# Dorico - Compose Music — user reviews > 289 indexed App Store user reviews of Dorico by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, rated 4.63/5 from 2,059 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,540 · 4★ 198 · 3★ 68 · 2★ 45 · 1★ 57 ## What do users think of Dorico? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🚀 Powerful and full-featured notation app on iPad - 👍 Seamless integration with desktop version - 🚀 Efficient workflow with keyboard shortcuts - 👍 Impressive engraving and layout capabilities - 🚀 Comprehensive feature set for composing and arranging **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues - 🔒 Subscription-only model, no option to purchase outright - 🐛 Glitchy touch/scroll functionality - 🐛 Inability to delete clefs or access certain settings - 🐛 Inconsistent performance on older iPad models **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes when opening or editing projects - Corrupted/lost files after app crashes - Unresponsive keyboard and note input issues - Scrolling and UI glitches, especially in Engrave mode - Incompatibility with certain iPad models and iOS versions **Most requested features** - Support for Apple Pencil and handwriting input - Improved file management and organization - Expanded audio unit/plugin integration - More customization options for layout and engraving - Ability to export/import flows and projects between iPad and desktop ## Newest reviews (16 of 289) ### 2/5 — Disappointing *2026-07-21, version 6.2.31* kudos to Dorico for providing a free 7/day trial. That gave me a chance to try it out. It is not good at capturing live piano at all. The notation it produces is full of mistakes. The interface is very cumbersome , and imo it is overkill , so trying to clean up the poor engraving is so time consuming that it is not worth using this app. ### 2/5 — Too Hard *2026-06-23, version 6.2.31* This program is not as user friendly as Finale. ### 4/5 — Come on a lot *2026-06-02, version 6.2.20* Having not used dorico since version 3 I must say it’s come on a lot. Make sure to disable some Apple pen settings like scribble and hover though as you will need the pen - especially in the mixer. Talking of the mixer it would be nice if double tapping the pan control would set it to centre. Also the master fader needs a few slots for master fx ,but otherwise a good bit of kit! ### 2/5 — 🙁 *2026-05-31, version 6.2.20* Most of it works fine but the scrolling sucks and the percussion also is failing so if you want a beat DONT get this app ### 4/5 — Good but a lot of bugs *2026-04-10, version 6.1.10* hi, this is a really good app for making music and it’s not like other apps where all the instruments or having the ability to save your music is locked behind a subscription but there’s one problem which keeps annoying me to the point where I’m about to explode sometimes when I hear a key on the piano, the key just won’t work anymore so if I try to press it again it just won’t play the sound and it’s not just for the piano it’s for every instrument excluding percussion. ### 4/5 — Great, but crashes often *2026-03-22, version 6.2* I have had a very good time with Dorico up until about a week ago, I had maybe had 5 crashes in about the year I used it. But now, on the score I am currently working on, but no others, it will crash about every 20 seconds. It could just be my iPad, but it is very frustrating. ### 4/5 — Frames *2026-03-21, version 6.2* NEED Music Frames on iPad! Otherwise perfect. ### 2/5 — Help *2026-03-05, version 5.1.80* Suddenly this app doesn’t work? Just shows Welcome to Dorico And I can’t do anything ### 2/5 — Not Intuitive *2026-01-16, version 6.1.10* Finale was much easier to navigate to create songs ### 4/5 — Litterally the only reason I got the full version, not bad though *2025-12-30, version 6.1.10* So, before I get too far, I just have to say this is still a great app for composing, and it’s pretty high quality but here are some cons you have to look out for when using this app: 1. Too get unlimited instruments you have to pay for the full version (which is $100 but it’s not a monthly or weekly payment) 2. But that doesn’t even matter because