Comparison

Sibelius KeyPad vs Paper

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

Head to head
About

Sibelius KeyPad

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
Read full description

Sibelius KeyPad turns your iPhone or iPad into a dedicated notation keypad for Sibelius. Keep the controls you use most close at hand while you compose, arrange, and edit. Connect over Wi-Fi, choose the keypad you need, and send notation shortcuts to Sibelius on your Mac or Windows PC. Made for scoring - Common Notes - More Notes - Beams and Tremolos - Articulations - Jazz Articulations - Accidentals Customize your workflow - Assign keyboard shortcut actions to keypad buttons - Choose the shortcut sent when switching each keypad tab - Reset keypads to factory settings any time - Automatically switch keypads in Sibelius based on your selection Simple setup - Works with Sibelius for Mac and Windows - Connect over Wi-Fi or Personal Hotspot - Set up in three quick steps - No direct line of sight required System Requirements - iPhone or iPad - Sibelius for Mac or Windows - Mac: macOS 10.13 or later with helper app - Windows: Windows 7 or later with helper app - Shared Wi-Fi network or Personal Hotspot Helper app Requires the free helper app for Mac or Windows: https://rs.ltd/get Ratings are like gold for indie developers like me - please give the app a quick rating on the App Store. • Privacy policy can be found at https://www.cherpake.com/privacy • Terms and Conditions can be found at https://www.cherpake.com/terms

About

Paper

This app offers a clean and configurable writing environment for various creative projects. It supports Markdown and plain text, syncs with iCloud, and integrates with other tools. Users can publish drafts to popular blogging platforms and export documents in multiple formats.

Highlights
  • Gorgeous writing space
  • Silky-smooth typing
  • Deep personalization (Pro)
  • Markdown or Plain Text support
  • iCloud sync
  • Publish to Medium, WordPress, Ghost
  • Export to PDF, HTML, DOCX, ePub
Features
Read full description

“This is a super-clean writing space with a lot of configurability that stays out of sight when you don’t need it.” App Store Review 2020 # STORY Read it here → paper.pro/story # HIGHLIGHTS · Gorgeous writing space · Silky-smooth typing · Deep personalization (Pro) · Markdown or Plain Text · Syncs with iCloud · Integrates with TextExpander · Publishes drafts to Medium, WordPress, Ghost, or Micro.blog · Exports to PDF, HTML, RTF, DOCX, ePub, image, or clipboard · Works seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac # PRO FEATURES Basic adjustments like text size are free in Paper. More advanced personalization can be purchased with Pro Features. You will not be buying anything blindly, though. The trial period for Pro Features is untimed, so you can take your time to decide if they are a worthy investment. While trialing Pro Features, you might occasionally see a popup. Simply press Reset in the popup to get rid of it completely. Pro Features are either a subscription or a one-time purchase. Both the subscription and the one-time purchase unlock Pro Features on all your iPhones and iPads that share the same Apple ID. This subscription (or one-time purchase) applies only to iPhones and iPads. Macs require a separate subscription (or one-time purchase). The one-time purchase is hidden by default. To enable it, go to the Settings app → Apps → Paper → Purchases → toggle "Show Lifetime Option". If you want to upgrade from a Monthly subscription to a Yearly one (or to a Lifetime license), go to Paper’s page in the App Store and press the rounded button with the price next to the Yearly subscription option (or next to the Lifetime in-app purchase). # BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS Businesses, schools, and organizations can use one of the following methods to purchase the Pro version of the app: · Apple Business Manager · Apple School Manager · Volume Purchasing The Pro version of the app can be accessed from this link → paper.pro/get # MARKDOWN FORMATTING SYNTAX # Heading 1 ## Heading 2 ### Heading 3 #### Heading 4 ##### Heading 5 ###### Heading 6 **Bold** __Bold__ *Italic* _Italic_ ~Underline~ ~~Strikethrough~~ ==Highlight== ::Highlight:: `Inline Code` ``` Code Block ``` [Link Text](http://paper.pro) ![Alt Text](http://image.jpeg) - Bulleted List - Bulleted List - Nested Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Nested Bulleted List 1. Numbered List 2. Numbered List 3. Numbered List 1. Nested Numbered List - [ ] Task List - [x] Task List > Blockquote >> Nested Blockquote >>> 2x Nested Blockquote Text that needs a footnote[^Footnote description] ++ Inline comment ++ /* Inline comment */ %% Comment block | Col 1 | Col 2 | | ------ | ------ | | Cell 1 | Cell 2 | | Cell 3 | Cell 4 | --- ← Horizontal Rule \_ ← Markdown Escape ° ← HTML Escape # FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ## How do I share my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Share" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar, then tap the round "Share" button in the popup. ## How do I print my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Print" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar. Select "Print" from the menu. ## Can I draw in the app? No. Paper is purely a plain-text editor. ## Can I add pictures? You can only link to public images on the Web. ## Can I password-protect my notes? No. ## Paper changes the font when I switch between alphabetic and non-alphabetic keyboards. How do I prevent it? · Change the keyboard to a non-alphabetic one (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.). · Tap the "Settings" button in the top right corner. · Under the "Font" submenu, toggle "Keep for ABC Keyboards". ## Need more help? You can reach me via the in-app chat → "Settings" button in the corner → "Chat with the Maker" # TERMS OF USE paper.pro/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Sibelius KeyPad4 screens
Paper4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Paper at none against Sibelius KeyPad's shown. Paper also leads on ratings volume (1.7K vs 142) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Sibelius KeyPad's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 72%). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. Sibelius KeyPad sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Paper sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Sibelius KeyPad against 4.7 for Paper. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paper has 1.7K 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 72% of Paper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sibelius KeyPad ships an update every 3 weeks, Paper monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sibelius KeyPad versus Paper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSibelius KeyPadPaper
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (142 ratings)4.7 (1.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.1% of reviews — better72.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1421.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRemote Sunrise LTDMihhail Lapushkin

