Free Hookpad Alternative
BeatKey Chord Finder detects the chord progression in any audio file you upload. No subscription. No account. Works for samples, loops, and unreleased tracks.
Detect Chords Free →What Is Hookpad?
Hookpad is a browser-based music composition tool built by Hooktheory. It gives you a visual editor for writing chord progressions and melodies using music theory principles. It helps you compose new music by suggesting chords, showing scale degrees, and generating MIDI output. Plans start at $7.99/month or $59.99/year.
Hookpad is a writing tool, not a detection tool. It helps you build chord progressions from scratch. If you have an existing audio file and need to know what chords are in it, Hookpad cannot do that. BeatKey Chord Finder was built for exactly that use case.
The Core Difference
Hookpad
Composition and notation tool. Helps you write chord progressions and melodies visually using music theory. Cannot detect chords from audio files. Requires a subscription.
BeatKey Chord Finder
Audio detection tool. Upload any audio file and get the chord progression with timestamps. Free, no account. Designed for producers and DJs who need to analyze audio they already have.
What BeatKey Chord Finder Offers (Free)
Upload any audio file (MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, OGG) and BeatKey analyzes the harmonic content in your browser. No server upload. No account.
Chord Timeline
Detected chords displayed with timestamps. See when each chord change happens throughout the track.
Musical Key Detection
Identifies the musical key of the track so you have full harmonic context, not just chord names.
Export Chords
Copy chord data as plain text or download as JSON for use in your DAW, notes app, or anywhere else.
Works on Any File
MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG, M4A, and more. Samples, loops, stems, unreleased tracks, anything you have.
Local Processing
Analysis runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly (Essentia). Your file never leaves your device.
Full BeatKey Suite
Pair with BeatKey BPM Detector, Delay Calculator, Scale Finder, and Camelot Wheel, all free.
BeatKey Chord Finder vs Hookpad
| Feature | BeatKey Chord Finder | Hookpad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (forever) | $7.99/month or $59.99/year |
| Requires account | No | Yes |
| Detects chords from audio | Yes | No (composition tool) |
| Works with audio files you upload | Yes | No |
| Works for samples and loops | Yes | No |
| Chord timeline with timestamps | Yes | N/A |
| Musical key detection | Yes | User-set |
| BPM detection | Yes (via BeatKey) | Manual input |
| Export chord data | Yes (text/JSON) | Yes (MIDI) |
| Files stay on your device | Yes (local processing) | N/A |
| Best for | Audio analysis, producers, DJs | Songwriting, composition |
Hookpad is excellent for composing and writing new music. BeatKey Chord Finder is the better choice for analyzing audio you already have, whether that is a sample, a reference track, or an unreleased song.
Who BeatKey Chord Finder Is For
Producers flipping samples
Before you flip a sample you need to know what chords are in it. Upload the audio file to BeatKey Chord Finder and get the full chord progression with timestamps. Hookpad cannot analyze audio files, it is a writing tool for building progressions from scratch.
DJs and reference track analysis
Need to know the harmonic structure of a track in your collection? BeatKey analyzes the audio directly. Get chord progressions, key detection, and Camelot codes, all from a single upload. Pair it with BeatKey BPM Detector for complete analysis.
Songwriters studying existing music
Want to understand how a song you love is constructed harmonically? Upload it to BeatKey Chord Finder. Then take those chords into your DAW or a writing session. Hookpad is great for building progressions once you know what you want to write.
Anyone who needs free chord detection
Hookpad requires a subscription ($7.99/month or $59.99/year) and is focused on composition workflows. BeatKey Chord Finder is free with no account required, focused purely on detecting chords in audio you already have.
The BeatKey Tools Suite
Chord Finder is part of a growing suite of free music tools. All browser-based, all free, all processing happens on your device:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free alternative to Hookpad for detecting chords?
Yes. BeatKey Chord Finder is a free, browser-based tool that detects chord progressions from any audio file you upload. No account or subscription required. All processing happens locally in your browser using Essentia audio analysis.
Can Hookpad detect chords from an audio file?
No. Hookpad is a composition and notation tool, not an audio chord detector. It helps you write and arrange chord progressions visually. BeatKey Chord Finder does the opposite: it analyzes audio you already have and tells you what chords are in it.
What is BeatKey Chord Finder best used for?
Analyzing existing audio to find chord progressions. Upload a sample before flipping it, reverse-engineer a reference track, or quickly identify the harmonic structure of any loop or stem. Everything is free and runs locally in your browser.
Does BeatKey Chord Finder require an account?
No. BeatKey Chord Finder is entirely free with no account, no registration, and no subscription. Open the tool, drag in your audio file, and get the chord progression with timestamps instantly.
Detect chord progressions for free
Upload any audio file. Get the chord progression, musical key, and timestamps. No account, no subscription, no ads.
Open Chord Finder →