# Notation Pad vs Scale Explorer

The clearest difference is update cadence: Scale Explorer at weekly against Notation Pad's monthly. Notation Pad's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.5). 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 Scale Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, Scale Explorer weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notation Pad | Scale Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 55.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 162 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) | [Johannes Langoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/6778055038) |

## 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


### Scale Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scale-explorer/id6778055036)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Access | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notation Pad free?

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

### Is Scale Explorer free?

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

### Do Notation Pad or Scale Explorer have ads?

Neither Notation Pad nor Scale Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notation Pad or Scale Explorer?

Notation Pad ships an update monthly, and Scale Explorer weekly. Most recently, Notation Pad was updated on September 24, 2026 and Scale Explorer on September 9, 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.*