Autochords vs Chords Pad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Autochords
This app serves as a songwriting aid, offering chord progressions and musical inspiration. It allows users to explore different moods and instruments like guitar, piano, and ukulele to find the perfect sound for their songs. Advanced features are available through an in-app purchase.
- Chord progression generation by mood
- Guitar, piano, and ukulele chord diagrams
- Listen to progressions on chosen instruments
- Play along to full progressions
- Alternative progression suggestions
- Customizable progressions (PRO)
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Autochords is the ultimate songwriting cheat sheet and inspiration machine. Learn how to play chords on guitar, piano, and ukulele. Experiment with various music styles. Just pick a mood and Autochords will show you what to play for your main progression. Play along or just have a listen until you find the perfect chord progression for you. Autochords also suggests “Alternative progressions” that you can use for other sections of the song, like a bridge or backing for a solo. ## Features ## • Dozens of different built-in moods to choose from. • Guitar, Piano, and Ukulele chord diagrams. • Listen to how progressions sound on your chosen instrument. • Play along to full chord progressions. With the PRO in-app-purchase: • Unlock even more progressions. • Build and customize your own progressions. • Export to MIDI. • Keep track of your favorites. • Change the tempo. • Switch between color themes. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Chords Pad
Explore musical chords with an interactive keyboard display and customizable pads. Visualize chord tones, experiment with progressions, and play notes via MIDI. Unlock advanced features and sounds through in-app purchases.
- Chord tone display on keyboard
- Customizable chord pads
- Chord progression builder
- MIDI Bluetooth support
- Multiple chord list layouts
- Adjustable keyboard range
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This app can easily check the sound and the display on the keyboard of the chord tone of musical chords. We have prepared various UI for checking the chords. Use the method that suits you. - Pad Display - Chord List - Pad Display - Custom Pad - Chord Progress [Chord List] You can select from the following patterns for the chord button list display. It supports chord reordering and toggling chord visibility. - Each key : Displays all types of chord patterns in a list for each key - Vertical : Displays all types of chord patterns vertically and each key horizontally - Horizontal : Displays all types of chord patterns horizontally with each key vertically [Custom pad] Larger buttons than the chord list are arranged. You can freely set the chord and key for each button. [Chord Progress] Add common chord progressions from presets or create your own. You can also edit individual chords, transpose, reorder, and delete chord progressions. In either case, when the chord button is tapped, the selected chord is played and the chord tone is displayed on the keyboard. * If you'd like to display all the chord patterns including tension (b9, # 9, 11, # 11, b13, 13), You need In-App Purchase. [Chord inversion area] When you select a chord in "Chord List" or "Custom Pad," its root position and inversions appear below the chord button area. Example: - CM7 : C E G B (Root position) - CM7/E : E G B C - CM7/G : G B C E - CM7/B : B C E G The note after "/" indicates the bass note. Scroll horizontally through the inversions and tap a button to play it and display its notes on the keyboard. The inversion area for "Custom Pad" can be shown or hidden with "Inversion display" in Settings. Other features: - Supports chord reordering and toggling chord visibility in the "Chord List". ([Settings screen] - [Edit Chord List]) - The keyboard can be slid with the slider. (range: C2 ~ C7) And the keyboard also supports playing. - There are 28 types in all kinds of sound. (It is 9 kinds can be used in the initial state. To use all type, you need In-App Purchase.) - Supports Bluetooth MIDI connection. - Supports sending MIDI messages (note on / off). Chord list: M, 7, 7(b5), 7(#5), 6, 6 9, 9, add9, M7, M9, M7(b5), M7(#5), m, m6, m6 9, m(#5), m add9, m7, mM7, m7(b5), m7(#5), m9, mM9, aug, dim, dim7, sus4, 7sus4, 9sus4, M7sus4, M9sus4, sus2, 7sus2, M7sus2 (To use below, you need In-App Purchase.) 7(b9), 7(#9), 7(#11), 7(b13), 7(13), 7(b9 #11), 7(b9 b13), 7(b9 13), 9(#11), 9(b13), 9(13), 7(#9 #11), 7(#9 b13), 7(#9 13), M7(#11), M9(#11), M7(13), M9(13), m7(11), m7(13), m9(11), m7(b5 11), m7(b5 13) If you would like to create more flexible chord progressions or compose music using chords, try iOS app "Piano Chords Master".
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Autochords at none against Chords Pad's shown. Autochords also leads on ratings volume (4.1K vs 96) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Autochords sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Chords Pad sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Autochords against 4.9 for Chords Pad. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Autochords has 4.1K ratings behind it against 96, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Autochords's written reviews are positive against 77% of Chords Pad's.
Autochords ships an update every 2 months, Chords Pad every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Autochords | Chords Pad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (4.1K ratings) | 4.9 (96 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.7% of reviews — better | 77.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4.1K — better | 96 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Astrocode Pty Ltd | Loop-Sessions.LLC. |
Customer experience
Autochords
Chords Pad
Bugs and requests
Autochords
Reported bugs
2 issues- App freezes up when opened
- Chord progressions don't sound as intended for some moods
Requested features
6 requests- Add augmented chords and more chord variations
- Allow creating progressions with more than 4 chords
- Incorporate different time signatures beyond 4/4
- Add chord inversions and more chord types (7ths, 9ths, etc.)
- Expand chord library beyond just diatonic chords
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- Incorporate arpeggio playback and background drums
Chords Pad
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Autochords
- PRO Weekly$0.997 Days
- PRO Monthly$2.991 Month
- PRO Annual7 Days trial$12.991 Year
- PRO Lifetime$29.99
Chords Pad
- All sounds are available$0.99
- Available sending MIDI message$0.99
- All chords are available$2.49
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- Always remove ads.$7.99








