Hookpad
Hookpad: A complete web songwriting workspace with free basics and deeper paid tiers. Ranked #3 of 30 in Songwriting Software by our editors (9.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for complete browser-based songwriting.
At a glance
- Editor score9.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forComplete browser-based songwriting
- Free planYes
- Paid from$7.99/mo
- Melody toolsYes
- Founded2012
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Combines chords, melody, lyrics, recording, mixing, and theory tools
- Exports MIDI, MP3, sheet music, and lead sheets
- Free plan includes cloud saving, smart guides, and piano previews
Where it doesn't
- Web-only access does not provide a native mobile workflow
- Lyrics, recording, MIDI input, and exports require Standard
- Aria AI is a separate paid tier at $14.99 per month
Our verdict on Hookpad
Hookpad is browser-based songwriting software for songwriters, producers, musicians, educators, students, and composers. Its workspace brings together chord progression editing, chord search, melody writing, lyrics with syllable placement, music-theory-based suggestions, instrument sounds, mixing, recording, and export tools. The product is available on the web and was founded in 2012, making it suited to users who want one place to develop a song from an initial progression through a shareable arrangement.
The free plan covers basic chord and melody writing, smart guides, transposition, tempo and looping, piano previews, and unlimited cloud saving. Standard costs $7.99 per month or $199 as a one-time payment for lifetime access to Standard features. It adds advanced chord tools, 500+ instruments, lyrics, recording, MIDI input, and MIDI and MP3 export. Aria AI costs $14.99 per month and generates chord ideas, melody ideas, or combinations that fit a project. This tier structure makes Hookpad approachable for early composition while reserving fuller production and AI capabilities for paid plans.
Its broadest strength is the connection between theory-aware composition and practical song development. Smart chord-compatibility guides, suggested progressions, band templates, individual volume controls, audio import, and multiple export formats support movement from ideas to demos. Users who need a focused, browser-based songwriting environment with lyrics, melody, chords, and recording should pick Hookpad. Those who require native mobile software or want Standard capabilities without a paid plan should look elsewhere.
Your product? Our editors can test Hookpad in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Hookpad pricing
All 3 Hookpad plans and prices →
Hookpad fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $7.99/mo |
| Lyric tools | Yes |
| Chord tools | Yes |
| Melody tools | Yes |
| Demo recording | Yes |
| Collaboration | Not verified |
| Platform support | Web |
| Song library limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | hooktheory.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Hookpad
- Song CageA broad songwriting workspace with strong chord, lyric, recording, and DAW support.9.4
- SongcraftA focused songwriting workspace with strong collaboration and a five-song free tier.9.2
- SongScribeA focused songwriting and performance app for chord sheets and multitrack demos.9.0
See all Hookpad alternatives →
Hookpad vs the competition
- Hookpad vs Song Cage
- Hookpad vs Songcraft
- Hookpad vs SongScribe
- Hookpad vs Odesi
- Hookpad vs RapidComposer
- Hookpad vs Nitesong
Compare Hookpad with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Hookpad is ranked in 3 of our directories.
Used Hookpad? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Hookpad for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Hookpad is listed in our Songwriting Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/hookpad/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/hookpad.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update