Comparison

ChordPolyPad vs Outgrowth

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

"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

About

Outgrowth

This app is a sample-based instrument designed for creative audio manipulation. It offers five unique engines for processing samples and five audio effects for sound shaping, with extensive modulation capabilities. Explore a vast library of presets and samples to reimagine your audio.

Highlights
  • Sample processing engines (Stem, Retain, Reflect, Radiate, Delve)
  • Audio effects (Subvert, Submerge, Strike, Ripple, Smear)
  • Robust modulation matrix
  • MPE compatibility
  • 100+ presets and 200+ samples
  • Preset system
Features
Read full description

Outgrowth is a sample-based instrument built collaboratively by Aqeel Aadam Sound and BlankFor.ms. Designed with creativity, flexibility, and performance in mind, Outgrowth provides unique, multifaceted ways to reimagine audio with your mouse or keyboard. MPE compatible. Includes 100+ presets and 200+ samples built by BlankFor.ms. Outgrowth features five unique engines for processing samples: - Stem: A basic one-shot style player that repitches the sample - Retain: A granular stretching engine that sustains the sample indefinitely - Reflect: A looping algorithm that loops the sample at a consistent rate across all pitches - Radiate: An additive resynthesizer that maps each harmonic of the sample to a sine wave oscillator - Delve: A wavetable synthesizer in which the sample becomes the basis for a completely unique wavetable Outgrowth also features five standout audio effects for shaping your sounds further: - Subvert: A unique shaper that flattens or inverts the sample’s volume - Submerge: A singular effect for adding dimensional realism to sample repitching - Strike: A dynamic control for adding an acoustic-like response to sample playback and performance - Ripple: A one-knob tape emulation handcrafted by BlankFor.ms that can be subtle, deconstructive, and anywhere in between - Smear: A pre-ADSR reverb for congealing notes and blurring boundaries between pitch and texture And further still, Outgrowth offers a robust modulation matrix for generative or performative control over all parameters. Control every single parameter within Outgrowth via LFOs, unique random sources, velocity, note pitch, aftertouch, MPE control, and more. Finally, Outgrowth offers a robust preset system, including more than 50 bespoke presets and over 100 samples by BlankFor.ms. Explore ethereal ambient pads, haunted lofi keys, shimmering tape-infused plucks, gnarled percussive textures, and more.

Screenshots

ChordPolyPad3 screens
Outgrowth2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Outgrowth at none against ChordPolyPad's 3. Outgrowth also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). ChordPolyPad's advantage is price ($17.99 vs $19.99). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

ChordPolyPad costs $17.99 and Outgrowth $19.99 up front. ChordPolyPad sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Outgrowth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for ChordPolyPad against 4.7 for Outgrowth. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 51 and 20 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of ChordPolyPad's written reviews are positive against 85% of Outgrowth's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ChordPolyPad ships an update every 2 months, Outgrowth every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ChordPolyPad versus Outgrowth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChordPolyPadOutgrowth
Price$17.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.6 (51 ratings)4.7 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.1% of reviews — better84.6% of reviews
Number of ratings51 — better20
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB88 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLaurent ColsonAqeel Aadam

Customer experience

ChordPolyPad

All ratings51 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews114 reviews
Positive92.1%
Neutral3.5%
Negative4.4%

Outgrowth

All ratings20 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative7.7%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ChordPolyPad

One-time3
  • Retro Pop$4.99
  • Clubwave$4.99
  • Liminal Spaces$4.99
None

Outgrowth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ChordPolyPad free?
ChordPolyPad costs $17.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Outgrowth free?
Outgrowth costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ChordPolyPad or Outgrowth?
Outgrowth is rated higher. ChordPolyPad averages 4.6 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Outgrowth averages 4.7 from 20 ratings.
Do ChordPolyPad or Outgrowth have ads?
Neither ChordPolyPad nor Outgrowth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ChordPolyPad or Outgrowth?
ChordPolyPad ships an update every 2 months, and Outgrowth every 3 weeks. Most recently, ChordPolyPad was updated on November 1, 2026 and Outgrowth on October 25, 2026.

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