Comparison

Henle Library vs Opus Journal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Henle Library

Access high-quality digital Urtext editions of classical music scores on your tablet. Practice, rehearse, and perform with a range of interactive features designed for musicians of all levels. Enjoy annotations, metronome, playback, and more.

Highlights
  • Digital Urtext editions
  • Customizable score purchases
  • Print and export PDFs
  • Score modification and annotations
  • Metronome and recording
  • Part and score switching
  • Explanatory notes access
Features
Read full description

“With the Henle Library app a new era begins for classical musicians.” Daniel Hope An indispensable app for professional musicians, amateurs, students and teachers. The Henle Library app delivers G. Henle Publishers’ reliable Urtext editions straight to your tablet. You can practise, rehearse and make music – whenever and wherever you like. And you can enjoy the many unique features of Henle’s digital scores.  Features: - Filter Henle Urtext according to your individual needs and purchase as required (individual part, single movement, bundles etc.) - Free version available for music students (licences for music colleges) - Print, export PDFs, share - Modify the score to suit your needs - Superimpose alternative professional fingerings (or choose “No fingerings”) - Unlimited possibilities for your own annotations - Easily switch between the part and the score at exactly the same measure - Open explanatory notes (footnotes, Critical Report etc.) at the appropriate place in the score - Record and play back your own recordings - Use the integrated metronome - Navigate extremely rapidly - Create and use playlists Do you like our app? Please consider writing a review. Thank you!

About

Opus Journal

Log and rate classical music you listen to, building a personal record of your musical journey. Get personalized recommendations based on your listening history and preferences. Seamlessly integrate with streaming services to easily log your sessions.

Highlights
  • Log and rate classical works
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Curated composer and work database
  • Custom composer/work entry
  • Streaming service integration
  • iCloud backup and sync
Features
Read full description

Opus is a listening journal for classical music lovers. Log the works you listen to, rate them, and write about what moved you. Over time you'll build a priceless personal record of your journey through the repertoire. And the more you write, the better Opus gets at suggesting what to listen to next. NEXT LISTEN — RECOMMENDATIONS THAT TELL YOU WHY Opus draws on what you've loved, rated, and written about to suggest new works that fit where your taste is going. Every recommendation comes with a short note explaining the connection. A CLASSICAL LIBRARY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Choose from a curated database of major composers and works without typing, so your entries are always accurate. Exploring something off the beaten path? Add any composer or piece yourself in seconds. WORKS WITH EVERY STREAMING SERVICE Listening on Apple Music? Add the exact recording straight from your library, and your recently played classical music is surfaced automatically. Prefer Spotify, YouTube, TIDAL, or something else? Just paste a link. However you listen, logging a session takes seconds. LOG LIVE CONCERTS Some nights you hear it in person. Log those too: add the venue, the performers, and your photos, and every concert gets a map of where in the world you heard it. From the famous halls to the one in your city. YOURS FOREVER Your journal is backed up and synced across all your devices with iCloud, and stays completely private. A lifelong record that grows richer with every listen.

Screenshots

Henle Library4 screens
Opus Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Opus Journal at 4.0 against Henle Library's 3.0. Opus Journal also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months). Henle Library's advantage is ratings volume (94 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Henle Library sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Opus Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Opus Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Henle Library has 94 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Henle Library's written reviews are positive against 50% of Opus Journal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Henle Library ships an update every 3 months, Opus Journal every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Henle Library versus Opus Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHenle LibraryOpus Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (94 ratings)4.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.7% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings94 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGuenter Henle VerlagJacob Ruiz

Customer experience

Henle Library

All ratings94 ratings
Positive39.4%
Neutral18.1%
Negative42.6%
Written reviews193 reviews
Positive34.7%
Neutral21.8%
Negative43.5%

Opus Journal

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Henle Library

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Annotations deleted after app updates or restarts
  • Eraser function fails to remove marks consistently
  • Marks don't record when crossing between staff lines
  • App crashes when opening purchased scores
  • Purchased scores disappear from library
Show 15 more
  • Blank pages appear when turning pages
  • App freezes during export to PDF
  • Infinite loading screen in online store
  • Confirmation emails for credit purchases don't arrive
  • App takes 40+ seconds to start
  • Scores don't load immediately after purchase
  • Annotation dots appear randomly when lifting pen
  • Fingering annotations shrink in upper ledger lines
  • Score skips to random pages during performance
  • Export PDF quality is low resolution and fuzzy
  • Annotation layer prevents writing in certain areas
  • Zoom function jumps back to start of page
  • Eraser requires tapping far from annotation to delete
  • Palm rejection fails with Apple Pencil
  • Print layout produces single-line pages for multi-movement pieces

Requested features

20 requests
  • Undo/redo functionality for annotations
  • Ability to print entire multi-movement pieces together
  • Half-page turning option for performers
  • Playlist or collection grouping system
  • Individual score parts (not just full scores)
Show 15 more
  • Better annotation layer management
  • Improved Apple Pencil support and sensitivity
  • Customizable eraser behavior
  • Page turn animation or visual cues
  • Ability to hide specific staves or parts
  • Microphone-activated page turning commands
  • Difficulty ratings visible before purchase
  • Digital-physical score bundling/discounts
  • Better search and filtering in store
  • Support for foot pedal page turners
  • Ability to import scores from other sources
  • Multiple annotation layers with visibility toggle
  • Customizable metronome settings
  • Landscape orientation improvements
  • Persistent user settings and preferences

Opus Journal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Henle Library

One-time8
  • 10 Credits$0.99
  • 22 Credits$1.99
  • 55 Credits2 variants$5.99
Show 5 more
  • 100 Credits2 variants$9.99
  • 200 Credits2 variants$19.99
  • 300 Credits$29.99
  • 500 Credits$49.99
  • 1000 Credits$79.99
None

Opus Journal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Henle Library free?
Henle Library is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Opus Journal free?
Opus Journal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Henle Library or Opus Journal?
Opus Journal is rated higher. Henle Library averages 3.0 out of 5 from 94 ratings, while Opus Journal averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Henle Library or Opus Journal have ads?
Neither Henle Library nor Opus Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Henle Library or Opus Journal?
Henle Library ships an update every 3 months, and Opus Journal every 4 days. Most recently, Henle Library was updated on October 24, 2026 and Opus Journal on October 18, 2026.

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