Comparison

Chords Max vs Guitar Chords Compass Lite

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

Head to head
About

Chords Max

Access thousands of guitar chords with detailed visual aids and audio playback. Explore variations, voicings, and finger positions on a realistic guitar image. Perfect for beginners and professionals looking to expand their chord knowledge.

Highlights
  • Thousands of guitar chords
  • Smart chord generator
  • Intuitive visual aids on guitar image
  • Listen to chords on acoustic, classical, electric
  • Discover chord voicings and shapes
  • Seamless chord navigation
Features
Read full description

Explore the BIGGEST selection of Chords on the App Store! Access thousands of unique chords on your smartphone & view them on a guitar image, so you know exactly how to play them. SMART CHORD GENERATOR Explore thousands of guitar chords, each with different voicings and variations. You’ll be able to improve your musical talent and expand your knowledge of guitar chords. Just select a chord root and a chord name, then browse through all the shapes, forms and voicings of that particular chord. Easily jump to the next fret with a quick tap of a button! INTUITIVE VISUAL AIDS Visualizing a chord can be tough, especially for beginners. With each chord on our app, you’ll see that chord presented on a realistic guitar image. Clearly see the notes and correct finger position, making it easy to translate to your own guitar! LISTEN & LEARN To find the perfect voicing for the chord you want to use, you can simply tap a button to listen to chords on a real guitar. Select whether you want to hear the chord on an Acoustic, Classical, or Electric guitar, making it easy to browse through and find the perfect chord without manually playing each one! =============== KEY FEATURES =============== • State of the art chord auto generation covers every variation possible • Discover all the voicings, forms and shapes of every guitar chord • Thousands of chords at your fingertips • See the notes and finger position clearly presented on a real guitar • Listen to each chord on an Acoustic, Classical, or Electric guitar • Seamless navigation through each chord makes it easy to find the right one Whether you’re a beginner guitarist looking to practice your chords, a professional testing out the perfect chord voicing for your song or you just want to expand your personal chord repertoire, you’re in the right place. With more chords than you could ever need, Guitar Chords Max is the ultimate destination for guitar players looking to discover awesome chords. ========================================= DOWNLOAD GUITAR CHORDS MAX TODAY! =========================================

About

Guitar Chords Compass Lite

Explore, learn, and master guitar chords with a vast library of diagrams and a smart chord finder. Supports numerous chord types, tunings, and player preferences, offering real guitar sounds.

Highlights
  • 10,000+ chord diagrams
  • Smart chord finder
  • 56 chord types supported
  • Real guitar sounds
  • Multiple guitar tunings
  • Right and left-handed support
Features
Read full description

Stop limiting your guitar playing! Whether you're struggling to find that perfect chord for your song or want to break free from basic progressions, Guitar Chords Compass Lite is your ultimate tool for exploring, learning and mastering chords with precision and ease! Why It’s Perfect For You: + Access 10,000 chord diagrams across 11 positions on the guitar fretboard + Built-in smart chord finder powered by a custom algorithm to show all valid chord options instantly + 56 chord types supported, from basic Maj and Min to complex voicings like Maj13 or Sus2 Add9 + Real guitar sounds with adjustable volume to hear every little nuance + Possibility to upgrade to the full version for even more options (The Lite Version offers the chords for 4 key notes, but you can easily upgrade if you need the chords for the complete note set!) Key Features: + 19 unique voice types to match your style + All common guitar tunings available, including Standard, Drop D, DADGAD, Open G, Slide open A, and more + Designed for both right- and left-handed players Perfect For: + Guitar students learning new chord shapes + Songwriters in need of chord inspiration + Pro musicians refining their chord vocabulary + Beginners that are just starting their journey Download Guitar Chords Compass Lite now and transform your playing from ordinary to extraordinary! Or upgrade to the full version to access the complete note set and unlock the full potential of Guitar Chords Compass! Your breakthrough moment is just one tap away!

Screenshots

Chords Max3 screens
Guitar Chords Compass Lite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Guitar Chords Compass Lite at none against Chords Max's 1. Guitar Chords Compass Lite also leads on ads (none vs shown). Chords Max's advantage is review sentiment (64% vs 33%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 68 months). On price, rating and device support 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. Chords Max sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Guitar Chords Compass Lite 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 Chords Max against 4.7 for Guitar Chords Compass Lite. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 212 and 49 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Chords Max's written reviews are positive against 33% of Guitar Chords Compass Lite's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chords Max ships an update every 3 weeks, Guitar Chords Compass Lite every 68 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Chords Max versus Guitar Chords Compass Lite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChords MaxGuitar Chords Compass Lite
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (212 ratings)4.7 (49 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings212 — better49
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 68 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKeynote Star IncMax Schlee

Customer experience

Chords Max

All ratings212 ratings
Positive87.7%
Neutral5.2%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive64.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative28.0%

Guitar Chords Compass Lite

All ratings48 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral8.3%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative58.3%

Bugs and requests

Chords Max

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • App not launching after update
  • Purchased items not restoring after reinstallation
  • In-app purchase not restoring after iPhone restore
  • No sound issue
  • App forced rating and then required payment
Show 10 more
  • Layout less cohesive after update
  • No minor chords displayed or played
  • App was better before update
  • Cords may be incorrect
  • App not working after update
  • Paid features not restoring
  • No sound with iPods
  • No sound when strumming or clicking
  • No sound at all
  • No sound

Requested features

11 requests
  • Paid ad-free version
  • Include Scales
  • Listen to songs and show chords
  • Ability to type in chord
  • Update to include more chord types
Show 6 more
  • Add left-handed mode
  • Add option to listen to chords
  • Add ability to guess chord being played
  • Add dark mode
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard
  • Add instructions for new users

Guitar Chords Compass Lite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Chords Max

One-time1
  • Pro Chords$1.99
None

Guitar Chords Compass Lite

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chords Max free?
Chords Max is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Guitar Chords Compass Lite free?
Guitar Chords Compass Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chords Max or Guitar Chords Compass Lite?
Guitar Chords Compass Lite is rated higher. Chords Max averages 4.6 out of 5 from 212 ratings, while Guitar Chords Compass Lite averages 4.7 from 49 ratings.
Do Chords Max or Guitar Chords Compass Lite have ads?
Chords Max shows ads; Guitar Chords Compass Lite does not.
Which is updated more often, Chords Max or Guitar Chords Compass Lite?
Chords Max ships an update every 3 weeks, and Guitar Chords Compass Lite every 68 months. Most recently, Chords Max was updated on November 1, 2026 and Guitar Chords Compass Lite on November 2, 2026.

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