Autochords

Autochords is a songwriting app for iPhone and iPad that generates chord-progression ideas and shows how to play them on guitar, piano, or ukulele. It suits writers and learners who want to audition harmonic directions on a mobile device, especially when a song needs contrasting sections rather than one loop. The free tier is useful for exploration; PRO becomes the practical choice when saving, editing, or exporting ideas is part of your process.

Overview

Choose a progression style and key, and Autochords returns a primary sequence with alternatives intended for other song sections. That makes it a focused idea generator rather than a full arranging environment: it supplies workable starting points, while decisions about structure, melody, and suitability remain yours. The app is developed and operated by solo developer Astrocode Pty Ltd in Brisbane, Australia.

Key features

Each progression can be previewed at the selected tempo with piano, guitar, or ukulele playback. Hearing the same harmony in different instrument voices is valuable when you are deciding on a song’s character, while the matching chord diagrams turn an idea into something a player can practice. Guitar, piano, and ukulele diagrams cover the three supported instruments, so the app is more useful to instrumentalists than a generator that only displays chord names.

A built-in library contains dozens of progressions covering styles of western music. It gives the free experience a substantial browsing component, although some entries are locked behind PRO. The generator and library are therefore strongest as a source of starting material, not as a guarantee that every style or progression will be available without payment.

PRO adds favorites, tempo changes, theme choices, custom progressions, and MIDI export. Favorites help preserve promising discoveries, while custom sequences let you move beyond the generated material. MIDI export uses the iOS share sheet and can hand files to compatible apps, including desktop DAWs such as Logic or GarageBand. That is a useful handoff from mobile sketching to production software, but Autochords remains an iPhone/iPad tool rather than a desktop workstation.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and includes the free app features, with some progressions requiring PRO. It is the right starting point for occasional writers and anyone who wants to assess the generator and playback before committing, but it does not provide the complete library or PRO workflow.

PRO Monthly costs $2.99 a month, billed Monthly. PRO Annual costs $12.99 a year, billed Annual, and PRO Lifetime costs 29.99 USD once, billed Lifetime. All three paid options unlock more progressions, custom progressions, MIDI export, favorites, tempo changes, and color themes. Monthly suits short projects or cautious buyers; annual is the lower-cost recurring option for regular use; lifetime is the clearest fit for sustained use if you want to avoid renewal. After PRO expires, existing favorites and custom progressions remain accessible, but you cannot add or remove favorites or create or delete custom progressions, so cancellation affects ongoing organization and creation rather than erasing prior work.

Platforms

Autochords is presented for iPhone and iPad on iOS. MIDI files can be passed through the iOS share sheet to compatible applications, including Logic or GarageBand on desktop, but there is no separate Android, web, or native desktop version.

Who it's for

Songwriters who need quick progression options, players learning the accompanying chords, and mobile-first creators who export MIDI will get the most from Autochords. It is less suitable for Android or desktop-only users, or for anyone needing a broad production suite inside the same application. The instrument playback and diagrams also make it a sensible practice companion when you write on guitar, piano, or ukulele.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Style-and-key suggestions include alternatives for other sections, helping a song develop beyond a single repeating progression.
• Pro: Piano, guitar, and ukulele playback paired with diagrams connects listening, writing, and playing.
• Pro: MIDI export provides a direct route into compatible apps and desktop DAWs.
• Con: Some library progressions are PRO-only, limiting what free users can browse.
• Con: iOS-only availability excludes Android, web, and desktop users.
• Con: Expired PRO accounts retain existing material but lose the ability to manage favorites or create and delete custom progressions.
• Con: Anonymous usage and diagnostic data may be sent to Astrocode servers for up to two years, while support emails are retained by Fastmail.

Alternatives

Browse the Chord Finder Software list for a wider category comparison. Choose ChordU instead if you need Android or web access, uploads, downloads, MusicOnly mode, and a 5.00 USD monthly Premium plan. Chord Analyser is an Android/iOS alternative with a no-time-limit, no-ads free plan. Pick Chordio if you want iOS/macOS support, built-in sounds, an on-screen keyboard, and real-time MIDI chord detection. ChordSequence is the stronger choice for a completely free Android/web tool with no paywall or usage limit and WAV/MIDI export. OtoTheory suits users who want iOS and web access, a free trial, and a 99.99 USD lifetime option, though its free tier limits local sketches and withholds MIDI/audio export. Chord ai is worth considering for Android/iOS basic features and stated unlimited free use, with Pro at 9.00 USD monthly. Harmony Pro is a free macOS, web, and Windows option. Open—Shape is another iOS/web alternative centered on a full chord engine and broad voicing support.

Verdict

Choose Autochords if you write on iPhone or iPad and want progression suggestions that you can immediately hear, play, save, and move into a DAW. The main reason to pay is the combination of custom progressions, organization tools, and MIDI export at a relatively low annual or lifetime cost. Look elsewhere if you need Android, web, or desktop-native access, a fully unrestricted free library, or a broader production environment.