OtoTheory vs Tonaly

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.

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.