# SideBand vs JustChords

The clearest difference is price: JustChords at Free against SideBand's $2.99. JustChords also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 22 months). SideBand's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

JustChords is free to download; SideBand costs $2.99 up front. JustChords sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. SideBand asks for nothing beyond the download.

JustChords holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JustChords has 348 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of SideBand's written reviews are positive against 94% of JustChords's.

SideBand ships an update every 22 months, JustChords every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideBand | JustChords |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sideband/id721401314/reviews) | **[4.9 (348 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/justchords/id1632968272/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **348** |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **94.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 15 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wil Macaulay](https://appshunter.io/developer/301735019) | [Marek Palka](https://appshunter.io/developer/1632968274) |

## What reviewers say

### SideBand

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sideband/id721401314)

This app helps musicians learn songs by ear. It allows users to slow down music, loop sections, and change the key to match their voice or instrument. Import music from various sources like the Music app or iCloud.

**Highlights:** Adjust tempo, Transpose key, Change tuning, Loop sections, Import unprotected music, Supports iPhone and iPad

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### JustChords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/justchords/id1632968272)

Organize your song library with chord charts and lyrics. Create or import songs, sync across devices, and build setlists for live performances. Supports various music notations and audio playback.

**Highlights:** Chord chart and lyric editor, Import songs from online sources, iCloud device syncing, Setlist creation and sharing, AirPlay lyric projection, Audio player and recorder, Support for multiple music notations

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy me a coffee | $0.99 | one-time |
| Nice Chords! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a pineapple | $4.99 | one-time |
| Rock On! | $6.99 | one-time |
| Buy me a book | $7.99 | one-time |
| Big Thanks! | $17.99 | one-time |
| Legendary Support! | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Extremely user-friendly and intuitive interface
- 🎵 Comprehensive song library with easy import from online sources
- 💰 Completely free with no subscriptions or paywalls
- 🔄 Seamless cross-device sync via iCloud
- ✏️ Powerful editing and customization features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes during song import
- 🐛 Pinch zoom functionality stopped working
- 🐛 Songs disappear from library unexpectedly
- 🐛 App won't load songs in certain situations
- ⚠️ Multi-column view not working on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when importing songs from online sources
- Pinch zoom feature stopped working
- Songs disappearing from library
- App unable to load songs from library in certain conditions
- Multi-column view not functioning on iPad

**Requested features**

- Apple Pencil direct annotation with eraser capability
- Standard tag filtering logic (show songs with selected tags)
- Bluetooth pedal support for song navigation without touching device
- Web-based editor for songs
- Direct in-app sharing to other users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideBand free?

SideBand costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is JustChords free?

JustChords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SideBand or JustChords?

JustChords is rated higher. SideBand averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while JustChords averages 4.9 from 348 ratings.

### Do SideBand or JustChords have ads?

Neither SideBand nor JustChords shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SideBand or JustChords?

SideBand ships an update every 22 months, and JustChords every 2 weeks. Most recently, SideBand was updated on September 25, 2026 and JustChords on September 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*