# StaffPad — user reviews > 522 indexed App Store user reviews of StaffPad by StaffPad Ltd., rated 4.00/5 from 563 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staffpad/id1442074103/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staffpad/id1442074103.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 355 · 4★ 61 · 3★ 29 · 2★ 36 · 1★ 82 ## What do users think of StaffPad? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Powerful composing tool - 🎨 Intuitive handwriting interface - 🎹 High-quality playback sounds - 💻 Seamless iPad integration - 🎨 Smooth workflow for sketching ideas **Cons** - 🐛 Inconsistent handwriting recognition - 🔧 Steep learning curve - 🔒 Requires Apple Pencil - 💰 Expensive with additional purchases - 🐛 Stability issues and crashes **Commonly reported bugs** - Inability to recognize certain note values - Eraser function unreliable - Inconsistent behavior when writing accidentals - Crashes when attempting to create new scores - Syncing and file management issues **Most requested features** - Improved handwriting recognition - More flexible note input options - Cross-staff notation support - Customizable UI and layout - Better collaboration and sharing features ## Newest reviews (16 of 522) ### 3/5 — このアプリはまだ生きてるの？ *2026-06-17, version 1.6.4* もう2年以上アップデートなしですが、このアプリはまだメンテナンスされてるのてましょうか？ 決して安くはないアプリなので、将来性がかなり心配。 以下、以前の投稿↓ Muse Stringsなどでバイオリンを演奏させると、ポルタメントがかかりすぎて納豆のような演奏になってしまいます。調整はできないのでしょうか？ ### 2/5 — Problem: Klavier-Notation *2026-05-25, version 1.6.4* Nach Eingewöhnung in die vereinfachte Handschrift lassen sich Noten einigermaßen zuverlässig erfassen, dennoch bleibt Verbesserungspotenzial; hilfreich sind die gut gemachten Tutorials in der App sowie auf YouTube mit dem Autor. • Viele Optionen und eine moderne, visuell gelungene Oberfläche. • Für eine professionelle Anwendung noch nicht vollständig ausgereift – insgesamt aber nah dran. • Problem Klavierfassung (aus pianistischer Sicht zentral, auch für Komponisten und Dirigenten): zu wenig Fokus auf pianistische Anforderungen. Komplexe, durchgehende Läufe über beide Hände hinweg (links–rechts–links etc.), die als zusammenhängende Linie notiert werden müssen, lassen sich nicht abbilden. Die Funktion ist im Programm nicht vorgesehen; stattdessen sind umständliche Workarounds nötig. Auch Arpeggien sind nicht handübergreifend darstellbar, sondern getrennt notiert und wiedergegeben – ein technisches Hindernis im Arbeitsprozess. Funktionen, die in anderen Notationsprogrammen (z. B. Dorico) seit Jahren selbstverständlich sind, fehlen hier. ### 2/5 — Is StaffPad Abonware? *2026-05-03, version 1.6.4* While I am still able to use StaffPad things are starting to go wrong with it. With no updates in 2 years or replies from the apps support team I cannot in good conscience recommend it to new users looking to buy this app or its many instrument libraries. I have no idea why Muse Group purchased this app if they had no intention of developing or maintaining it. A 5 star app reduced to 2 stars. So sad! Especially as this App was once recognised with a prestigious Apple Design Award at WWDC20. ### 2/5 — is a Beta version *2026-04-27, version 1.6.4* the idea is excellent but the app does not work. I have to spend hours to write simple figures , the sound to musical sign does not work at all and if you did not realized the app is not updated from 2022 ### 4/5 — So close to be wonderful *2026-04-05, version 1.6.4* This is a great score writing software but it only lacks of one thing… Interest from the developer. The app hasn’t received an update since 2024. Bro. Wake up. It’s a great app. It’s frustrating that every time I write something I have to write it like 3 or 4 times more cause the app doesn’t recognize the symbol. If they could only fix that, this would be fire! ### 4/5 — My favorite way to go for scoring , life changer app , BUT … *2026-04-03, version 1.6.4* — ABLETON LINK is missing. It would be really very powerful addition to the workflow . The Sync thing for Ableton and Logic — im agree with one of the reviews about the contemporary scoring notation for the new music ( spectral, new complexity etc etc ) — this two have been my suggestions since this app appeared in the market. I love it a lot , but really really those features are very useful and needed for a lot of composers . i bet those features are going to make this app a monster ### 1/5 — Eingabe auf Ipad mit Stift funktioniert sehr schlecht *2026-03-10, version 1.6.4* Ich habe Staffpad