Hookpad review
A complete web songwriting workspace with free basics and deeper paid tiers.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Hookpad pros and cons
- 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
Hookpad fact sheet, pricing and score →
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