# Notation Pad vs StkCtrl

The clearest difference is price: Notation Pad at Free against StkCtrl's $0.99. Notation Pad also leads on ratings volume (5.3K vs 9) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). StkCtrl's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 56%) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Notation Pad is free to download; StkCtrl costs $0.99 up front. Notation Pad sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. StkCtrl asks for nothing beyond the download.

StkCtrl 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 9, 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 100% of StkCtrl's.

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, StkCtrl every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notation Pad | StkCtrl |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942/reviews) | **[4.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stkctrl/id1529211274/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 55.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Size | 162 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) | [N. Wheeler](https://appshunter.io/developer/312350021) |

## 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


### StkCtrl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stkctrl/id1529211274)

This app offers daily rhythm challenges to improve drumming skills. It features adjustable tempo, interactive play-along audio, and flexible sticking exercises to enhance versatility and control.

**Highlights:** Daily rhythm challenges, Adjustable tempo, Interactive play-along audio, Flexible sticking exercises, Skill improvement tools

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notation Pad free?

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

### Is StkCtrl free?

StkCtrl costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

StkCtrl is rated higher. Notation Pad averages 4.3 out of 5 from 5.3K ratings, while StkCtrl averages 4.6 from 9 ratings.

### Do Notation Pad or StkCtrl have ads?

Neither Notation Pad nor StkCtrl shows ads.

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

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, and StkCtrl every 2 months. Most recently, Notation Pad was updated on October 16, 2026 and StkCtrl on October 15, 2026.

---

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