Chord and FretAn offline chord app — free to start
Most apps depend on a connection and lock the essentials behind a subscription. Chord and Fret is free to start, works offline and runs the loop backwards: build the shape and it names the chord. Here is the honest comparison — just facts.
The comparison, side by side
| What matters | Chord and Fret | Most music apps |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free to start; affordable Pro | Subscription, little free |
| Works offline | Plays offline — generated on your device | Usually needs a connection |
| Ads & trackers | None | Commonly ad-supported |
| Instruments | Guitar, electric, cavaquinho and ukulele | Varies |
| Your charts | They stay on the device, in folders, with sections and repeats — 20 on the free plan, unlimited with Pro; with Pro, a synced copy in your account | Varies — usually in the cloud, with an account |
| Transpose & capo | Non-destructive: reset and the song comes back exactly as it arrived | Varies |
| Identify a chord by its shape | Yes — the reverse path, with inversions | Almost never |
The “most music apps” column describes the market in general, not any one product.
Why it matters
- Free to start — the essentials never expire, no card needed
- Plays offline — the diagrams, scales and audio are generated on the device
- No ads, no trackers — made by musicians
Start free. Go Pro when you want.
The whole library — chords, scales, strums and the tools — free to start; Pro opens the rest.
Meet Chord and FretStart free. Unlock everything with Pro. Plays offline.
What it costs
The essentials are free forever — including hearing the chord. Pro opens the rest.
All three open the SAME Pro — only how you pay changes. No feature belongs to one plan.
Most popularSave 58%14 days free
Annual
$83.88 over 12 months
$34.99/yr
Works out to $2.92 a month.
Download free, subscribe in the appThe subscription happens inside the app, through the App Store or Google Play — nothing is charged on this site.
And if I never pay?
The free plan does not expire: full chord and scale search, hearing the chord, tuner, metronome, rhythm trainer and 20 charts of your own — and the account, if you want one, is free too.
Straight questions, straight answers
How much does it cost?
The essentials are free forever. Pro is a subscription: $6.99/mo or $34.99/yr, with a 14-day free trial on the annual plan and cancel anytime. There is also a lifetime unlock: $174.99, a one-time purchase — pay once, no renewal. Updates are included.
Does it work without internet?
Playing does: the diagrams, scales and audio are generated on your device. The one thing that needs the internet now and then is confirming the Pro subscription: the app keeps a signed pass good for about 30 days and tolerates roughly 7 more. Go past that with no connection at all and Pro falls back to free until you open the app online once — nothing that is free ever stops.
Are there ads or trackers?
No. There are no ads and no trackers, on the site or in the app.