# Notation Pad vs StaffPad

The clearest difference is price: Notation Pad at Free against StaffPad's $49.99. Notation Pad also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (56% vs 40%). StaffPad's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Notation Pad is free to download; StaffPad costs $49.99 up front. Notation Pad sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and StaffPad sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notation Pad holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notation Pad has 5.3K ratings behind it against 646, 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 40% of StaffPad's.

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, StaffPad fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notation Pad | StaffPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $49.99 |
| Rating | **[4.3 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942/reviews)** | [4.0 (646 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staffpad/id1442074103/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | 646 |
| Positive reviews | **55.9% of reviews** | 39.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 162 MB | 1.0 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) | [StaffPad Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1258751005) |

## 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


### StaffPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staffpad/id1442074103)

Compose music effortlessly on your iPad with intuitive handwriting input and advanced notation tools. Convert your playing into sheet music, record and edit audio directly on the score, and utilize powerful playback with professional sample libraries. Seamlessly share your work with others using the companion reader app.

**Highlights:** Handwriting music notation with Apple Pencil, Convert audio recordings to notation, Record and edit audio on score, Professional playback with sample libraries, Seamless sharing via ScoreSync, Import/export MusicXML and MIDI

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Toy Glockenspiel | Free | one-time |
| StaffPad Essential Guitars | Free | one-time |
| Retro Keyboards | Free | one-time |
| Muse Strings | Free | one-time |
| Muse Choir | Free | one-time |
| Muse Woodwinds | Free | one-time |
| Muse Percussion | Free | one-time |
| Muse Brass | Free | one-time |
| Muse Harp | Free | one-time |
| Muse Keys | Free | one-time |
| Muse Guitars Vol. 1 | Free | one-time |
| StaffPad Essentials: Accordion | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful composing tool
- 🎨 Intuitive handwriting interface
- 🎹 High-quality playback sounds
- 💻 Seamless iPad integration
- 🎨 Smooth workflow for sketching ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent handwriting recognition
- 🔧 Steep learning curve
- 🔒 Requires Apple Pencil
- 💰 Expensive with additional purchases
- 🐛 Stability issues and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to recognize certain note values
- Eraser function unreliable
- Inconsistent behavior when writing accidentals
- Crashes when attempting to create new scores
- Syncing and file management issues

**Requested features**

- Improved handwriting recognition
- More flexible note input options
- Cross-staff notation support
- Customizable UI and layout
- Better collaboration and sharing features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notation Pad free?

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

### Is StaffPad free?

StaffPad costs $49.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

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

Notation Pad is rated higher. Notation Pad averages 4.3 out of 5 from 5.3K ratings, while StaffPad averages 4.0 from 646 ratings.

### Do Notation Pad or StaffPad have ads?

Neither Notation Pad nor StaffPad shows ads.

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

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, and StaffPad fortnightly. Most recently, Notation Pad was updated on November 1, 2026 and StaffPad on October 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*