# Notation Pad vs Song Note Simple

The clearest difference is rating: Song Note Simple at 5.0 against Notation Pad's 4.3. Song Note Simple also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly). Notation Pad's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (5.3K vs 2). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notation Pad sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Song Note Simple asks for nothing beyond the download.

Song Note Simple 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.

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, Song Note Simple every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notation Pad | Song Note Simple |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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/song-note-simple/id6468327964/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 55.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 162 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) | [Oluwafemi Gonzales](https://appshunter.io/developer/1682779334) |

## 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


### Song Note Simple

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/song-note-simple/id6468327964)

A simple notepad and music player designed for songwriters. Capture song ideas as they come, building them into complete pieces anywhere, anytime.

**Highlights:** Quick note taking, Integrated music player, Song idea capture, Anytime, anywhere use, Build full songs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notation Pad free?

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

### Is Song Note Simple free?

Song Note Simple is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Notation Pad or Song Note Simple?

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

### Do Notation Pad or Song Note Simple have ads?

Song Note Simple shows ads; Notation Pad does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notation Pad or Song Note Simple?

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, and Song Note Simple every 10 days. Most recently, Notation Pad was updated on October 26, 2026 and Song Note Simple on October 3, 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.*