chosen key * Each melody split into 10 playable tiles for real-time triggering of your favorite sounds * SPARK mode for instant idea generation and exploration * STRUCTURE mode for fixed chords mapped across key pairs, built in arpeggiator and chord group suggestions * Keep randomizing to generate endless new melodic combinations while keeping your settings * SAVE and recall full sets, including patterns, tempo, and performance modes (SPARK) * Note mode: trigger melodic sequences step-by-step * Chord mode: play full harmonies instantly * Loop ON / OFF: continuously cycle note sequences * Hold OFF: slide across tiles for fluid, continuous runs * Hold ON: trigger full sequences with a single tap * Repeat ON / OFF: retrigger tiles rhythmically (1/4 to 1/64) for pattern creation * Fixed velocity option for consistent dynamics * Edit individual tile MIDI sequences * Reverse entire rows * Octave shift up or down * Double or halve playback speed (Note mode) (STRUCTURE) * Group: Genre-based chord-progression suggestions. Highlights/labels tiles on the grid that form a real progression from the selected genre. * Arp: Turns a held chord into a rolling sequence of individual notes. β€’ Style – 16 note-order patterns (Up, Down, Converge, Pinky Up, Random, etc.). β€’ Rate – Speed of each note: 1/4 to 1/64, relative to BPM. β€’ Groove – Straight (default) or Swing 8/16/32 for a more human rhythmic feel. * Hold OFF: slide across tiles for fluid, continuous runs * Hold ON: trigger full sequences with a single tap * Add automatic Bass Note to each chord * Repeat ON / OFF: retrigger tiles rhythmically (1/4 to 1/64) for pattern creation * Fixed velocity option for consistent dynamics Performance Controls * Global pitch shift in semitones for instant transposition of the entire set * Adjustable BPM with tap tempo and fine control * Flexible visible row count (5–17) for compact or expanded layouts * Scrollable row view with FIRST ROW selection MIDI MACHINE is built for musicians who want a different approach to creating ideasβ€”fast, intuitive, and a little unpredictable. Whether you're sketching melodies or experimenting with generative patterns, it keeps everything playful, unique, and fun."

About

Chordzilla

Features
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# Chordzilla β€” A Compact App for Creating Chord Progressions and Melodies Chordzilla is a compact songwriting app that lets you create chord progressions and melodies directly on your smartphone. Build chord progressions, compose melodies with Piano Roll editing, and export your work as WAV or MIDI. Capture musical ideas quickly with a simple and intuitive workflow. ## Chord Progression Editor Simply choose a key and scale to receive suggestions for the next chord. Explore diatonic chords, substitute chords, borrowed chords, tritone substitutions, subdominant minor chords, and more. Even without extensive music theory knowledge, you can build natural-sounding chord progressions with ease. Save your progressions as sections to build your own reusable chord library. ## Piano Roll Melody Editor Create melodies by tapping directly on the Piano Roll. Premium users can also enter notes using the on-screen piano keyboard. Melody examples matched to your chord progression are available to help inspire new musical ideas. ## Genre Presets Start with ready-made templates instead of creating everything from scratch. Includes over 18 presets, with more planned in future updates. ## Song Information Export Convert your song information into organized text, including key, scale, BPM, section structure, chord progression, and other production details. The generated text can be copied and used with compatible music production tools and external services. ## MIDI & WAV Export Export your chord progressions and melodies as MIDI files. You can also export WAV audio for further editing in your DAW or other music production software. ## Perfect For β€’ Songwriters looking for an easy way to build chord progressions β€’ Musicians who want to sketch melody ideas quickly β€’ Beginners learning harmony and songwriting β€’ Anyone who wants to compose music on a smartphone β€’ Creators who use additional music production tools in their workflow ## Premium Plan The free version includes all essential features for creating, playing back, and reviewing chord progressions. Upgrade to Premium (monthly subscription) to unlock: β€’ MIDI export β€’ Piano keyboard input β€’ Song Information Export β€’ Preset templates β€’ Unlimited sections ...and all future Premium features. We are committed to continuously improving Chordzilla with new features and ongoing enhancements. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MIDI MACHINE4 screens
Chordzilla4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: MIDI MACHINE at weekly against Chordzilla's monthly. Chordzilla's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. MIDI MACHINE sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Chordzilla sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI MACHINE ships an update weekly, Chordzilla monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
MIDI MACHINE versus Chordzilla: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI MACHINEChordzilla
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeekly β€” betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.616.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size52 MB137 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNiklas KoellnerKatsuhiko Tamura

In-app purchases

1 purchases

MIDI MACHINE

One-time1
  • MIDI MACHINE Pro$4.99
1 purchases

Chordzilla

Subscriptions1
  • Chordzilla Premium$1.991 Month

Questions

Is MIDI MACHINE free?
MIDI MACHINE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chordzilla free?
Chordzilla is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MIDI MACHINE or Chordzilla have ads?
Neither MIDI MACHINE nor Chordzilla shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI MACHINE or Chordzilla?
MIDI MACHINE ships an update weekly, and Chordzilla monthly. Most recently, MIDI MACHINE was updated on October 6, 2026 and Chordzilla on October 7, 2026.

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