Customer experience

Sibelius KeyPad

All ratings142 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews109 reviews
Positive88.1%
Neutral1.8%
Negative10.1%

Paper

All ratings1,703 ratings
Positive92.4%
Neutral3.3%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews229 reviews
Positive72.5%
Neutral8.7%
Negative18.8%

User reviews

Sibelius KeyPad

From 142 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Paper

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💗 Fantastic app
  • 🎀 Great tool for writers
  • 👍 Clean writing app
  • 🤩 Awesome app
  • 👍 Cute animations

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
  • 💰 Paywalled features
  • 🐛 Lost files and documents
  • 🐛 Cursor issues
  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable

Bugs and requests

Sibelius KeyPad

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • 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
Show 5 more
  • Incorrect note duration symbols displayed on some keys
  • App occasionally inputs notes automatically after 30 minutes of use
  • Tab switching not working properly
  • Inconsistent button functionality on certain pages
  • Connection issues on public WiFi networks

Requested features

9 requests
  • 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
Show 4 more
  • Custom key mapping/settings
  • Upstroke/downstroke articulation symbols
  • Customizable skins and themes
  • Better button positioning for smaller hands

Paper

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Files randomly disappearing
  • Cursor issues causing freezes
  • Syncing and iCloud integration problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add image support
  • Improve file management and recovery
  • Expand font and customization options
  • Implement team/collaborative writing features
  • Add text formatting options like italics and bold

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Sibelius KeyPad

Subscriptions2
  • Sibelius KeyPad Pro - 1 month$0.991 Month
  • Sibelius KeyPad Pro - 1 year$4.991 Year
One-time2
  • Sibelius KeyPad Pro - lifetime$2.99
  • Sibelius KeyPad Pro - forever$9.99
6 purchases

Paper

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Features — Discounted$14.991 Month
  • Pro Features$29.991 Month
  • Pro Features — Discounted$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Features$99.991 Year
One-time2
  • Pro Features — Discounted$99.99
  • Pro Features$199.99

Questions

Is Sibelius KeyPad free?
Sibelius KeyPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Paper free?
Paper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sibelius KeyPad or Paper?
Paper is rated higher. Sibelius KeyPad averages 4.6 out of 5 from 142 ratings, while Paper averages 4.7 from 1.7K ratings.
Do Sibelius KeyPad or Paper have ads?
Sibelius KeyPad shows ads; Paper does not.
Which is updated more often, Sibelius KeyPad or Paper?
Sibelius KeyPad ships an update every 3 weeks, and Paper monthly. Most recently, Sibelius KeyPad was updated on September 7, 2026 and Paper on September 23, 2026.

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