# Chords Max vs Guitar Chords Compass Lite

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.

Both are free to download. Chords Max sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Guitar Chords Compass Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chords Max | Guitar Chords Compass Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (212 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chords-max/id987698860/reviews) | **[4.7 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guitar-chords-compass-lite/id1057927518/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **212** | 49 |
| Positive reviews | **64.0% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 68 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 56 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Keynote Star Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/386899141) | [Max Schlee](https://appshunter.io/developer/429770420) |

## What reviewers say

### Chords Max

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chords-max/id987698860)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Chords | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Comprehensive chord reference
- 👍 Includes movable forms and variants
- 👍 Shows chords in all neck positions
- 👍 Provides recommended fingerings
- 👍 Covers common and obscure forms

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 No sound issue
- 🐛 In-app purchase restore issues
- 🐛 App not working after update
- 🐛 Missing advanced chord types
- 🐛 No option for left-handed users

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Paid ad-free version
- Include Scales
- Listen to songs and show chords
- Ability to type in chord
- Update to include more chord types


### Guitar Chords Compass Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guitar-chords-compass-lite/id1057927518)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


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