gekauft, um Musik mit dem Ipad und dem Stift zu schreiben und zu transponieren. Die App ist übersichtlich, das transponieren von vorhandenem Material geht sehr gut. Aber die Eingabe mit einem Apple Pencil auf einem Ipad Pro ist sehr frustrierend. Ich habe Stunden damit verbracht, mit Tutorials angesehen, aber wenn 5-10 % meiner Eingaben korrekt erkannt werden ist es viel. Dafür ist die App aber viel zu teuer. Hier muss dringend nachgebessert werden ### 1/5 — Good when it works, frustrating when it doesn't *2026-03-10, version 1.6.4* I had high hopes, but the inconsistency of performance is too great for a good review. Too many issues with the Apple Pencil not working, complete lack of technical support. The app seems to have been abandoned, no updates in 2 years. ### 4/5 — Quarter note triplet *2026-03-02, version 1.6.4* It's impossible to type a triplet of quarter notes; Staffpad doesn't recognize the 3 and uses any other symbol instead. If the triplet includes a rest, it's even worse. Please add a function to the tools so it's possible to add it when needed. ### 1/5 — Waste of money and time *2026-02-22, version 1.6.4* The Sound is good but I wish they have option to write the notes just like the sibelius can be type in keyboard. I wasted my 10 minutes just writing eighth rest that turn into quarter rest! in 10 minutes I can do many things already! ### 4/5 — Sehr gut, aber ausbaufähig *2026-02-19, version 1.6.4* Könntet ihr eine Radierfunktion hinzufügen, um nicht doll drücken zu müssen, sondern vielleicht auch die Doppeltipp Funktion zum switchen zwischen den Modi zu implementieren? Dann gibt es auch 5 Sterne ### 3/5 — MusicXML Input funktioniert nicht *2026-02-18, version 1.6.4* Die App muss noch einiges verbessern. ### 1/5 — Just don’t ! *2026-02-15, version 1.6.4* Very bad and frustrating. I would not use it even for free. I lost my money in a dawn good concept that don’t work and it’s very expensive. So disappointing ### 4/5 — Schlechter Support *2026-02-06, version 1.6.4* Erstmal eine gute Idee und ein super Tool zum Komponieren. Mir fehlen Funktionen wie Fingersätze neben den Noten oder das Verschmelzen von Notenköpfen. Der Support hat mit KI fehlerhaft geantwortet und reagiert jetzt gar nicht mehr. Die erstellte Partitur ist sehr schlecht formatiert und man kann kaum etwas ändern, wie Zeilenumbrüche oder Schriftart der Taktzahlen. ### 3/5 — Actualización YA *2026-02-06, version 1.6.4* La app es magnífica, pero necesita una actualización urgente. Gracias. ### 1/5 — Very Bad app and Irresponsible *2026-02-02, version 1.6.4* Software full of bugs with few features and no answers to questions in support. I have also purchased it for two years, but the updates and bugs that were reported have not been fixed. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Trash app *2026-06-17, version 1.6.4* Trash app ### 1/5 — Is StaffPad Abonware - Yes? *2026-05-30, version 1.6.4* While I am still able to use StaffPad things are starting to go wrong with it. With no updates in 2 years or replies from the apps support team I cannot in good conscience recommend it to new users looking to buy this app or its many instrument libraries. I have no idea why Muse Group purchased this app if they had no intention of developing or maintaining it. A 5 star app reduced to 2 stars. So sad! Especially as this App was once recognised with a prestigious Apple Design Award at WWDC20. Update: 30 May 2026 Revised to 1 stars. Unfortunately there has been no response from the developers Muse Group. This is becoming a real issue with iPad apps in general. They aren’t cost effective to keep maintained. I understood that developers were obliged to release periodic updates or they would be removed from the Apple App Store. Less reason to update my iPad Pro I guess. ### 1/5 — POTENZIALE SCADUTO *2026-05-07, version 1.6.4* L’app aveva un grande potenziale, diversi anni fa. Gli aggiornamenti fatti sono stati pochi, poco rilevanti alla vera e propria notazione e soprattutto fermi da diversi anni. Non ne vale più la pena. ### 1/5 — Stopped Supporting This App?? *2026-05-05, version 1.6.4* I paid a small fortune for this app and the moment you acquired this company you stopped working on it. Leaving it to wither. Shame on you. ### 1/5 — Omg *2026-04-30, version 1.6.4* Ok this app seemed very cool…. But! Basic, and not really great for serious composing. Would love a refund ### 1/5 — App non funzionante *2026-04-20, version 1.6.4* Soldi spesi malissimo, funziona malissimo. ### 