The 5 Best Apps for Guitarists Who Use Spotify in 2025

If you’re a guitarist and use Spotify to discover music, practice, or simply enjoy your favorite songs, you’ve probably wondered: is there an app that helps me get guitar chords while listening to Spotify?

The answer is yes, and in this guide we’ll review the 5 best options available in 2025, comparing features, pricing, and ease of use.

Executive Summary: Quick Comparison

App	Spotify Integration	Automatic Chords	Price	Platform	Best For
ChordyMatch	✅ Native	✅ Yes	$1.99/month	Mac/Windows	Musicians who want instant chords
Ultimate Guitar	⚠️ Manual	❌ No	$25/year	Web/iOS/Android	Large variety of tabs and chords
Chordify	⚠️ Partial	⚠️ Requires link	$36/year	Web/iOS/Android	Detailed song analysis
Songsterr	❌ No	❌ No	$10/month	Web/iOS/Android	Guitarists who prefer interactive tabs
Guitar Tabs & Chords	❌ No	❌ No	Free	iOS/Android	Beginners on a budget

Now, let’s dive deeper into each option.

1. ChordyMatch - Best for Spotify Integration

⭐ Rating: 9.5/10

ChordyMatch is the only app designed specifically to work in real-time with Spotify.

Key Features

✅ Native Spotify Integration

• Connects directly with your Spotify account
• Automatically detects what song you’re listening to
• No copying/pasting links required

✅ Automatic Real-Time Chords

• Chords appear instantly when the song starts
• Updates automatically when you change tracks
• No manual search needed

✅ Minimalist Interface

• Lives in your menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows)
• Always visible, never intrusive
• Clean design focused on chords

✅ Chord Diagrams

• Shows finger positions
• Alternative chords available
• Easy to read for beginners

Pricing

• Free trial: 30 days
• Monthly plan: $1.99/month
• Lifetime plan: $29.99 (one-time payment)

Pros

• ✅ Only app with true automatic Spotify integration
• ✅ Frictionless workflow
• ✅ Affordable pricing
• ✅ No need to constantly switch apps

Cons

• ⚠️ Only works with Spotify (not Apple Music, YouTube, etc.)
• ⚠️ Available only for Mac and Windows (no mobile yet)

Best For

• Guitarists who use Spotify as their primary music source
• Musicians who want to practice without interruptions
• People who value automation and convenience

Try ChordyMatch free for 30 days →

---

2. Ultimate Guitar - Most Complete

⭐ Rating: 8/10

Ultimate Guitar is the world’s largest community of tabs and chords, with millions of songs available.

Key Features

✅ Massive Library

• Over 1.5 million songs
• Tabs, chords, and sheet music
• User-generated + official content

✅ Multiple Versions

• Different versions of the same song
• Community ratings
• You can choose the version that sounds best

✅ Practice Tools

• Key transposition
• Autoscroll
• Dark mode

Pricing

• Free version: With ads and limitations
• Pro: $5/month or $25/year

Spotify Integration

⚠️ Manual - You must manually search for the song in Ultimate Guitar. No automatic detection.

Pros

• ✅ Huge song catalog
• ✅ Active community
• ✅ Available on all platforms

Cons

• ❌ Doesn’t automatically integrate with Spotify
• ❌ Interface saturated with ads (free version)
• ❌ Requires manual search for each song

Best For

• Guitarists looking for variety of versions
• People who want tabs in addition to chords
• Users who don’t mind searching manually

---

3. Chordify - Best for Automatic Analysis

⭐ Rating: 7.5/10

Chordify uses artificial intelligence to analyze songs and automatically generate chords.

Key Features

✅ Automatic Chord Generation

• Upload a link from YouTube, Spotify, or SoundCloud
• Chordify analyzes and generates chords
• Works with obscure songs without existing tabs

✅ Audio Synchronization

• Chords are highlighted while music plays
• You can see exactly when each chord changes
• Useful for precise timing

✅ Chord Export

• Save your favorite songs
• Create practice playlists
• Print chords as PDF

Pricing

• Free version: 2 songs per day
• Premium: $6/month or $36/year

Spotify Integration

⚠️ Partial - You can paste Spotify links, but there’s no automatic detection of what you’re listening to.

Pros

• ✅ Generates chords for any song
• ✅ Good audio synchronization
• ✅ Useful for songs without published chords

Cons

• ❌ Doesn’t automatically detect your Spotify music
• ❌ Sometimes AI-generated chords are inaccurate
• ❌ Very restrictive free version limit

Best For

• Musicians who want chords for very obscure songs
• People who need precise visual timing
• Guitarists who also play other instruments

---

4. Songsterr - Best for Interactive Tabs

⭐ Rating: 7/10

Songsterr specializes in interactive guitar tabs with audio playback.

Key Features

✅ Interactive Tabs

• Tabs with synchronized audio
• Multiple instruments (guitar, bass, drums)
• Professional tablature visualization

✅ Learning Tools

• Loop specific sections
• Speed control
• Instrument isolation

✅ Consistent Quality

• Professional tabs, not user-generated
• Accurate transcriptions
• No low-quality versions

Pricing

• Free version: With limitations
• Plus: $10/month

Spotify Integration

❌ No - Songsterr is an independent platform without Spotify integration.

