What is Tonefold?
Tonefold is a free, open-source desktop app for macOS and Windows that writes songs from a text description. You tell the built-in composer chat what you want to hear, and it fills a piano roll with chords, melody, bass and drums, then plays the result immediately using a built-in General MIDI synth.
The composer works in layers and sections, so you can ask for a new bass line, keep the chords you like and let the rest of the arrangement adapt. Every note can be edited by hand. In Producer mode, an agent proposes a plan with key, tempo, form and the exact layers it will change, and nothing is written until you approve it. You can export MIDI, a stereo WAV mix or one WAV per layer. Generation, playback, editing and export run locally; only the chat uses a model, either your own Claude login through Claude Code or a local or network Ollama model.
Key features
- Chords, melody, bass and drums written into an editable piano roll
- Eleven editable layer kinds including pads, arpeggios and percussion
- Built-in General MIDI synth for instant playback
- Producer mode with plan approval before any writes
- Export to MIDI, stereo WAV mix and per-layer stems
- Optional CLAP/VST3 plugin and CLI for DAWs and agents
Who is it for
- Songwriters and composers
- Music producers working in DAWs
- Developers and hobbyists experimenting with AI composition
Pros and cons
- Free and open source under GPL-3.0
- Runs locally, with editing and export offline
- Chat requires a Claude login or a local Ollama model
- The app is not yet notarized, so macOS requires manual approval on first launch
Tonefold pricing
The vendor does not publish prices in a readable form (often pricing is shown only after signing in).
Is Tonefold free?
Yes, there is a free plan. The app is free under GPL-3.0 with no account required; the chat uses your own Claude login or a local Ollama model.
Tonefold alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 Suno | 30 PLN/mo | yes | Music |
 BandLab | not listed | yes | Music |
 Moises | not listed | trial | Music |
 AIVA | 11 EUR/mo | yes | Music |
 Google Flow Music | 6 USD/mo | yes | Music |
 SOUNDRAW | 24.92 PLN/mo | trial | Music |
All alternatives to Tonefold →
FAQ
What is Tonefold used for?
Open-source desktop AI music composer: describe a song to Claude and get editable chords, melody, bass and drums in a piano roll.
Is Tonefold free?
Yes, there is a free plan. The app is free under GPL-3.0 with no account required; the chat uses your own Claude login or a local Ollama model.
How much does Tonefold cost?
The vendor does not publish prices publicly or requires sign-in.
What are the best Tonefold alternatives?
Closest alternatives: Suno, BandLab, Moises, AIVA, Google Flow Music.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (tonefold.vkfolio.com).