1/5 — Frustrating and useless to me *2026-04-04, version 1.6.4* The work with the stylus is awful. The program does not respond or does it wrong. The playback is quirky. A waste of money. ### 1/5 — Cannot create new score. *2026-04-04, version 1.6.4* The app shut down every time I try to creat a new score. I tried to contact for help, but no answer... ### 1/5 — Brilliant idea, but not usable in its current state. *2026-03-28, version 1.6.4* I really wanted this app to work because the concept is brilliant. Being able to write music by hand and have it converted into engraved notation would be a dream workflow for composers. However, the handwriting recognition is very unreliable, even with basic notation. I completed the tutorial multiple times and tried to match the examples exactly, but the app still misinterprets notes, rhythms, and articulations far too often. Instead of speeding up the composing process, it slowed it down because I was constantly fixing recognition errors. At its current state, I unfortunately cannot use this app in any practical way. The idea is fantastic, but the recognition engine needs significant improvement. ### 1/5 — ひどい *2026-03-14, version 1.6.4* まったく反応しない　20年間の楽譜作成ソフトレベル　現代のApple Storeの製品だからと思って購入したけどお金をドブに捨てました ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Amazing App – Please Add Persian Accidentals *2026-07-21, version 1.6.4* StaffPad is an incredible application and, in my opinion, one of the best music notation apps available. As a composer working with Persian music, I have one sincere feature request. Please consider adding support for the Persian accidentals Koron (quarter-flat) and Sori (quarter-sharp), including proper notation and playback. I imagine this would be a relatively small addition for such a professional team, but it would make a huge difference for those of us who compose and perform Persian music. As microtonal harmony and world music continue to gain wider recognition, adding this support would help preserve and empower an important musical tradition while making StaffPad even more versatile. Thank you for creating such an outstanding application, and I sincerely hope you’ll consider adding this feature in a future update. ### 5/5 — Buena pero puede mejorar *2026-06-18, version 1.6.4* Hasta ahora la aplicación me ha gustado, sin embargo, el reconocimiento de escritura llega a ser algo complicado al poner silencios de octavos(corcheas) , alteraciones como sostenidos o bemoles , etc. Me gustaría que le siguieran dando mantenimiento como a musescore 4 porque sin duda staffpad es una gran herramienta y con muchísimo potencial , pero puede mejorar. Por favor no la abandonen ### 5/5 — good *2026-05-19, version 1.6.4* 아니 작곡하고 너무좋아요! ㅎㅎ 더 재밌게 할수있으니까 좋고 이게임 싫다는사람 이해가 안가네요 ㅎㅎ ### 5/5 — Can’t live without it… *2026-03-14, version 1.6.4* There is nothing out there that does this, sounds great , works great with picture…no key switch nonsense…just music…keep going u guys… ### 5/5 — It works but you have to figure it out *2026-01-02, version 1.6.4* Basically anyone who claims the recognition sucks is bad at it. It is VERY clear on how to use this. If you want to write anything more complex, there are workarounds. ### 5/5 — Not bad at all *2025-12-13, version 1.6.4* I can see the idea here, done pretty well, yes handwriting recognition is a bit bad at some times, but the general rule is: if a human without context cant read it, neither can staff pad. For the muse sounds that you can download, they are incredible for what they are. Overall 4.8/5 ### 5/5 — Way to go *2025-11-14, version 1.6.4* Best notation program ever, in almost every aspect. Just improve a bit layout options in part extraction. Wonderful app ### 5/5 — My berlin strings, spitfire, tina guo cello samples are all gone.. whyy?? 😭😭 *2025-10-13, version 1.6.4* My berlin strings, spitfire, tina guo cello samples are all gone.. whyy?? 😭😭 ### 5/5 — Ottima *2025-10-12, version 1.6.4* Sicuramente migliorabile ma meglio di tante altre ### 5/5 — Absolut genial! *2025-10-02, version 1.6.4* Ich liebe diese App. Keine Andere Notationssoftware bietet eine so intuitive Herangehensweise ans Komponieren. Auch die Sounds sind viel besser als was man so von den großen Platzhirschen gewohnt ist. Sogar die kostenlosen Librarys klingen wirklich anständig und reagieren sehr gut auf Dynamik- und Artikulationsanweisungen. Sehr zu empfehlen und unbedingt seinen Preis wert! --- *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 2026-09-03.*