# Notation Pad vs IMSLP

The clearest difference is monetization model: IMSLP at freemium against Notation Pad's subscription. IMSLP also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly). Notation Pad's advantage is ratings volume (5.3K vs 513). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notation Pad sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and IMSLP sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

IMSLP holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notation Pad has 5.3K ratings behind it against 513, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Notation Pad's written reviews are positive against 70% of IMSLP's.

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, IMSLP every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notation Pad | IMSLP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942/reviews) | **[4.6 (513 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imslp/id1373671782/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | 513 |
| Positive reviews | 55.9% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 162 MB | 232 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) | [Project Petrucci LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1373671781) |

## What reviewers say

### Notation Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942)

Create, edit, and play sheet music with this comprehensive notation editor. Compose original pieces, transcribe existing music, and even collaborate in real-time. Ideal for musicians of all levels, from beginners learning notes to experienced composers.

**Highlights:** Real-time collaborative editing, MusicXML, MIDI, PNG, and PDF export, High-quality playback sound, Support for up to 8 staves, Over 100 instrument sounds, Lyric editing, Multi-voice support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Access Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Guitar Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ensemble Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Brass Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Reed Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pipe Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Strings Instrument Group | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Instruments Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Extras Package | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎼 Good for basic music notation
- 🎹 Helpful for piano/keyboard players

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Many features locked behind paywall
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable at times
- 📱 Limited functionality compared to desktop apps
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find features

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription popup that cannot be closed
- Instruments turning into drums unexpectedly
- Inability to delete or modify certain elements

**Requested features**

- Add more instrument options
- Improve editing capabilities
- Allow changing key signatures and time signatures without premium
- Provide better tutorials and documentation
- Fix issues with note placement and playback


### IMSLP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imslp/id1373671782)

Access a vast digital library of classical music scores on your iOS device. Enjoy full access to commercial recordings, instant downloads, and new uploads with a membership subscription. Support the music community while exploring a comprehensive collection.

**Highlights:** Browse IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library, View musical scores, Access commercial recordings, Instant downloads, Access new uploads instantly, Membership subscription benefits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Membership Subscription | $3.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Integrated IMSLP library
- 👍 Well-made app
- 👍 Game changer for musicians
- 👍 Indispensable for professionals and amateurs
- 👍 Fantastic offering

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes when zooming in and annotating
- 💰 Money grabbing with constant subscription prompts
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Annotation issues and lost data
- 🐛 Battery drain on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening scores
- Scores disappearing from library
- Login issues and lost data
- Incompatibility with older devices after updates
- Annotation issues causing loss of data

**Requested features**

- Predictive text for score annotations
- Ability to restore original zoom settings
- Metric to indicate device performance during page turns
- Folder-like organization system
- Color wheel and custom pen/highlighter options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notation Pad free?

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

### Is IMSLP free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notation Pad or IMSLP?

IMSLP is rated higher. Notation Pad averages 4.3 out of 5 from 5.3K ratings, while IMSLP averages 4.6 from 513 ratings.

### Do Notation Pad or IMSLP have ads?

Neither Notation Pad nor IMSLP shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notation Pad or IMSLP?

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, and IMSLP every 10 days. Most recently, Notation Pad was updated on October 24, 2026 and IMSLP 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.*