# Simmons Drums vs Drum Notation by Beat Note

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Drum Notation by Beat Note at 83% against Simmons Drums's 14%. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.8) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). Simmons Drums's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Drum Notation by Beat Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.69 per month. Simmons Drums asks for nothing beyond the download.

Drum Notation by Beat Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drum Notation by Beat Note has 87 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Simmons Drums's written reviews are positive against 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's.

Simmons Drums ships an update every 2 months, Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simmons Drums | Drum Notation by Beat Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simmons-drums/id1236886060/reviews) | **[4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **87** |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **83.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 160 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Simmons Innovations Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236886059) | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) |

## What reviewers say

### Simmons Drums

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simmons-drums/id1236886060)

Enhance your electronic drum kit's functionality with this app. Remotely edit and save drum kits, practice with real audio tracks, and slow down songs to learn grooves. Compatible with specific Simmons drum kit models.

**Highlights:** Remote drum kit editing, Save custom drum kits, Teaching tool with audio tracks, Play along with music library, Adjust playback speed

**In-app purchases:** none


### Drum Notation by Beat Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475)

Create, practice, and share drum music notation with ease. This app transforms sequenced beats into professional sheet music, offering tools for composition, transcription, and interactive teaching. Enhance your drumming journey with customizable practice sessions and high-quality export options.

**Highlights:** Sequencer to notation conversion, Compose and transcribe drum beats, Customizable practice sessions, Interactive teaching tools, High-quality PDF and image export, Multiple notation voicing options

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Educator Tier Monthly (No Trial) | $6.69 | per month |
| Creator Tier Monthly (No Trial) | $13.49 | per month |
| Educator Tier Annual (No Trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| Educator Tier Annual + Free Trial | $59.99 | per year |
| Creator Tier Annual + Free Trial | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Quick and efficient notation
- 🎶 Great sound playback
- 💡 Excellent for teaching and learning
- ✍️ Simple to write exercises and ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 💸 High annual cost
- 🆓 Limited free version
- 🚫 No one-time purchase option
- 🤔 Subscription model makes little sense to some

**Reported bugs**

- Preview rarely matches notes on staff
- Sometimes doesn't play any notes
- Sounds not always appropriate for instrument voicing
- Editing measures is inconvenient
- Free trial charged immediately

**Requested features**

- 7/8 time signature support
- Syncing between devices
- Web version
- Native Mac/Windows apps
- Add text or notes to notations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simmons Drums free?

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

### Is Drum Notation by Beat Note free?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Simmons Drums or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is rated higher. Simmons Drums averages 2.8 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 from 87 ratings.

### Do Simmons Drums or Drum Notation by Beat Note have ads?

Neither Simmons Drums nor Drum Notation by Beat Note shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simmons Drums or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

Simmons Drums ships an update every 2 months, and Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. Most recently, Simmons Drums was updated on October 14, 2026 and Drum Notation by Beat Note on October 13, 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.*