Comparison

Autochords vs SoftWork Beats

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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)
Features
Read full description

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/

About

SoftWork Beats

Stream original, ad-free instrumental music licensed for public performance in businesses. Customize your audio experience with genre selection, curated trivia, and automated scheduling. Supports multiple devices and languages.

Highlights
  • Original, ad-free instrumental music
  • Licensed for public performance
  • Curated trivia and custom notes display
  • Automated start and stop times
  • Siri and Shortcuts integration
  • Multi-device and multi-room support
  • Multiple language options
Features
Read full description

Pick a vibe, fill the room, and put your own words on the screen. SoftWork Beats is original, ad-free instrumental music for the places you work — and it's licensed so you can play it in public. Twelve genres, one tap: • Lo-Fi Jazz • Chill Electronic • Deep Focus • Energetic Focus • Classical Focus • Acoustic Mornings • Cinematic • Island Time • Retro Drive • Game Mode • Lullabies • Pop WHAT IT DOES • Put your words on the screen — curated trivia for your type of business, plus your own notes between tracks: hours, specials, Wi-Fi, whatever the room should know • Opens and closes with you — set a start and stop time and the music keeps your hours on its own • Hands free — "Hey Siri, play Deep Focus on SoftWork Beats." Every control is a Siri phrase and a Shortcuts action • One room or twenty — add a seat per room and each plays on its own • Original music, no ads — every track is ours, instrumental, with no vocals to talk over and new albums every week • On every screen you own — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch, plus the web player and CarPlay • Speaks your team's language — the whole app in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Japanese, Hindi and Chinese LICENSED FOR PUBLIC PERFORMANCE This is the part most music apps can't offer. Consumer streaming services are licensed for personal listening only — playing them in your business isn't covered. SoftWork Beats is different: your subscription includes a public performance license for your place of business. That means you can play it out loud, in public, wherever you work — reception, waiting rooms, lobbies, treatment rooms, salons, cafés, gyms and studios. No PRO fees. No per-song royalties. No paperwork to file. Hear a track you love? Tap "Listen on Apple Music" to find it. Great for: offices and coworking spaces, dental and medical waiting rooms, therapy and chiropractic clinics, salons and spas, cafés, gyms — and focus sessions at home. Start listening free. Sign in to sync your subscription across devices and remove promo tracks for uninterrupted play. Manage your subscription at softworkbeats.com.

Screenshots

Autochords4 screens
SoftWork Beats4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Autochords at 4.1K against SoftWork Beats's 1. SoftWork Beats's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Autochords sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and SoftWork Beats sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SoftWork Beats holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Autochords has 4.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Autochords's written reviews are positive against 100% of SoftWork Beats's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Autochords ships an update every 2 months, SoftWork Beats every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Autochords versus SoftWork Beats: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAutochordsSoftWork Beats
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.1K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.1K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB14 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperAstrocode Pty LtdDawson Toth

Customer experience

Autochords

All ratings4,056 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral3.0%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews196 reviews
Positive83.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative11.2%

SoftWork Beats

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
Show 1 more
  • Incorporate arpeggio playback and background drums

SoftWork Beats

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Autochords

Subscriptions3
  • PRO Weekly$0.997 Days
  • PRO Monthly$2.991 Month
  • PRO Annual7 Days trial$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • PRO Lifetime$29.99
5 purchases

SoftWork Beats

Subscriptions5
  • 1 Seat$9.991 Month
  • 2 Seats$19.991 Month
  • 3 Seats$29.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • 4 Seats$39.991 Month
  • 5 Seats$49.991 Month

Questions

Is Autochords free?
Autochords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SoftWork Beats free?
SoftWork Beats is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Autochords or SoftWork Beats?
SoftWork Beats is rated higher. Autochords averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while SoftWork Beats averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Autochords or SoftWork Beats have ads?
Neither Autochords nor SoftWork Beats shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Autochords or SoftWork Beats?
Autochords ships an update every 2 months, and SoftWork Beats every 11 days. Most recently, Autochords was updated on October 17, 2026 and SoftWork Beats on October 7, 2026.

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