Autochords

Autochords helps songwriters find chord progressions and learn chords on guitar, piano, and ukulele. Choose a progression style and key to see a main suggestion alongside alternatives for other parts of a song. Progressions can be previewed at a selected tempo, with playback on any of the three instruments, and chord diagrams are available for each. A built-in library contains dozens of progressions across styles of western music, though some require PRO. The free app includes its free features; PRO adds more progressions, favorites, tempo changes, color themes, custom progressions, and MIDI export. Export uses the iOS share sheet to open files in compatible apps, including desktop DAWs such as Logic or GarageBand. PRO costs $2.99 a month, $12.99 a year, or $29.99 once for lifetime access. If PRO expires, existing favorites and custom progressions remain accessible, but adding or removing favorites and creating or deleting custom progressions is unavailable. Astrocode Pty Ltd develops Autochords, which is operated by a solo developer.

Autochords brings progression suggestions, instrument playback, and chord diagrams together for three instruments. The free app includes some features, while PRO unlocks additional progressions and creation tools at monthly, annual, or lifetime terms.

Autochords suits songwriters looking for progression ideas and chord references for guitar, piano, or ukulele. It also fits users who want to preview progressions or export MIDI to compatible apps.

Autochords is an iPhone and iPad app that helps songwriters find chord progressions and learn chords on guitar, piano, or ukulele. It suits writers who want to explore musical ideas on a phone or tablet and hear how a progression sounds. The free tier is useful for trying that workflow; PRO makes more sense when saving, customizing, or exporting ideas matters.

Overview

Choose a style and key, and Autochords offers a main progression plus alternatives for other parts of a song. That gives writers several starting points for moving beyond a single loop, while leaving the musical judgment to them. It is a focused songwriting aid rather than a complete production environment.

Key features

Progressions can be played at a selected tempo in piano, guitar, or ukulele sounds, and diagrams show how to play chords on those same instruments. This pairing makes the app useful to writers who want to hear an idea and then work it out on an instrument. The library includes dozens of progressions across western music styles, although some require PRO.

PRO adds favorites, tempo changes, theme choices, custom progressions, and MIDI export. Export opens the iOS share sheet, letting users pass a MIDI file to compatible apps, including desktop DAWs such as Logic or GarageBand. That supports a mobile-to-desktop workflow, but Autochords itself is presented for iPhone and iPad.

After PRO expires, saved favorites and custom progressions remain accessible. Users lose the ability to add or remove favorites and to create or delete custom progressions, so anyone who relies on those tools should factor continued access into the subscription decision.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and includes free app features, with some progressions reserved for PRO. It is the sensible starting point for exploring suggestions, playback, and diagrams before paying, but it does not open the full progression library or PRO creation tools.

PRO Monthly costs $2.99 a month and adds more progressions, custom progressions, MIDI export, favorites, tempo changes, and color themes. It suits writers who need those tools for a short project or want to try the full workflow without a longer commitment.

PRO Annual costs $12.99 a year for the same features. It fits someone who expects to use Autochords regularly and prefers an annual term to paying month by month. PRO Lifetime costs $29.99, paid once and unlocks the same feature set without a recurring term; it is the option for committed users who want ongoing PRO access. The listed terms distinguish monthly, annual, and one-time payment, but do not specify renewal conditions.

Platforms

Autochords is available for iOS, with the maker presenting it as an iPhone and iPad app. Songwriters who need a native Android or web version should look elsewhere. MIDI export can connect the app to compatible software, including desktop DAWs, but that does not extend Autochords itself to desktop.

Who it's for

Autochords is a good fit for songwriters who want chord ideas organized by style and key, especially players working with guitar, piano, or ukulele. Its instrument playback and diagrams serve both idea-finding and learning. Writers who need a broad, cross-platform tool or plan to do their full arranging and production in one app may find its mobile focus limiting.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Suggestions include alternatives for other song sections, giving writers more than one progression to consider.
• Pro: Playback and chord diagrams cover guitar, piano, and ukulele, helping connect an audible idea to how it is played.
• Pro: MIDI export can hand a sketch off to compatible apps, including desktop DAWs.
• Con: Some library progressions and the creation, saving, tempo, and export tools require PRO.
• Con: The app is for iPhone and iPad, which excludes writers looking for an Android or web version.
• Con: Once PRO expires, existing saved material remains viewable, but users cannot edit favorites or create and delete custom progressions.

Alternatives

For a broader instrument choice, ChordU has Android, iOS, and web versions, with a free plan and a Premium plan at $5 a month that includes uploads, MusicOnly mode, and downloads. Choose it if cross-platform access or those features matter more than Autochords' focused progression suggestions and diagrams.

OtoTheory is another iOS and web option, with a free tier that allows three local sketch saves and a $99.99 one-time Lifetime plan. It may suit writers who want a web version and are comfortable with a larger upfront purchase for Pro access.

Chord ai offers Android and iOS apps, a free plan described as unlimited free use, and a monthly Pro plan at $9 a month. Consider it if Android support or its stated unlimited free use is the priority.

Chord Analyser is a free Android and iOS alternative for readers comparing mobile chord tools.

Chordio is available on iOS and macOS, with a free download that includes built-in sounds, an on-screen keyboard, every workspace, and real-time MIDI chord detection. Choose it if Mac support and MIDI chord detection are central to your workflow.

ChordSequence is free on Android and web, with all features, no usage limit, and WAV and MIDI export. It is a strong alternative for someone who needs those platforms and export formats without a paywall.

Open—Shape is an iOS and web alternative with a free plan that includes its full chord engine and every voicing. Consider it if a web version or access to every voicing is more useful than Autochords' progression-focused approach.

Roland Chord Director is a free Android and iOS app that requires a free Roland Account to access pre-made chord patterns and serves as a companion to GO:KEYS 3 and GO:KEYS 5.

Browse more options in Chord Finder Software.

Verdict

Autochords is best for iPhone and iPad songwriters who want quick progression ideas they can hear and play on guitar, piano, or ukulele. Its strongest reason to choose it is the focused combination of style-and-key suggestions, instrument playback, diagrams, and a path to MIDI export. Look elsewhere if you need Android or web access, or if you want your core creation tools to remain editable after PRO expires.