Square Note vs Word on Fire Digital
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Square Note
Access a vast library of Gregorian Chant scores with over 800 unique chants. Learn to read square note notation and hear melodies with adjustable speed and pitch. Ideal for choirs, scholas, or personal study.
- Extensive library of Gregorian Chant scores
- Learn square note notation
- Adjustable melody playback (speed, pitch)
- Customizable chant viewing settings
- Bookmark favorite chants
- Search by name or full text
- Includes Mass Propers, Commons, and Kyriale
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Gregorian Chant for the Masses! Square Note puts a huge library of Gregorian Chant scores—over 800 unique chants and counting—right at your fingertips. Always wanted to learn how to read square note notation? Always wanted to have the amazing Gregorian Chants of the Catholic Church on your iPhone and iPad? Square Note brings the ancient music of the Church to your mobile devices, ready for you to utilize in your schola, your choir, or your home. * Beautifully rendered chant that automatically formats itself to fit nicely on your screen. * Hear the melodies of the chants, adjusting speed and pitch, to learn how the chants are sung. * Easily adjust chant viewing settings, including zooming in, zooming out, and toggling certain chant markings. * Bookmark your favorite chants or the ones you'll be practicing in your schola. * Search and find chants by name or even by searching through the full text of the chant. * Automatically include Gloria Patri paradigms to your Introit and Communion antiphons. CURRENT CHANTS: Mass Propers for the Proper of Seasons (Ordinary Form and Extraordinary Form); some propers for major Feasts and Solemnities; most commons for both the OF and EF; Latin Kyriale, including all traditional 18 Masses and 6 Creeds; some Marian antiphons (simple and solemn forms) and a smattering of other antiphons and hymns. More chants to come--let us know what you'd like to see included!
Word on Fire Digital
Access premium Catholic video series from Bishop Robert Barron on any device, anytime. Explore faith-based documentaries and topical programs with a subscription. Stay updated with new releases and exclusive content.
- Premium video series from Bishop Robert Barron
- Explore Catholicism and faith topics
- Access all video programs
- First access to new releases
- Content added throughout the year
- Watch on any device, anytime
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Explore the richness of Catholicism with premium video series from Bishop Robert Barron. Through our dedication to the new media we are offering a new way to view our content with this cutting-edge streaming subscription. You'll be able to watch any of these programs on any device and at any time. Travel around the world and explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Catholic Faith through the CATHOLICISM or Pivotal Players series, which have aired on public television stations and seen countless times all over the world. Or dive deeper with some of the topical programs; learning how to combat the New Atheists in the 'Mystery of God' program, or to explore the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel in 'David the King'. With a Word on Fire Digital subscription, you will instantly have access to ALL of Bishop Barron’s video programs. You’ll also be the first to gain access to new releases as well as other content that will be added throughout the year. If you’ve enjoyed and benefited from Word on Fire programs in the past, you’ll find this app to be a seamless means of accessing the breath of our content. * All payments will be paid through your iTunes Account and may be managed under Account Settings after the initial payment. Subscription payments will automatically renew unless deactivated at least 24-hours before the end of the current cycle. Your account will be charged for renewal at least 24-hours prior to the end of the current cycle. Any unused portion of your free trial will be forfeited upon payment. Cancellations are incurred by disabling auto-renewal. Terms of Service: http://www.wofdigital.org/tos Privacy Policy: http://www.wofdigital.org/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Square Note at none against Word on Fire Digital's 2. Square Note also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). Word on Fire Digital's advantage is ratings volume (2.2K vs 70). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Word on Fire Digital sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Square Note asks for nothing beyond the download.
Word on Fire Digital holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Word on Fire Digital has 2.2K ratings behind it against 70, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Square Note's written reviews are positive against 95% of Word on Fire Digital's.
Square Note ships an update every 4 weeks, Word on Fire Digital every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.
| Parameter | Square Note | Word on Fire Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (70 ratings) | 4.9 (2.2K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 92.6% of reviews | 95.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 70 | 2.2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 55 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Oblates of St. Joseph | Word on Fire Catholic Ministries |
Customer experience
Square Note
Word on Fire Digital
User reviews
Square Note
From 70 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🎶 Great for learning chant
- 🎵 Excellent for choir practice
- 💡 Helpful for beginners
- ✨ Beautifully laid out
Room to improve
- ❓ Playback issues on iPhone
- 🎵 Missing punctuation on notes
- 🎵 Some chants are missing
- 🎵 Missing Epiphany season
- 🎵 Missing traditional nuptial propers
Word on Fire Digital
From 2.2K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Inspiring and informative content
- 🚀 High-quality production values
- 💡 Comprehensive Catholic education
- 👍 Deepens faith and understanding
- 👍 Convenient and accessible platform
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive subscription cost
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- 🔒 Issues with login and account management
Bugs and requests
Square Note
Reported bugs
3 issues- Cannot get music to play on iPhone
- Playback won't work after iOS 14 update
- Sundays of paschaltide enumerated differently in OF & EF
Requested features
25 requests- Add liturgical calendar for 1962 missal
- Add traditional nuptial propers (deus Israel)
- Include psalm tones for singing psalms
- Add common chants of the Divine Office
- Add different tones of the Te Lucis hymn
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- Add the antiennes des Vêpres
- Include parts of the Divine office (e.g., compline)
- Add the Exultet
- Add chants from the breviary (Roman Breviary hymns)
- Add Mass XVIIII and Feast of All Saints Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Communion
- Add the Benedicamus Domino for Masses
- Separate Marian antiphons from other Marian chants
- Add a keyboard for playing notes
- Add the Jubilate Deo sequence (beginners compilation)
- Provide alternate chant sounds
- Allow transposition into other octaves
- Include English translations of each chant
- Add sung chants, not just notes
- Offer a crisper sound option for chant tone
- Provide a choice of different types of chant tones
- Add notation for punctums or scalici
- Add notation for the Exultet
- Add notation for breviary hymns
- Add notation for Mass XVIIII and Feast of All Saints
- Add notation for Benedicamus Domino
Word on Fire Digital
Reported bugs
2 issues- Occasional crashes and freezes
- Compatibility issues with older devices
Requested features
3 requests- Offline content viewing and download options
- Integration with other Catholic apps and resources
- More content for non-Catholics and those new to the faith
In-app purchases
Square Note
No in-app purchases
Word on Fire Digital
- Word On Fire Digital Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
- Word on Fire Digital Yearly7 Days trial$199.991 Year
Questions
Is Square Note free?
Is Word on Fire Digital free?
Which has better reviews, Square Note or Word on Fire Digital?
Do Square Note or Word on Fire Digital have ads?
Which is updated more often, Square Note or Word on Fire Digital?
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