# Notation Pad vs Tambu

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tambu at 100% against Notation Pad's 56%. Tambu also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and monetization model (freemium vs subscription). Notation Pad's advantage is ratings volume (5.3K vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). 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 Tambu sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Tambu holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notation Pad has 5.3K ratings behind it against 2, 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 Tambu's.

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, Tambu every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notation Pad | Tambu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tambu/id6449235682/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 55.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 162 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) | [Tambu Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1688272734) |

## 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


### Tambu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tambu/id6449235682)

This app serves as a digital notebook for musicians to store practice materials, record sessions, and monitor progress. It allows users to plan practice routines, organize their music library, and review past sessions to identify areas for improvement.

**Highlights:** Digital practice notebook, Record audio clips, Track practice progress, Plan practice sessions, Organize music library, Log session details

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Early Adopter - Monthly | $1.00 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notation Pad free?

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

### Is Tambu free?

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

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

Tambu is rated higher. Notation Pad averages 4.3 out of 5 from 5.3K ratings, while Tambu averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Notation Pad or Tambu have ads?

Neither Notation Pad nor Tambu shows ads.

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

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, and Tambu every 9 days. Most recently, Notation Pad was updated on September 24, 2026 and Tambu on June 1, 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.*