Autochords vs Tonaly

Autochords is an iPhone and iPad app that helps songwriters find chord progressions and learn chords on guitar, piano and ukulele. Choose a progression style and key to see a main progression and alternatives for other song sections. Progressions can be previewed at a selected tempo with piano, guitar or ukulele playback, and the app provides diagrams for each instrument. Its built-in library contains dozens of progressions across styles of western music, though some require PRO. The free plan provides the app's 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 USD once for lifetime access. If a PRO subscription expires, existing favorites and custom progressions remain accessible, but users cannot add or remove favorites or create or delete custom progressions. Astrocode Pty Ltd develops the app, which is operated by a solo developer.

Tonaly is a songwriting and practice app that uses the circle of fifths to help musicians find chords, write songs, and learn scales. It highlights chords in a key, suggests progressions, supports borrowed chords and extensions, and helps develop melody ideas for hooks, basslines, or solos. Musicians can practice scales, progressions, and solos with key changes and stepwise difficulty increases. A progression generator, chord audio playback, and chord chart export are also available. Users can export MIDI and PDFs or share song links for collaboration; MIDI export to Ableton, Logic, or GarageBand is listed. Tonaly is available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with iOS 16.0, iPadOS 16.0, and macOS 13.0 or later required. Its Mac Pro features include MIDI drag and drop, Core MIDI output, keyboard commands, and lead sheets. The Mac page says iCloud supports working across devices. Tonaly has a free plan and free trial. US App Store purchases include $3.99, paid once for 80+ Scales, $5.99, paid once for PDF lead sheet export, $9.99, paid once for Supporter, $39.99 a year, and $79.99, paid once for Lifetime.