if you do try to add more than 10 or so instruments it crashes and your progress is lost (I even tried saving the instruments one by one but that didn’t work) 3. App can sometimes be very slow. 4. Scrolling is very hit-or-miss. But other than that, not a bad app. ### 4/5 — Good but *2025-11-15, version 6.1.10* Can’t really record with virtual keyboard. Need real midi input device. ### 2/5 — On Screen Piano Keyboard *2025-11-02, version 6.1.10* Out of the box, so to speak, the virtual keyboard keys get stuck making it unusable as input. My main reason for trying this app was to use virtual keyboard for input because don’t want to plug in a midi keyboard since i don’t have space for it on the go. I am using a new Ipad pro. ### 3/5 — Trombone Travesty for Brass Bands *2025-10-19, version 6.1.10* In brass bands, the tenor trombone is often scored in treble clef. I worked out how to do it. Write a better manual. ### 3/5 — Crashing iOS 26 *2025-10-11, version 6.1* newer ipad air running ios 26 keeps crashing. I rarely can open a project for more than a few seconds. I’ve tried deleting the app and data and reinstalling it, still with no success. ### 2/5 — ver6.1。全データが消失。起動不安定。 *2025-10-09, version 6.1* 2025/10/10 追記 ファイルを、開く時に落ちる問題が、次の設定でひとまず回避できた。 設定アプリから アクセシビリティ > 読み上げコンテンツ > 画面の読み上げ → オフにする ※参考は、Steinberg フォーラムからの情報 --------- 2025/10/04 今すぐDoricoフォルダを別のフォルダにコピーして、バックアップを取ることをお勧めします。 ver6.1の起動が不安定で、ファイルの読み込み時点で落ちるため、アプリをアンイストールし再インストールしたところ、全データが消失。 消失までの経緯 アンインストール前に、ファイルアプリでDoricoフォルダと中にファイルがあることを確認済み。再インストールしたところ、Doricoフォルダが消失。新規にファイルを作成したら、新規のファイル1つのみになってしまった。 大量に楽譜データがある方は要注意です。 とにかく不安定。 何度も言いいますが、 今すぐDoricoフォルダを別のフォルダにコピーして、バックアップを取ることをお勧めします。 ipados 18.7.1 ### 3/5 — Great…but…periodic crashing *2025-10-08, version 6.1* I have made a move to doing many of my projects and tasks on my iPad. Dorico is a very complete score writing package. I am duly impressed. I have paid for a subscription and the issue that is keeping me from paying the full price for “lifetime” purchase is that the app seems to go through periods of time where it crashes periodically. This usually occurs after an update. Bottom line - I’d like to move score projects to my iPad but I don’t yet have the confidence to do that. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Very buggy *2026-06-26, version 6.2.31* The app crashes randomly and then I have to restart because it doesn’t save it when it crashes. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2026-05-26, version 6.2.20* Terrible! Paid for the app and is does not recognize it and allow on the free tier. Spent the last month trying to figure it out. I want my money back!!! ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-03-25, version 6.2* I used to use it all the time, but now I can’t open it, it crashes immediately after I open it, so I have to give it one star ### 1/5 — Unnecessarily complex *2025-11-15, version 6.1.10* There is absolutely nothing intuitive about Dorico. Certainly it is a capable program, but what’s the point if you can’t make a program and interface that is easy to use. It also has some issues regarding scrolling (menus don’t scroll well and you often get stuck in the same spot over and over). Click measure check boxes also will continuously unselect for no reason. This is an unfinished product that utilizes NONE of the features of an IPad. I’m so sad that the music notation software options are so dismal, especially on the iPad. ### 1/5 — Suddenly became Very Crashy. *2025-10-13, version 6.1* Crashes when using, or when opening even after reinstalling. ### 1/5 — Nie działa *2025-10-08, version 6.1* Po utworzeniu nowego, pustego projektu, próbuję go edytować; nanosić partie instrumentalne itp. a wtedy program po prostu się wyłącza i nie można nic z tym zrobić. iPad Air (M2) ### 1/5 — No lo compren *2025-10-06, version 6.1* Esta bien bugeado 🤮🤮 y las teclas se quedan presionadas ### 1/5 — unable to use AT ALL *2025-10-03, version 6.1* i cant even open the app and do stuff without it crashing five seconds in. it’s not a storage issue either because i deleted multiple apps for this one in case it took up a lot of data and it still didn’t work. ### 1/5 — Recensione e