Comparison

Chords Explorer vs ChordPond

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

Head to head
About

Chords Explorer

This app helps musicians, producers, and songwriters generate and refine chord progressions. It offers various tools like a piano keyboard, guitar fretboard, and random chord generator to spark creativity. Progressions can be exported in multiple formats.

Highlights
  • Piano keyboard and guitar fretboard views
  • Random chord generator
  • Real-time audio playback
  • Smart chord suggestions
  • Drag and reorder chords
  • Custom Chord Builder
  • Export to MIDI, WAV, or TXT
Features
Read full description

Spark your next chord progression. Select a chord or roll the dice → build and refine → export to MIDI, WAV or TXT. Chords Explorer is a chord progression builder designed for musicians, producers and songwriters who want to quickly find and explore new ideas. Features Piano keyboard and guitar fretboard views Random chord generator to break creative blocks Real-time audio playback with adjustable tempo and sustain Smart chord suggestions based on music theory Drag and reorder chords in the timeline Inversions and voicing options Custom Chord Builder — define your own chord types with any interval combination Export to MIDI, WAV or TXT Community progressions — vote and discover Sharp / flat / auto notation that follows the detected key Available in English, Français, Español, Русский, 日本語 ABC and solfège notation Export, custom chords and real-time MIDI output are a one-time unlock — no subscription.

About

ChordPond

This music creation tool lets you visualize chord progressions as paths on a canvas. Connect chord tiles, experiment with various modes, and instantly hear your compositions through a built-in synth or by routing MIDI to other instruments and DAWs.

Highlights
  • Visual chord tiles on a freeform canvas
  • Built-in AUv3 Synth
  • Load and play AUv3 instruments
  • Scale-aware chords and inversions
  • Chord modes (Hold, Stutter, Arp, etc.)
  • Scene Automation for song arrangements
  • MIDI export and Ableton Link sync
Features
Read full description

CHORDPOND - Visual Chord-Tile Sequencer CHORDPOND is a visual MIDI composition tool for iPad and iPhone where chord progressions become paths through chord tiles. Drop chords onto a canvas, connect them with paths, hit play, and hear them instantly through the built-in Frog Synth - or route MIDI to your favorite AUv3 instruments, external synths, or DAW. Built for songwriters, producers, performers, and curious explorers, ChordPond turns harmony into something you can see, touch, and rearrange in seconds. Key Features: - Visual chord tiles on a freeform canvas - Built-in AUv3 Synth for instant sound - Load and play AUv3 instruments directly inside ChordPond - Scale-aware chords, tensions, inversions, and bass control - Hold, Stutter, Arp, Roll, Motif, and Random chord modes - Draw paths between chords with per-node duration, gate, and ratchet settings - Scene Automation for building complete song arrangements - Multiple scenes per project - 20+ scales including modal, jazz, world, and experimental scales - Per-note probability, velocity, micro-timing, and ratchets - MIDI export - Ableton Link sync - AUv3 MIDI plugin for Logic Pro, AUM, Cubasis, Loopy Pro, and more - CoreMIDI support for external instruments - Shared projects between standalone and AUv3 versions - Designed for iPhone, iPad, and Mac (Catalyst) Designed for ideas. Built for progression.

Screenshots

Chords Explorer4 screens
ChordPond4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Chords Explorer at Free against ChordPond's $3.99. Chords Explorer also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). ChordPond's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and 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

Chords Explorer is free to download; ChordPond costs $3.99 up front. Chords Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ChordPond asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Chords Explorer against 4.9 for ChordPond. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 7 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Chords Explorer's written reviews are positive against 67% of ChordPond's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chords Explorer ships an update weekly, ChordPond every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Chords Explorer versus ChordPond: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChords ExplorerChordPond
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better4.9 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings77
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLoup VuarnessonSteffen Mølgaard Larsen

Customer experience

Chords Explorer

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ChordPond

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Chords Explorer

One-time1
  • Unlock Exports2 variants$2.99
None

ChordPond

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chords Explorer free?
Chords Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ChordPond free?
ChordPond costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chords Explorer or ChordPond?
Chords Explorer is rated higher. Chords Explorer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while ChordPond averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.
Do Chords Explorer or ChordPond have ads?
Neither Chords Explorer nor ChordPond shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chords Explorer or ChordPond?
Chords Explorer ships an update weekly, and ChordPond every 10 days. Most recently, Chords Explorer was updated on October 6, 2026 and ChordPond on October 19, 2026.

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