# StringMaster Jam vs Dorico

The clearest difference is price: Dorico at Free against StringMaster Jam's $8.99. Dorico also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). StringMaster Jam's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Dorico is free to download; StringMaster Jam costs $8.99 up front. StringMaster Jam sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

StringMaster Jam ships an update every 8 months, Dorico every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StringMaster Jam | Dorico |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2.1K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 55.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 169 MB | 975 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17 |
| Devices | **iPad, Mac** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Great Apptitude Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1519213669) | [Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/316698251) |

## What reviewers say

### StringMaster Jam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringmaster-jam/id1047331537)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enable All Instruments | $3.99 | one-time |
| Metronome And Tuner | $3.99 | one-time |
| StringMaster Pro Upgrade | $8.99 | one-time |


### Dorico

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090)

Create professional music notation and compositions with this powerful app. Easily input notes, edit performances, and share your work in various formats. It's suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

**Highlights:** Compose music notation, On-screen keyboard, drum pads, fretboard, MIDI editing tools, PDF, audio, MusicXML export, Print to AirPrint, Read mode with annotation, Automatic engraving

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dorico Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Dorico Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Dorico Lifetime Unlock | $119.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**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

**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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StringMaster Jam free?

StringMaster Jam costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Dorico free?

Dorico is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do StringMaster Jam or Dorico have ads?

Neither StringMaster Jam nor Dorico shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StringMaster Jam or Dorico?

StringMaster Jam ships an update every 8 months, and Dorico every 3 weeks. Most recently, StringMaster Jam was updated on October 2, 2026 and Dorico on October 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*