# Chords Explorer vs Etherpad

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Etherpad at none against Chords Explorer's 2. Etherpad also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). Chords Explorer's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chords Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Etherpad asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Chords Explorer against 4.9 for Etherpad. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 20 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Chords Explorer ships an update weekly, Etherpad every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chords Explorer | Etherpad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chords-explorer/id6761266228/reviews)** | [4.9 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etherpad/id6772439909/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Loup Vuarnesson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888506646) | [Dinesh Yadav](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772439911) |

## What reviewers say

### Chords Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chords-explorer/id6761266228)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Exports | $2.99 | one-time |


### Etherpad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etherpad/id6772439909)

Create evolving soundscapes and ambient textures with an intuitive touch-based music synthesizer. Explore generative music without needing music theory, perfect for relaxation or creative expression.

**Highlights:** Multi-touch synthesis, Multiple sound presets, Visual particle effects, Effect overlays, Scale selection, Landscape & portrait modes, Low-latency audio

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chords Explorer free?

Chords Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Etherpad free?

Etherpad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chords Explorer or Etherpad?

Chords Explorer is rated higher. Chords Explorer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Etherpad averages 4.9 from 20 ratings.

### Do Chords Explorer or Etherpad have ads?

Neither Chords Explorer nor Etherpad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chords Explorer or Etherpad?

Chords Explorer ships an update weekly, and Etherpad every 2 days. Most recently, Chords Explorer was updated on October 6, 2026 and Etherpad on September 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*