Pros

• ✅ High-quality tabs
• ✅ Perfect for learning complex solos
• ✅ Synchronized audio helps learning

Cons

• ❌ No Spotify integration
• ❌ Focused on tabs, not simple chords
• ❌ High price ($10/month)

Best For

• Advanced guitarists who want to learn solos note-by-note
• People who prefer tablature to chords
• Musicians who play in bands (multiple instruments)

---

5. Guitar Tabs & Chords - Best Free Option

⭐ Rating: 6/10

Guitar Tabs & Chords is a free mobile app with a decent chord catalog.

Key Features

✅ Completely Free

• No subscriptions
• No in-app purchases
• Unlimited access

✅ Offline Mode

• Download chords for offline use
• Useful for practicing anywhere

✅ Favorites and Playlists

• Save your favorite songs
• Organize by difficulty or genre

Pricing

• 100% Free (with ads)

Spotify Integration

❌ No - Independent app without connection to streaming services.

Pros

• ✅ Free
• ✅ Works offline
• ✅ Easy to use

Cons

• ❌ No Spotify integration
• ❌ Limited catalog compared to Ultimate Guitar
• ❌ Many ads
• ❌ Basic interface

Best For

• Beginners on a budget
• Casual guitarists
• People who practice in places without internet

---

Detailed Comparison: Use Cases

Scenario 1: You’re Discovering New Music on Spotify

Best option: ChordyMatch ⭐

Why? While listening to a Spotify playlist on shuffle, ChordyMatch automatically detects each song and shows you the chords. You can play along with the music without interrupting the flow.

Other options:

• Ultimate Guitar: You’d have to pause, search for the song, open the page, return to Spotify
• Chordify: You’d have to copy the Spotify link, paste it in Chordify, wait for analysis

Scenario 2: You Want to Learn a Complex Guitar Solo

Best option: Songsterr ⭐

Why? Songsterr has professional tabs with synchronized audio. You can loop difficult sections and practice note-by-note.

Other options:

• Ultimate Guitar: Has tabs, but they’re not interactive
• ChordyMatch: Shows chords, not detailed tabs

Scenario 3: You Want Chords for a Very Obscure Song

Best option: Chordify ⭐

Why? Chordify can generate chords using AI for songs that don’t have published chords. Upload the audio and get chords in minutes.

Other options:

• Ultimate Guitar: Probably won’t have the song
• ChordyMatch: Depends on its database (though it’s very extensive)

Scenario 4: You’re Practicing on a Limited Budget

Best option: Guitar Tabs & Chords ⭐

Why? It’s completely free and has enough songs to get started.

Other options:

• ChordyMatch: $1.99/month (very affordable)
• Ultimate Guitar free version: Many ads but usable

Scenario 5: You Teach Guitar Lessons

Best option: ChordyMatch ⭐

Why? You can project your screen, play songs on Spotify, and chords appear automatically. Switch between different songs without pauses.

Other options:

• Ultimate Guitar: You’d have to prepare tabs before class
• Songsterr: Good for teaching specific techniques

---

Our Final Recommendation

If you use Spotify regularly and want a seamless, frictionless experience, ChordyMatch is the best option.

Why ChordyMatch Wins?

1. Only app with true automatic Spotify integration

   • No copying/pasting
   • No manual search
   • No switching between apps

2. Affordable pricing

   • $1.99/month is less than a coffee
   • Lifetime plan available for only $29.99

3. Optimized workflow

   • Open Spotify → Play → Chords appear
   • Simple, fast, effective

4. Designed specifically for musicians who use Spotify

   • Not a generic chord app with forced integration
   • Built from scratch with Spotify in mind

When to consider alternatives:

• If you need detailed tabs: Songsterr
• If you want variety of versions: Ultimate Guitar
• If you work with obscure songs: Chordify
• If you have zero budget: Guitar Tabs & Chords

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use several apps at the same time?

Yes, many guitarists combine apps:

• ChordyMatch for daily practice with Spotify
• Ultimate Guitar to search for alternative versions
• Songsterr to learn complex solos

Which is best for beginners?

ChordyMatch is ideal for beginners because:

• Simple, clean interface
• Doesn’t overwhelm you with options
• Clear chords with visual diagrams
• Intuitive workflow

Which has the best catalog?

Ultimate Guitar has the largest catalog (1.5M+ songs), but ChordyMatch has millions of chords too. For practical use, both cover most songs you’ll want to play.

Do they work without internet?

• ChordyMatch: Requires internet (to sync with Spotify)
• Ultimate Guitar: Mobile app allows offline downloads (Pro only)
• Guitar Tabs & Chords: Yes, you can download for offline use

Which is best for Mac/Windows?

ChordyMatch is the only one in this list with native Mac and Windows apps. The others are primarily web or mobile.

---

Conclusion: Start with ChordyMatch

If you’re a guitarist and use Spotify, ChordyMatch will change the way you practice.

Instead of interrupting your flow to search for chords, simply play. Chords appear automatically, song after song.

Try it free for 30 days - no credit card required.

Request beta access →

Or if you’re ready:

Download ChordyMatch now →

---

Additional Resources

• Is there an app that shows chords for Spotify? - Complete guide
• How to get real-time chords on Spotify - Step-by-step tutorial
• ChordyMatch FAQ - Frequently asked questions

---

Last updated: January 2025