Hookpad

Free plan Web

What Hookpad is

Hookpad is browser-based songwriting software for composing musical ideas, chord progressions, melodies, and songs with integrated music theory tools. Its chord tools draw on music theory and data from 75,000 songs. The free plan costs nothing and includes Smart Guides, transposition, tempo and looping controls, piano playback, and cloud saving; advanced chord palettes and search are limited to one-minute previews. Standard costs $7.99 a month and adds more than 500 instruments, 11 band templates, up to four melody voices, lyrics, mixing, recording, MIDI input, and MIDI and MP3 export. Users can also export sheet music, guitar tablature, and lead sheets. MIDI exports can be imported into digital audio workstations such as GarageBand, Logic, and Pro Tools. Audio import supports WAV or MP3, while MIDI input requires a browser that supports the Web MIDI API. Optional Aria AI can suggest chords, melodies, or both, and costs $14.99 a month. Hookpad works in a browser and offers tablet touch mode, but is not suitable for editing on a smartphone.

Who it suits

Hookpad suits songwriters composing chords, melodies, or full songs in a browser. It is not suitable for smartphone editing; MIDI input requires a browser with Web MIDI API support.

What it does well

Chord suggestions draw on theory and 75,000 songs.
Free plan includes Smart Guides and cloud saving.
Standard includes lyrics, recording, and MIDI input.
Exports sheet music, guitar tablature, and lead sheets.

What to know first

Free advanced chord tools and search are one-minute previews.
Standard costs $7.99 a month.
Aria AI add-on costs $14.99 a month.
Not suitable for editing on a smartphone.

Limits

On Free, advanced chord palettes and search features have one-minute previews. MIDI, sheet music, lead sheet, and MP3 export are listed for Standard.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	Chords and melody · Smart Guides · unlimited cloud save · advanced features have 1-minute previews	Free
Aria AI add-on	Monthly · Optional add-on · plus tax where applicable	$14.99 a month
Standard	Lifetime · Full features · plus tax where applicable	$199, paid once
Standard	Monthly; cancel anytime · Full features · plus tax where applicable	$7.99 a month

As hooktheory.com lists them, read 2 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Hookpad website in a browser.
Start with the Free plan or choose Standard at $7.99 a month.
Use Smart Guides, piano playback, and cloud saving to compose.
For MIDI input, use a browser that supports the Web MIDI API.
Add Aria at $14.99 a month if you want its chord or melody suggestions.

Verdict

Hookpad combines songwriting tools with theory-informed chord suggestions, and its free plan covers basic composition and cloud saving. Standard costs $7.99 a month; Aria is an optional add-on at $14.99 a month.

Questions

Is Hookpad free?

Yes. The Free plan costs nothing and includes chords and melody, Smart Guides, and unlimited cloud saving. Advanced chord palettes and search features have one-minute previews.

How much does Standard cost?

Standard costs $7.99 a month, billed monthly, and can be canceled anytime. Tax may apply.

How much does Aria cost?

Aria is an optional add-on that costs $14.99 a month, plus tax where applicable.

Which platforms does Hookpad support?

Hookpad is a web app that works in a browser. It includes tablet touch mode, and its FAQ says it is not suitable for editing on a smartphone.

What can I export from Hookpad?

The user guide describes MIDI, MP3, sheet music, guitar tablature, and lead sheet exports. MIDI can be imported into digital audio workstations such as GarageBand, Logic, and Pro Tools.

Can Hookpad music be released commercially?

Hooktheory says users own music made in Hookpad and may release it commercially. Its sounds may not be resold or redistributed as standalone sounds.

Facts from Hookpad's own pages

Aria: Aria is an optional AI songwriting add-on that can suggest chords, melodies, or both for a project. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Aria data: Aria’s data agreement says chord and melody information is converted to numerical fingerprints, logged, and used by Hooktheory researchers to improve Aria. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Audio and MIDI input: The guide says users can import WAV or MP3 audio and use a MIDI controller, with MIDI input requiring a browser that supports the Web MIDI API. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Browser platform: Hookpad is a web app that works in a browser; its FAQ says it is not suitable for editing on a smartphone and describes tablet touch mode. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Commercial use: Hooktheory says users own music made in Hookpad and may release it commercially, but may not resell or redistribute its sounds as standalone sounds. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Company origins: Hooktheory says its founders developed a music course at UC Berkeley in 2011 and built the platform from its concepts. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Composition features: Hookpad includes Smart Guides, transposition, tempo and looping, piano playback, and cloud saving in its free plan. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
DAW compatibility: Hookpad exports MIDI for import into digital audio workstations such as GarageBand, Logic, and Pro Tools. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Founded: 2012 · hooktheory.com, 23 Sept 2026
Free-plan limits: The pricing comparison marks advanced chord palettes and search features as one-minute previews in the Free plan and lists MIDI, sheet music, lead sheet, and MP3 export for Standard. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Music exports: The user guide describes exporting MIDI, MP3, sheet music, guitar tablature, and lead sheets. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Paid features: Standard includes more than 500 instruments, 11 band templates, up to four melody voices, lyrics, mixing, recording, MIDI input, and MIDI and MP3 export. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Privacy and security: The privacy policy, last updated May 25, 2018, says the site uses industry-standard security technologies and may share information with service providers for limited purposes. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Support: Hooktheory says Dave Carlton personally handles its software and book support emails. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
Theory-informed suggestions: Hookpad says its chord tools draw on music theory and data from 75,000 songs. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026
What it does: Hookpad is songwriting software with integrated music theory tools for composing musical ideas, chord progressions, melodies, and songs. · hooktheory.com, 2 Oct 2026