ChordPolyPad vs ChaosArp 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ChordPolyPad
This app is a versatile MIDI chord player that allows users to create and play complex chord sets. It offers extensive customization for pads, MIDI controls, and chord generation, functioning as a standalone app or an AUv3 MIDI effect plugin.
- Standalone app and AUv3 MIDI effect plugin
- 128 pads per preset
- Customizable X/Y MIDI controllers
- Advanced random chord generator
- Internal and external MIDI support
- Chord filtering and quantizing
- Preset manager with in-app purchases
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"ChordPolyPad" is a MIDI chords player that lets you create chord sets using a large internal library, any custom combination of notes, or randomly generated chords. Each preset contains either 8 groups of 16 pads or 2 groups of 64 pads, for a total of 128 pads. In addition to playing chords, each pad can generate customizable MIDI controls on its horizontal and vertical axes, allowing expressive real-time modulation. "ChordPolyPad" can be used as a standalone application or as an AUv3 MIDI effect plug-in. The app supports full internal and external MIDI input and output. An internal sound bank is included for immediate use. The AUv3 MIDI effect plug-in supports multiple instances. A compatible host is required and must support the Audio Unit v3 (AUv3) MIDI effect format. Hosts supporting AUv3 MIDI effect on iOS: Logic Pro, Cubasis, Beatmaker, AUM, Audiobus, NanoStudio, Auria Pro, apeMatrix. Hosts supporting AUv3 MIDI effect on macOS: Logic Pro 10.7 or later. Features: • Standalone application and AUv3 MIDI effect plug-in • 8 groups of 16 pads or 2 groups of 64 pads per preset (128 pads) • Assignable MIDI port and MIDI channel for each pad • Customizable X/Y controller per pad • Per-note velocity control for each chord • Strumming configuration per pad • Copy and paste for pads and groups • Drag and drop chords directly from the library • Chord filtering and quantizing based on the selected scale • Predefined scales and possibility to create custom scales • Advanced random chord generator with diverse musical moods featuring voice leading and context-aware harmonic progressions for naturally flowing compositions • Stop "Audio Background" automatically after inactivity (15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, or never) • Internal sound bank • Receive MIDI notes and control from external devices • Send MIDI to a virtual port usable as MIDI input by other "Core MIDI" compatible apps • Preset manager with support for in-app purchase packs • "Program Change" support • Preset sharing support by "AirDrop", "Mail", "Messages", and other supported services • Native iCloud support • "iCloud Drive" support in the "Files" app on iOS and "Finder" on macOS • Full support for "Windowed Apps" mode on iPad • Undo/Redo Supported MIDI connections: • Virtual "Core MIDI" connections between apps • Any compatible MIDI interface • MIDI over Wi-Fi • MIDI over Bluetooth
ChaosArp 2
This music production tool generates complex and dynamic MIDI patterns by modulating pitch, rhythm, velocity, and duration. It offers a versatile arpeggiator and sequencer with chaotic modulation for evolving musical ideas.
- Chaotic MIDI arpeggiator
- Variable step sequencer
- Pitch and rhythm modulation
- Randomizable velocity and duration
- Pitch/scale quantization
- XY performance pad
- MIDI learn and export
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ChaosArp 2 is a chaotic MIDI arpeggiator/stepper plugin, capable of transforming your musical ideas into intricate, dynamic patterns with a unique twist. Using the same chaotic tricks as LoAdKer, ChaosArp 2 can modulate parameters such as pitch, rhythm, velocity, and duration, thus creating evolving, complex but high musical patterns that breathe new life into your music. Elevate your music production today with ChaosArp 2! Features - Fully-featured MIDI arpeggiator with variable rate, multiple arpeggio patterns including chords, latch, and a span of up to 4 octaves - A variable 1 to 16-step sequencer with forward/backward/ping-pong play modes, pattern presets and more - Chaotic pitch and rhythm modulators - Advanced editing of the rhythm modulator slots so you can create your own chaotic patterns - Randomizable velocity and duration - Pitch/scale quantization so that you will never play the wrong note again - XY performance pad for real-time expressive control - MIDI learn - MIDI record and export
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ChaosArp 2 at $5.99 against ChordPolyPad's $17.99. ChaosArp 2 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). ChordPolyPad's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 67%) and ratings volume (51 vs 3). On ads 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
ChordPolyPad costs $17.99 and ChaosArp 2 $5.99 up front. ChordPolyPad sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ChaosArp 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.
ChaosArp 2 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ChordPolyPad has 51 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 92% of ChordPolyPad's written reviews are positive against 67% of ChaosArp 2's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
ChordPolyPad ships an update every 2 months, ChaosArp 2 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ChordPolyPad | ChaosArp 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 | $5.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (51 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 92.1% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 51 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 54 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Laurent Colson | Achillefs Sourlas |
Customer experience
ChordPolyPad
ChaosArp 2
In-app purchases
ChordPolyPad
- Retro Pop$4.99
- Clubwave$4.99
- Liminal Spaces$4.99
ChaosArp 2
No in-app purchases









