# LC4 Controller vs Dorico

The clearest difference is review sentiment: LC4 Controller at 100% against Dorico's 55%. LC4 Controller also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Dorico's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 26 months) and ratings volume (2.2K vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. LC4 Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

LC4 Controller holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dorico has 2.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of LC4 Controller's written reviews are positive against 55% of Dorico's.

LC4 Controller ships an update every 26 months, Dorico every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LC4 Controller | Dorico |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lc4-controller-us/id1052405144/reviews)** | [4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 55.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 975 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yamaha Corporation of America](https://appshunter.io/developer/408058585) | [Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/316698251) |

## What reviewers say

### LC4 Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lc4-controller-us/id1052405144)

This app provides wireless control for a music lab, allowing educators to manage student interactions and broadcast music from anywhere in the room. It includes features like student icon customization, attendance tracking, and access to the iPad's music library for class-wide playback.

**Highlights:** Wireless control of Yamaha LC4 Music Lab, Customize and position student icons, In-app attendance tracker, Integrated notepad, Broadcast music from iPad library, Full hardware function access

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 | $5.99 | 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 LC4 Controller free?

LC4 Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dorico free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LC4 Controller or Dorico?

LC4 Controller is rated higher. LC4 Controller averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Dorico averages 4.6 from 2.2K ratings.

### Do LC4 Controller or Dorico have ads?

Neither LC4 Controller nor Dorico shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LC4 Controller or Dorico?

LC4 Controller ships an update every 26 months, and Dorico every 3 weeks. Most recently, LC4 Controller was updated on October 15, 2026 and Dorico on October 25, 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.*