Comparison

Guitar Notation vs SUS4 Capo Calc

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Guitar Notation

This app allows guitar enthusiasts to read, compose, edit, and play back guitar sheet music. It supports multi-track tabs, chord charts, and various notation elements, enabling users to create music on the go.

Highlights
  • Read, compose, and edit guitar sheet music
  • Playback functionality with high-quality sound
  • Multi-track tab support
  • Chord chart configuration
  • Export in MusicXML, MIDI, PNG, and PDF formats
  • Supports up to 8 staff for editing
Features
Read full description

A great guitar tabs and chords notation app on iOS. For any guitar music lover, Guitar Notation gives you the ability to read, compose, edit, and playback guitar sheet music scores. With it you can be a talented composer and great musician anywhere. As long as you have a little knowledge of sheet music, you can write music composition simply by touch and move. Of course it could help you to learn guitar notations. It can handle multi-track tabs, also it supports for chord chart configuration. With the help of it you could easily record the flashes of inspiration wherever they strike. Are you ready to compose music in a simple way? ----------------------- Features: -Export in the industry-popular MusicXML file format, allowing for exchanging sheet music with other software (Finale, Sibelius, Encore, MuseScore, etc). -Export MIDI file. -Export PNG image and PDF document. -High quality sound for playback. -Support editing up to 8 staff at the same time. -Support many kinds of guitar and bass instrument. ----------------------- Supported notation: *A variety of note types, from whole note to 128th note and dotted note *Chord chart configuration *A variety of time signatures *All standard key signatures *Adjustable tempo *All accidentals (sharps, flats, double sharps, double flats, and naturals) *Tie, slur, and tuplet *Many types of ornament *A wide range of dynamics ----------------------- UNLIMITED ACCESS SUBSCRIPTION - Support up to 8 staff - Config parts(add, delete, reorder) - Config chord freely - Change beat type and tempo - A wide variety of guitar types - Config sound for each part - No watermark image export - No Ads - Support 2nd voice part - Config capo for each line - Import data file - The subscriptions are $9.99 monthly - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that service, where applicable - Terms of use: https://service.notationpad.com/terms_service.html

About

SUS4 Capo Calc

Features
Read full description

Pick the key you want to sing in and see which fret the capo goes on and which shapes to play. It also works the other way: type the chords and it finds the key. Fully on-device: no cloud, no account. Choose your tuning, choose the target key, and Capo Calc lists the options with the fret and the shapes, with open-friendly shapes first if you want them. Change the tuning to drop D, DADGAD or open G and the answer changes with it. • Capo position and chord shapes for any target key • Find Key: type a progression and get its key • Standard, dropped, open and modal tunings, and 7 and 8-string guitars • Fretboard diagrams for each suggestion For singers moving songs into their range, worship guitarists following a key sheet, and guitarists playing with a second guitar. Everyone gets two calculations a day. Pro, or SUS4 All-Access across the whole range, removes the daily limit. Made in the UK by working musicians. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Guitar Notation4 screens
SUS4 Capo Calc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SUS4 Capo Calc at every 2 weeks against Guitar Notation's every 4 months. Guitar Notation's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Guitar Notation sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and SUS4 Capo Calc sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.39 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Guitar Notation ships an update every 4 months, SUS4 Capo Calc every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Guitar Notation versus SUS4 Capo Calc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGuitar NotationSUS4 Capo Calc
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (249 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews58.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings249 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS13 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size153 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer嵩 张ThePaulSmith

Bugs and requests

Guitar Notation

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Audio playback only works through Bluetooth
  • Can't create a D chord, forces barre chord
  • Freezes on login screen
  • Incompatible with older devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add ability to change tuning
  • Add palm muting feature
  • Add more examples
  • Add instructions/tutorial
  • Add ability to transpose
Show 1 more
  • Add ability to input chord symbols

SUS4 Capo Calc

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Guitar Notation

Subscriptions3
  • Unlimited Access7 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Access Yearly$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • Guitar Instrument Group$0.99
  • Bass Instrument Group$0.99
  • Extras Package$14.99
10 purchases

SUS4 Capo Calc

Subscriptions7
  • SUS4 All-Access7 Days trial$4.391 Month
  • SUS4 All-Access7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • SUS4 All-Access7 Days trial$7.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • SUS4 All-Access Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • SUS4 All-Access Annual7 Days trial$26.991 Year
  • SUS4 All-Access Annual7 Days trial$35.991 Year
  • SUS4 All-Access Annual7 Days trial$51.991 Year
One-time3
  • SUS4 Capo Calc Lifetime$54.99
  • SUS4 Capo Calc Lifetime$71.99
  • SUS4 Capo Calc Lifetime$103.99

Questions

Is Guitar Notation free?
Guitar Notation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SUS4 Capo Calc free?
SUS4 Capo Calc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Guitar Notation or SUS4 Capo Calc have ads?
Neither Guitar Notation nor SUS4 Capo Calc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Guitar Notation or SUS4 Capo Calc?
Guitar Notation ships an update every 4 months, and SUS4 Capo Calc every 2 weeks. Most recently, Guitar Notation was updated on November 2, 2026 and SUS4 Capo Calc on October 31, 2026.

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