Chords Explorer vs irio pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
irio pro
This app offers a modular effects canvas for musicians, allowing for flexible signal chain routing with studio-grade modules. It supports various instruments and DAWs, featuring advanced amp modeling and modulation capabilities.
- Modular effects canvas
- Free signal chain routing
- Studio-grade audio modules
- Advanced amp modeling (NAM player)
- Customizable modulation effects
- AUv3 plugin support
- Scene and preset switching
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irio pro is a modular audio effects processor for iPhone, iPad and Apple Silicon Mac. Add modules and connect them in any order. Multiple inputs and outputs, parallel paths. The number of modules is limited only by your device's CPU. Runs standalone or as an AUv3 plugin. For guitar, bass, or any audio source. GUITAR / AMP - NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) player: A2 models, standard and nano - Cab section with IR loading, noise gate, 3-band EQ, high and low cut - Dual-cab IR blender with alignment scope - Drives and fuzzes (circuit-level simulations) - rosa: audio to MIDI converter - Chromatic tuner EFFECTS - 5 delays, 3 reverbs - Convolution for delays, reverbs and cabs - Chorus, flanger, pitch vibrato, photocell vibe, wah, ring modulator - Pitch shifting - Compressors - Noise gate - Parametric EQ with live analyzer - 8-voice synth ROUTING / ENGINE - Free routing, any order - Multi-channel in and out - Instances limited only by CPU - Live metering on every connection - Patch-wide tempo - Hosts other AUv3 effects - Hosts AUv3 instruments - Engine builder, 40+ DSP blocks MODULATION - Three modifier types: LFO, envelope follower, hand-drawn LFO - Route a modifier to almost any control - One modifier to many targets, each with its own range - LFO rates and delay times lock to the tempo PERFORM - 4 scenes per preset - Perform page with multiple pad banks - Pads trigger presets, scenes, module memories, stomps, module switches (Stop, Freeze, Kill Dry), A/B, tap tempo, looper and player transport - Pads are momentary or latching, groupable, in 16 colors - Multi-pads: one pad controls several targets - XY pads - 4 assignable knobs - Shortcuts: switches and knobs assignable to any control - MIDI learn on every control - Host automation in AUv3 (AUTO slots) - Saveable perform layouts TOOLS - 4-track looper - Take recorder - Audio file player - Metronome with speed trainer - Whole-system backup Free version, no trial or time limit: NAM player, morph drive, gyre mod, irio delay, irio verb, 3-band EQ, noise gate, audio player, metronome, global tempo. Pro Complete unlocks all modules. One purchase, no subscription. More at iriopro.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: irio pro at none against Chords Explorer's 2. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Chords Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. irio pro 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 irio pro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 8 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Chords Explorer ships an update every 5 days, irio pro every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chords Explorer | irio pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better | 4.9 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 8 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Loup Vuarnesson | Mads Rohde |
Customer experience
Chords Explorer
irio pro
In-app purchases
Chords Explorer
- Unlock Exports2 variants$2.99
irio pro
No in-app purchases





