Hookpad vs Zoundroom

Hookpad is browser-based songwriting software for composing chord progressions, melodies and songs with integrated music theory tools. Its chord suggestions draw on music theory and data from 75,000 songs. The free plan includes Smart Guides, transposition, tempo and looping, piano playback and cloud saving; advanced chord palettes and search are limited to one-minute previews. Standard adds more than 500 instruments, 11 band templates, up to four melody voices, lyrics, mixing, recording and MIDI input, along with MIDI and MP3 export. Users can also export sheet music, guitar tablature and lead sheets. MIDI exports can be imported into digital audio workstations such as GarageBand, Logic and Pro Tools. Audio import supports WAV and MP3; MIDI input requires a browser with Web MIDI API support. Optional Aria can suggest chords, melodies or both. Hookpad works in a browser and offers tablet touch mode, but is not suitable for smartphone editing. Standard costs $7.99 a month, billed monthly; the optional Aria add-on costs $14.99 a month, billed monthly.

Zoundroom is a workspace for artists to collect and develop music in progress, keeping projects, lyrics, recordings, notes, and collaborators together. A project can represent a song, EP, or album, with cover art, custom tags, and filters for names, tags, or file types. Users can record audio, import common audio formats, and upload PDFs such as sheet music, lyrics, tablature, or chords. Notes support colored text and sections, and can keep a recording alongside a lyric. An AI assistant offers chord, lyric, structure, rhyme, and synonym suggestions tailored through an artist questionnaire. Collaborators can join through a one-time code and comment at timestamps on audio, though invitees need a Zoundroom account. The Free Plan allows two active projects and sharing with up to two artists. Pro is €4.99 a month, billed €59.99/year with annual payment; Band is €12.49 a month, billed €149.99/year. Mobile and browser versions sync under one account; the browser app works on macOS or Windows computers. Zoundroom does not mix or master music or replace a production environment.