# FingerFiddle vs Dorico

The clearest difference is price: Dorico at Free against FingerFiddle's $2.99. Dorico also leads on ratings volume (2.3K vs 52) and rating (4.6 vs 4.4). FingerFiddle's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 55%) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Dorico is free to download; FingerFiddle costs $2.99 up front. FingerFiddle sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Dorico holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dorico has 2.3K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of FingerFiddle's written reviews are positive against 55% of Dorico's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

FingerFiddle ships an update every 3 months, Dorico monthly. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | FingerFiddle | Dorico |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fingerfiddle/id1057024351/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 52 | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **81.6% of reviews** | 55.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 979 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthias Demoucron](https://appshunter.io/developer/1057024350) | [Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/316698251) |

## What reviewers say

### FingerFiddle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fingerfiddle/id1057024351)

Transform your device into a realistic string instrument. Control notes with your fingers and shape sound with bow-like movements. Experience the full expressive range of violin family instruments anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Realistic bow and fingerboard control, Expressive sound shaping, Pizzicato playing mode, Customizable fingerboard, Inter-App Audio/Audiobus support, Multiple violin family instruments

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Violin (Classic Collection) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Viola (Classic Collection) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Violin (Con Sordino Collection) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Double Bass (Classic Collection) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Viola (Con Sordino Collection) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Cello (Con Sordino Collection) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Double Bass (Con Sordino Collection) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Classic Collection | $8.99 | one-time |
| Con Sordino Collection | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Realistic and amazing sound quality
- 💡 Highly expressive and innovative
- ✨ Intuitive and well-designed interface
- 🚀 Great performance and small file size
- 💰 Excellent value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Additional in-app purchases required for instruments
- 🎻 Violin not included in initial purchase
- 🤔 Confusing pricing and hidden costs
- 🎛️ Limited pitch selection (fixed keys)
- 🎧 Aliasing distortion on high strings

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently (especially after iOS 11.2)
- 3D bow and vibrato not working for some users
- Mutes when starting recording in GarageBand
- Vibrato function not activable for some users

**Requested features**

- Recording capability
- Metronome
- MIDI IN/OUT support
- AUv3 support for DAWs
- Support for Apple Pencil 2 pressure


### Dorico

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

Create professional music scores for up to eight instruments with this intuitive composition app. Input notes via on-screen or MIDI keyboards, then play back and edit with powerful tools. Share your creations as PDFs, audio, or MusicXML.

**Highlights:** Compose music for up to eight instruments, On-screen keyboard, drum pads, and fretboard input, MIDI editing tools, Export as PDF, audio, or MusicXML, Print to AirPrint-enabled printers, Read mode with Apple Pencil annotation

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**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 FingerFiddle free?

FingerFiddle costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Dorico free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FingerFiddle or Dorico?

Dorico is rated higher. FingerFiddle averages 4.4 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Dorico averages 4.6 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do FingerFiddle or Dorico have ads?

Neither FingerFiddle nor Dorico shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FingerFiddle or Dorico?

FingerFiddle ships an update every 3 months, and Dorico monthly. Most recently, FingerFiddle was updated on November 11, 2026 and Dorico on November 11, 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.*