domanda di chiarimento *2025-10-02, version 6.1* Sostituisco la mia precedente recensione perchè ieri sera, dopo aver installato la versione 6.1 sul mio MacBook, ho deciso di aggiornare anchesull'iPad (Ottava generazione, IOS 18.7) e l'app è risultata inutilizzabile in quanto crasha non appena aperta; tenuto conto che uso l'app per lavoro sto tuttora pagando per una sottoscrizione mensile sono assai frustrato e spero qualcuno da Steinberg vorrà aiutarmi a risolvere (per ora nessuna risposta sul forum e dal supporto ufficiale). Al momento una stella, sperando di poter rimettere le altre... Art ### 1/5 — Nicht stabil *2025-07-06, version 6.0.20* So gut die App so auch sein mag, sie geht alle paar Minuten ganz plötzlich zu, natürlich ohne jegliche Änderungen zu speichern. Egal, wobei: Noten schreiben, abspielen oder auch einfach gar nichts machen. Das geht nun mal GAR NICHT. Man verliert nen Haufen Zeit, weil man alles doppelt und dreifach machen muss. Speichern geht wohl auch nur, wenn man das Projekt verlässt. Extrem umständlich, bei dem Preisniveau sollte das nicht sein. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Where are the mordants? *2026-08-21, version 6.2.31* Great app……. But WHY ARE YOU IGNORING MY MORDANTS??????? They are clearly there, and yet the audio playback BLATANTLY IGNORES THEM!!! Plus, can you add swing and lyric support next update? I need them for some songs I want to do. ### 5/5 — A very useful app *2026-08-02, version 6.2.31* Steinburg’s Dorico is a very useful application that can be used to compose sheet music ### 5/5 — Some awkward steps much out-weighed by clever intuitive actions *2026-08-02, version 6.2.31* Having used Sibelius for many many years, moving to Dorico was not easy. There are habits that one gets into that are hard to break, and Sibelius is easy and quick when you are used to it. However, there have been too many problems with re-installing Sibelius when your computer crashes, or you get a new computer. So, I started to use Dorico, and stuck with it until I understood it sufficiently to not return to Sibelius. The difference between them is slight, and a matter of taste, really, but the way Dorico can guess what to do when you add or delete lyrics or rhythms is very satisfying. You also have complete control of the final look of the score on the page. The xml files that come from Dorico work very well with voice producing programs. I still have to use Sibelius for the hundreds of scores created within it, but I use Dorico for all my new scores. Very lucky to have both, I reckon. Cheers, John D’Arcy OAM ### 5/5 — Great App *2026-04-02, version 6.2.10* This is a great piece of kit. The fact that the Development Team is made up of many developers from the Sibelius app is really cool. But they are not simply recreating that app - they have moved way beyond it. Do take a look at this application - it’s really good. ### 5/5 — FRANZ Liszt *2026-02-06, version 6.1.10* Angelina ballerina ### 5/5 — OK app with some problems *2026-01-29, version 6.1.10* It’s an OK app, but the reset sounds part, it always fails, plus the notes aren’t arranged the way I wanted them to be ### 5/5 — I Love Music *2025-11-11, version 6.1.10* I Installed This App To Compose Music! 🎼🎵🎶 ### 5/5 — Where are the mordants? *2025-10-28, version 6.1.10* Great app……. But WHY ARE YOU IGNORING MY MORDANTS??????? They are clearly there, and yet the audio playback BLATANTLY IGNORES THEM!!! ### 5/5 — Das letzte Update machte die App unbrauchbar. Jetzt läuft sie wieder. *2025-10-07, version 6.1* Leider kann ich das Programm seit dem letzten Update nicht mehr starten und meine Partituren sind so verloren. Ich bitte den Provider diesen Fehler schnell zu korrigieren. Nach dem sehr guten Support konnte ich das Problem vorläufig lösen, sodass ich meine Bewertung auf 5 * erhöhen. Danke für den hervorragenden Support ### 5/5 — Really good scoring app BUT *2025-10-05, version 6.1* In my opinion, for only 4.99 a month, this feels like a steal, both etude elements AND iconica sketch in one? Pretty good by my standards, ONLY if it had HALion symphonic orchestra, would it be 100x better --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*