Comparison

Chordana Viewer vs maxChord

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

Head to head
About

Chordana Viewer

This application analyzes audio files to automatically generate chord charts for your favorite songs. It displays chords in real-time as the music plays and allows for manual editing and instrument pad playback.

Highlights
  • Automatic chord chart generation
  • Real-time chord display
  • Chord editing and manual input
  • Instrument pad playback
  • Tempo, key, and vocal balance customization
  • Email sharing and AirPrint compatibility
Read full description

[Compatible devices] iPhone6 or later(Except for the iPhone SE), iPad Pro, iPad(5th generation or later), iPad Air or later, iPad mini(4th generation or later) [System requirements] iOS 11.0 or later required. *Important* ・To use iTunes in the Cloud songs (songs purchased or played through the iTunes Match service), first download the songs to a terminal. ・The names of iTunes in the Cloud songs that have not been downloaded to a terminal are shown on the song list, regardless of terminal settings. ・Songs protected by DRM cannot be used even if downloaded. =Support for writing the chord chart for your favorite songs= ○ Product Features ○ An application that analyzes the tones played in an audio file and helps you write the chord chart. Audio files in your iPad or iPhone are analyzed by the original Casio Chordana technology, and the sounds played in each song are displayed on the screen as chord chart. At the same time, the chord positions for the instrument are displayed as the song plays. You can also play the results of the chord analysis on the instrument pad to check the outcomes. You can then edit the chords yourself as you listen to the actual sounds and write even more accurate chord chart. This is so much quicker and easier than trying to figure out the chords just by listening to them. As well as being able to save analyzed or edited chords, you can also exchange them via email with other Chordana Viewer users or print them out on an AirPrint-compatible printer. * The analyzed chords will be a close match to the mood of the song, but may not necessarily be the same chords as those used in the original. <Displaying chords matched to the song[Chord display pane]> As well as showing the analyzed chords, the app has a guide bar that moves along with song playback, allowing you to check the chords being played in real time. The app also supports full-screen display so that you can just check the chord chart. 『Chord Guide』 By touching a chord in the chord display pane, you can check the chord position for the instrument selected in the Performance pane. 『Editing Chords』 You can modify the chord chart by choosing a chord from up to three candidate chords that are closest in sound to the analyzed chord. You can also specify the chord manually. You can also adjust barline position. <Tapping a performance by watching the chord positions[Performance pane]> Navigate in the screen using the piano or guitar finger positions to match the chord display. Of course, you can also use the chord list to check the position display for chords that are not shown. To play the chords, select the piano pad or guitar pad. To play individual notes, select them on piano keyboard. You can also use the recording function to record your performances. * You can also purchase additional instruments and types of tones as add-ons. <Customize your own tempo, key and vocal balance> By using the app to import an audio file into your iPad or iPhone, you can modify the tempo or key of the song. You can also adjust the balance between vocals and accompaniment, which is useful for transcription. If you change the key, the chords in the chord display pane are also converted automatically, so transposition is simple. <The Technology Behind Chordana> The Chordana series apps use original Casio technology to analyze audio files. The apps achieve unprecedented success in extracting natural chords from the time changes and the distribution of frequency components included in audio waveforms, while also taking into account the characteristics of the harmonies, melodies and rhythm instruments included in the song.

About

maxChord

Read full description

Chords under your thumb. maxChord turns chord progressions into something you play with one hand. The pads are laid out in whatever key you choose, so everything you touch is already in tune. Tap one to play it. Hold it and drag, and the chord morphs — sevenths, sus, diminished, extensions — each one a direction rather than a menu. Common notes keep ringing while the rest move, so a progression bends instead of jumping. Then build the song. PLAY • Eight chord pads, in key, labelled with roman numerals • Drag any pad in eight directions to morph it live • Chord Lock keeps a variation as the pad's new resting chord • Inversions, slash chords, and automatic voice leading • Three modes: Chords, Arpeggiator, and Lead SEQUENCE • Multi-track sequencer built from chord tiles, not a note grid • Split, resize, and drag tiles to build rhythm by feel • Sixteen patterns, chained into sections to arrange a whole song • Per-track instrument, octave, volume, arpeggiator rate, and effects • Record from the pads or from a MIDI controller in real time SOUND • Sampled instruments: grand piano, upright, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, vibraphone, harp, strings, brass, nylon guitar, church organ, and choir • A fifteen-voice analogue synth bank with real filter envelopes and oscillator detune • Eight effects — drive, filter, chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, delay, reverb — per track and across the whole mix, each swept with a single thumb CONNECT • MIDI in and out, including per-track output • Clock sync in both directions • Play maxChord from a controller, or drive Logic, Ableton, or GarageBand from it maxChord has no account, no ads, and no analytics. It does not collect your data, and it works entirely offline. Your songs live on your device and can be exported to a single file whenever you want them somewhere else. Made for people who hear the chord before they can name it. — maxChord Pro unlocks everything after a 3-day free trial: €1.99/month, €9.99/year, or €22.99 once for lifetime access. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends, and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://maximumschmidt.github.io/maxchord-site/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chordana Viewer4 screens
maxChord4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: maxChord at Free against Chordana Viewer's $3.99. maxChord also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). Chordana Viewer's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On ads and in-app purchases 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

maxChord is free to download; Chordana Viewer costs $3.99 up front. Chordana Viewer sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and maxChord sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chordana Viewer ships an update every 2 months, maxChord every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Chordana Viewer versus maxChord: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChordana ViewermaxChord
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating1.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size461 MB317 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Maximilian Schmidt

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Chordana Viewer

One-time10
  • CLEAN GUITAR$0.99
  • VA Synth 1$0.99
  • ROTARY DRAWBAR 1$0.99
Show 7 more
  • XYLOPHONE$0.99
  • VIBRAPHONE$0.99
  • SYNTH STRINGS$0.99
  • SYNTH BRASS$0.99
  • PIANO PAD$0.99
  • STRINGS PIANO$0.99
  • STRINGS$0.99
3 purchases

maxChord

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is Chordana Viewer free?
Chordana Viewer costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is maxChord free?
maxChord is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chordana Viewer or maxChord have ads?
Neither Chordana Viewer nor maxChord shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chordana Viewer or maxChord?
Chordana Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and maxChord every 10 days. Most recently, Chordana Viewer was updated on November 3, 2026 and maxChord on October 25, 2026.

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