# Sibelius KeyPad vs Goodnotes

Sibelius KeyPad and Goodnotes both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of Sibelius KeyPad's written reviews are positive against 34% of Goodnotes's. Goodnotes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (455K vs 142). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sibelius KeyPad sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Goodnotes sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Sibelius KeyPad against 4.7 for Goodnotes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Goodnotes has 455K ratings behind it against 142, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Sibelius KeyPad's written reviews are positive against 34% of Goodnotes's.

Sibelius KeyPad ships an update every 3 weeks, Goodnotes weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sibelius KeyPad | Goodnotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (142 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius-keypad/id1078098572/reviews) | **[4.7 (455K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 142 | **455K** |
| Positive reviews | **88.1% of reviews** | 33.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#98** |
| Size | 74 MB | 794 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Remote Sunrise LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/619088610) | [Goodnotes Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708570616) |

## What reviewers say

### Sibelius KeyPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius-keypad/id1078098572)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a virtual keypad for your computer to enhance creativity and productivity within Sibelius. Connect wirelessly via Wi-Fi for seamless control, with a slick interface and quick setup.

**Highlights:** Virtual keypad for Sibelius, Wi-Fi connectivity, Automatic keypad switching, Slick user interface, Personal Hotspot support, Easy 3-step setup

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sibelius KeyPad Pro - 1 month | $0.99 | per month |
| Sibelius KeyPad Pro - 1 year | $4.99 | per year |
| Sibelius KeyPad Pro - lifetime | $2.99 | one-time |
| Sibelius KeyPad Pro - forever | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Significantly speeds up Sibelius workflow and note input
- 👍 Easy to install and set up
- ⚡ Minimal lag and responsive performance
- 🎯 Intuitive user interface aligned with Sibelius keypad
- 💰 Affordable alternative to physical keypads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Accent symbol and grace note keys non-functional
- 🔌 WiFi-dependent, causes issues on public networks
- 🔄 Connection drops requiring history workaround to reconnect
- ⏱️ Occasional latency when changing rhythm values
- 🎵 Missing voice selector buttons

**Reported bugs**

- Accent symbol key does not function
- Grace note key non-functional
- Main screen shows 'no computer found' despite prior connection
- App crashes on iPhone with certain iOS versions
- Buttons trigger Mission Control or desktop reveal instead of intended functions

**Requested features**

- Voice selector buttons for editing different voices
- Piano keyboard option for note input
- Numeric display on keys for dual numpad functionality
- Sync between Sibelius keypad clicks and app display
- iPad Sibelius compatibility


### Goodnotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602)

**Currently charting:** #98 Top Grossing · Productivity, #124 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture ideas, enhance productivity, and unlock insights with advanced AI features. This app offers tools for professionals, students, and creatives, including infinite whiteboards, AI-powered transcription and summarization, and customizable digital notebooks.

**Highlights:** AI-powered transcription and summarization, Infinite whiteboard canvas, Digital notebooks with customizable templates, Study Sets for flashcards, Presentation mode with laser pointer, Real-time collaboration

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Pass (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Goodnotes 6 (1 Year) | $9.99 | per year |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Goodnotes Pro (Yearly) | $35.99 | per year |
| Bunny Oasis Stickers | Free | one-time |
| Medicine-Academia Sticker Shee | Free | one-time |
| Goodnotes 6 Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $1.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $6.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $8.99 | one-time |
| GoodNotes 5 Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $9.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $10.99 | one-time |
| Goodnotes 6 One-Time Payment | $28.99 | one-time |
| Special Edition | $35.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent note-taking experience
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🚀 Smooth writing with Apple Pencil
- 📁 Powerful organization with folders and notebooks
- 🖼️ Ability to annotate PDFs and documents

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔍 Syncing and iCloud issues
- 🔍 Lack of flexibility with text input
- 🔍 Limited eraser and highlighting options
- 🔍 Subpar performance on Mac app

**Reported bugs**

- Text box issues - unable to edit, resize, or move properly
- Handwriting recognition problems, especially with cursive
- Unreliable scrolling and page navigation
- Inconsistent behavior when using the zoom feature

**Requested features**

- Add bullet point and formatting options for typed text
- Implement a full-screen writing mode
- Improve the straight line and shape tools
- Integrate audio recording and synchronization
- Allow more customization of the toolbar and interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sibelius KeyPad free?

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

### Is Goodnotes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sibelius KeyPad or Goodnotes?

Goodnotes is rated higher. Sibelius KeyPad averages 4.6 out of 5 from 142 ratings, while Goodnotes averages 4.7 from 455K ratings.

### Do Sibelius KeyPad or Goodnotes have ads?

Sibelius KeyPad shows ads; Goodnotes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sibelius KeyPad or Goodnotes?

Sibelius KeyPad ships an update every 3 weeks, and Goodnotes weekly. Most recently, Sibelius KeyPad was updated on September 7, 2026 and Goodnotes on September 27, 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.*