Comparison

Chordzilla vs FretMachine

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

Head to head
About

Chordzilla

Features
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# Chordzilla — 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 • Songwriters looking for an easy way to build chord progressions • Musicians who want to sketch melody ideas quickly • Beginners learning harmony and songwriting • Anyone who wants to compose music on a smartphone • 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: • MIDI export • Piano keyboard input • Song Information Export • Preset templates • 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/

About

FretMachine

This app allows musicians to sketch guitar parts by placing chords on a fretboard and creating strumming patterns. It offers an intuitive alternative to traditional tab workflows, enabling users to build chord progressions and export ideas as MIDI files for DAWs.

Highlights
  • Fretboard chord input
  • Strumming pattern sequencer
  • Chord library with advanced chords
  • Real-time chord analysis
  • MIDI export for DAWs
  • Timeline arrangement
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Place chords on the fretboard. Sketch guitar parts with strumming patterns. FretMachine is a guitar chord and strumming sequencer for musicians, producers, songwriters, and DAW users. Unlike traditional tab-based workflows, FretMachine provides a more intuitive way to create guitar parts. Place chords on a fretboard-style interface, create strumming patterns in the rhythm sequencer, and arrange your ideas on the timeline. When you place notes on the fretboard, FretMachine analyzes the shape in real time and shows you the chord name. You can also choose chords directly from the chord library and quickly build chord progressions. Once your chords are ready, create strumming patterns on the rhythm grid, arrange them on the timeline, and export your ideas as MIDI files for further production in your DAW. KEY FEATURES • Strum-Based Sequencing Create guitar ideas around chords and strumming rhythms instead of entering notes one by one. • Pattern-Based Sequencer Arrange strumming and rhythm patterns freely on the timeline to structure your song ideas. • Chord Library Supports Basic Triads, 7th chords, tension chords such as 9th/11th/13th, sus/add chords, Altered chords, and a variety of guitar voicings. • Reverse Chord Finder Place notes on the fretboard and see the chord name analyzed in real time. • Fretboard Input Enter and sequence chord shapes while viewing a visual guitar fretboard interface. • Rhythm & Strumming Pattern Editor Design strumming rhythms on a grid using downstrokes and upstrokes. • MIDI Export Export completed guitar parts as MIDI files and bring them into your DAW. FretMachine helps you quickly build guitar-focused ideas, from chord sketches to pattern-based song drafts.

Screenshots

Chordzilla4 screens
FretMachine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: FretMachine at daily against Chordzilla's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Chordzilla sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month and FretMachine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chordzilla ships an update every 2 months, FretMachine daily. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Chordzilla versus FretMachine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChordzillaFretMachine
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size137 MB227 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKatsuhiko TamuraKyuhwa Choi

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Chordzilla

Subscriptions1
  • Chordzilla Premium$1.991 Month
1 purchases

FretMachine

One-time1
  • Pro Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is Chordzilla free?
Chordzilla is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FretMachine free?
FretMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chordzilla or FretMachine have ads?
Neither Chordzilla nor FretMachine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chordzilla or FretMachine?
Chordzilla ships an update every 2 months, and FretMachine daily. Most recently, Chordzilla was updated on October 24, 2026 and FretMachine on October 24, 2026.

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