Hookpad
Browser-based songwriting sketchpad that guides chords and melodies with music theory.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web
Is Hookpad free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
- Starting price:
- $7.99/month or $199 lifetime
- Free plan:
- Yes, no credit card required
Checked on Hookpad's site Nov 8, 2026
Full Hookpad pricing and plansSwitch from Hookpad to
All 5
NoteflightStarting price: $7.95 a month or $49 a year (Premium)
ScoreCloudStarting price: $5.99/month (Plus)
Guitar ProStarting price: $69.95 one-time (Guitar Pro 8 licence)
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Hookpad
Hookpad is a songwriting tool from Hooktheory that runs in the browser. You write chords and melodies on a grid that colour-codes notes by scale degree, so you can see each note's role in the key without reading standard notation fluently. It suggests chords that fit the key, shows the most common next chord based on data from tens of thousands of songs, and offers a library of proven progressions. Paid plans add a band of 500+ instrument sounds, mixing, lyrics, sheet music, MIDI keyboard input, audio import and MIDI or MP3 export, so a sketch can become a rough arrangement. Aria, an optional paid add-on, uses generative AI to suggest chords and melodies that fit the project. There is a free tier with unlimited cloud saves; the Standard plan is sold monthly or as a lifetime purchase. It suits beginner and intermediate songwriters, producers and students who want theory help while they write rather than a full DAW or engraving tool.
Best for: Songwriters and producers who want chord and melody suggestions grounded in music theory.
Hookpad pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Hookpad's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card required | Nov 8, 2026 | hooktheory.com |
| Starting price | $7.99/month or $199 lifetime | Nov 6, 2026 | hooktheory.com |
| AI add-on | Aria, $14.99/month | Nov 6, 2026 | hooktheory.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Colour-coded scale degrees make harmony easy to read
- Chord suggestions drawn from data on thousands of popular songs
- Free tier with unlimited cloud saves
- Lifetime licence option for the Standard plan
Why people leave
- Export, MIDI input, lyrics and most instruments need the paid plan
- AI suggestions are a separate monthly add-on
- Not a full DAW: no mixing of recorded multitracks or plugin support
Hookpad vs Noteflight, ScoreCloud and Guitar Pro
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Hookpad | Noteflight | ScoreCloud | Guitar Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Verified price | $7.99/month or $199 lifetime | $7.95 a month or $49 a year (Premium) | $5.99/month (Plus) | $69.95 one-time (Guitar Pro 8 licence) |
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card required | Yes | Up to 10 saved songs | No |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web | Windows, macOS, iOS | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Top Hookpad alternatives
See all 5- 1Noteflight61.8
Online notation editor if you want proper staff notation and printed scores rather than a theory grid.
- 2ScoreCloud59.4
Builds lead sheets with chords and lyrics from sung or played ideas instead of point-and-click input.
- 3Guitar Pro57.5
Desktop tab and score editor for guitar-led songs with full band playback.
- 4
GarageBand56.8Free on Apple devices, with a full multitrack DAW for when sketches turn into recorded songs.
- 5
BandLab54.4Free browser and mobile DAW for building and sharing full arrangements with collaborators.
Why people left Hookpad
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Hookpad: common questions
What is Hookpad?
Hookpad: Browser-based songwriting sketchpad that guides chords and melodies with music theory. Best for songwriters and producers who want chord and melody suggestions grounded in music theory. Available for Web.
Is Hookpad free?
Hookpad has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Yes, no credit card required (checked on Hookpad's own site).
How much does Hookpad cost?
Hookpad is free with paid plans. Free plan: Yes, no credit card required; Starting price: $7.99/month or $199 lifetime; AI add-on: Aria, $14.99/month. Checked on Hookpad's own site, November 2026.
Is Hookpad open source?
No, Hookpad is not open source.
What platforms does Hookpad run on?
Hookpad is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to Hookpad?
The highest-ranked Hookpad alternatives right now are Noteflight, ScoreCloud and Guitar Pro. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Hookpad vs Noteflight: what's the difference?
Both Hookpad and Noteflight are free with paid plans. Verified prices: Hookpad $7.99/month or $199 lifetime, Noteflight $7.95 a month or $49 a year (Premium). Both run on Web.