Chord & FretAn offline chord app — free to start
Most apps depend on a connection and lock the essentials behind a subscription. Chord & Fret is free to start, works plays 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 & 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; and, if you want it, 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 & 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.
See the app and the launchThe 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, 20 charts of your own and syncing across devices.
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.