# i vs Sibelius

The clearest difference is rating: Sibelius at 4.2 against i's 2.2. Sibelius also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 5). i's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (50% vs 36%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sibelius sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. i asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sibelius holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sibelius has 1.8K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of i's written reviews are positive against 36% of Sibelius's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | i | Sibelius |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-orchestra/id1104232489/reviews) | **[4.2 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 35.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 336 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lee Cheng](https://appshunter.io/developer/1104232488) | [Avid®](https://appshunter.io/developer/436394595) |

## What reviewers say

### i

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-orchestra/id1104232489)

This app simulates orchestral instruments on iOS devices, allowing users to play musical scores using on-screen or external MIDI keyboards. Multiple users can collaborate to form a virtual orchestra, with each person playing a specific part.

**Highlights:** Orchestral instrument simulation, MIDI input via on-screen or external keyboard, PDF score display and playback, Collaborative virtual orchestra formation, Individual orchestral part simulation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sibelius

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259)

Professional music notation software is now available on mobile devices. Create, edit, and hear your compositions anywhere with a full suite of tools optimized for touch and stylus input. Seamlessly sync across platforms and access different feature tiers to suit your needs.

**Highlights:** Professional music notation, Cross-platform synchronization, High-quality sample library, Apple Pencil and touch optimization, Innovative note entry, Command Search functionality, Scalable subscription tiers

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sibelius Artist for iOS | $5.99 | per month |
| Sibelius Ultimate for iOS | $12.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 🚀 Useful for composing on the go
- 💡 Good for making quick edits to existing scores
- 🎨 Stylish and professional-looking app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔒 Difficulty unlocking full version and accessing features
- 💰 Subscription service is very expensive
- 🔇 Limited sound library and poor playback quality
- 📁 Unreliable saving and file management

**Reported bugs**

- Scores disappearing or not saving properly
- Subscription issues and inability to log in
- Crashes when performing basic actions
- Compatibility problems with newer iPad OS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to enlarge chord symbols
- More time signature options
- Support for MIDI input
- Better Apple Pencil integration
- Autosave and improved file management


## Frequently asked questions

### Is i free?

i is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sibelius free?

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

### Which has better reviews, i or Sibelius?

Sibelius is rated higher. i averages 2.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Sibelius averages 4.2 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do i or Sibelius have ads?

Neither i nor Sibelius shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, i or Sibelius?

i ships an update every 2 months, and Sibelius every 2 months. Most recently, i was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sibelius on October 27, 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.*