HarmonyBuilder vs OtoTheory
HarmonyBuilder
harmonybuilder.com
OtoTheory
ototheory.comSide by side
| Figure | HarmonyBuilder | OtoTheory |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $14/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 3 |
| Spec score · Chord Finder Software | 7.8 (#9) | 7.8 (#10) |
| Support | The maker directs users with technical support questions to contact it and provides user manuals, tutorial videos, and FAQs. | The support page lists [email protected] and says it typically responds within two business days, excluding weekends and holidays. |
Plans
HarmonyBuilder
- Basic$14 a month
- Educational$49 a month
- Free TrialFree
- Basic$14, paid once
- Professional$19, paid once
- Educational$49, paid once
- InstitutionalPriced on request
In their own words
HarmonyBuilder
HarmonyBuilder is music notation and composition software for writing and hearing four-part harmony. Its editions range from score creation and MIDI export to harmony instruction, composition tools, and teacher-student collaboration. Basic supports moving notes and experimenting with harmony and rhythm. Educational checks voice-leading errors, color-codes chord notes, and identifies and names chords. Professional adds a Chord Selector wheel, a Voicing Generator, and tools for harmonizing melodies or bass lines. Institutional provides a dedicated database for sharing assignments, homework, and compositions; its score accounts are password-protected. Compositions can be saved to a computer or public web archive, or in MIDI format, and a private link can open a score in a browser. HarmonyBuilder runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and requires Java 6 or higher. The trial lasts up to 28 days and includes Basic, Educational, and Professional functionality. Basic costs $14 a month; Educational costs $49 a month.
OtoTheory
OtoTheory is a chord progression builder and music theory companion for guitar, bass, and keyboard players, songwriters, and DAW users. Its iOS app can identify chords, key, and song sections from imported audio or an on-device guitar or piano recording. Users can paste progressions from ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini for Roman numeral analysis and playback with grooves. The app lists 19 groove patterns and more than 50 progression presets; OtoTheory AI suggests chords using musical feel, theory, and emotion. Pro exports MIDI in Groove, Groove + Theory, or Chords Only modes, including BPM, section markers, and chord names. The maker says those exports can be used with Logic Pro, Cubase, Ableton, and other DAWs. OtoTheory is available on iOS and the web, but the web version has fewer features and Pro is iOS-only. The free iOS plan allows three local sketch saves and excludes MIDI and audio export. Pro is listed from $5.99/mo; its annual plan is $49.99/year, and Lifetime costs $99.99 once.