Music Notation vs Joy Bear
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Music Notation
Enhance your photos and videos with musical notation, expression markings, and symbols. Add dynamics, clefs, and notes directly within iMessage to personalize your visual content.
- Add music notation
- Include Italian expressions
- Decorate photos and videos
- Use symbols, dynamics, clefs, and notes
- Integrates with iMessage
Read full descriptionHide full description
Add music notation and Italian expressions to your messages. Adorn your photos and videos with musical notation, expression markings, symbols, dynamics, clefs, and notes—right in iMessage.
Joy Bear
Read full descriptionHide full description
Say hello to our newest addition! A cute and warm bear with many expressions. You can express yourself with over 100 cute stickers. Features: *Ton of Stickers: There are 100+ stickers! Many of them are free to use. *Expression: Want to express your feelings that is hard to describe? You can find all kinds of emotions including happy, romantic, motivative, relaxing, sad and many other emotions. *Customizable Columns: You can select a customized column number that suits you without overloading device screen. Note that is an iMessage Sticker App, and you can find all stickers in your iMessage Stickers Tab. HOW TO USE: -Download sticker app -Open your iMessage App -Click + button on the bottom. -Click “Stickers” in the pop-up menu -Find the app -Click “Edit” to Manage App
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Music Notation at none against Joy Bear's 1. Music Notation also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Joy Bear's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 29 months). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. Joy Bear sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Music Notation asks for nothing beyond the download.
Music Notation ships an update every 29 months, Joy Bear every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Music Notation | Joy Bear |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 29 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Paul Henry Smith | Minghao Fu |
In-app purchases
Music Notation
No in-app purchases
Joy Bear
- Unlock$0.99
Questions
Is Music Notation free?
Is Joy Bear free?
Do Music Notation or Joy Bear have ads?
Which is updated more often, Music Notation or Joy Bear?
Other comparisons
