Comparison

FlipFolder vs Dorico

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

Head to head
About

FlipFolder

This application allows musical groups to share and view sheet music digitally. Band leaders can manage performances, instantly displaying selected songs on all connected members' devices. It uses cloud storage for music and both internet and Bluetooth for connectivity.

Highlights
  • Digital sheet music viewer
  • Group performance management
  • Cloud music storage integration
  • Real-time song display during performances
  • Internet and Bluetooth connectivity
  • Offline song pre-download
Features
Read full description

FlipFolder App helps directors and performers organize music, run performances, and stay connected from the first rehearsal to the final note. Designed for real ensembles, it reduces setup time and keeps everyone focused when it matters most. Access your Sheet Music Library Organize by playlist or performance Switch between songs easily Mark up your music with notes, highlights, and edits Share annotations with your ensemble Distraction free viewing experience

About

Dorico

Create professional music notation and compositions with this powerful app. Easily input notes, edit performances, and share your work in various formats. It's suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

Highlights
  • Compose music notation
  • On-screen keyboard, drum pads, fretboard
  • MIDI editing tools
  • PDF, audio, MusicXML export
  • Print to AirPrint
  • Read mode with annotation
  • Automatic engraving
Features
Read full description

Compose your own music for free with Dorico. Create beautiful music notation for up to eight instruments quickly and easily with the on-screen keyboard, drum pads and fretboard. Play back instantly with the included sounds and shape the performance with powerful MIDI editing tools. When your piece is finished, share it as PDF, audio or MusicXML, or print directly to your AirPrint-enabled printer. Perform using the built-in read mode, and annotate with your Apple Pencil. Dorico is the award-winning music notation and composition software from Steinberg for macOS, Windows, and iPadOS. It’s easy enough to learn and use that it is used by students in schools, and deep enough that it satisfies the needs of the most demanding professionals in the worlds of concert music, music for film and TV, and music publishing. Dorico for iPad is fully compatible with Dorico for macOS and Windows, so you can work on your projects on the move on your iPad and in your studio on your desktop or laptop computer, or share projects with musicians using Dorico on any platform. Dorico’s interface is split into four modes. In Setup mode, you can add and change instruments, create and reorder sections of music (called “flows”), and choose how your music will be formatted for your musicians into layouts. In Write mode, you can input and edit music and other notations using simple, well-organized toolboxes and panels. In Engrave mode (included if you buy a paid subscription to Dorico’s advanced features), you can make graphical tweaks to every item in your project. Finally, in Play mode, you have access to powerful sequencer-style MIDI editing tools, including piano roll and velocity editors. Dorico includes built-in virtual instruments and effects to allow you to play back your compositions, and you can also easily use any compatible Audio Unit plug-in or external MIDI device (with optional subscription or Lifetime Unlock in-app purchase), and tweak playback using the on-screen Mixer. Input music using an on-screen piano keyboard, or by connecting a MIDI keyboard to your iPad directly via USB or using a compatible USB-to-Lightning adaptor. If you have a Magic Keyboard or other external keyboard, you can make use of extensive keyboard shortcuts to work quickly and efficiently. Dorico is free to use, allowing you to write for ensembles of up to four players. Register with your free Steinberg ID to increase the player limit to eight, allowing you to write for ensembles like string or wind quartet, or SATB choir. If you want to take your composition and arranging to the next level, you can buy an optional subscription or Lifetime Unlock in-app purchase to access more features and power: write for ensembles of any number of players, and gain access to Engrave mode, allowing you to make graphical tweaks to individual items anywhere in your project. HIGHLIGHTS • Best automatic engraving of any software • Easy note input using on-screen keyboard, MIDI keyboard, or external keyboard • Intelligently adjusts notation as you write • Any number of movements or pieces in a single project • Automatic layout of instrumental parts • Expressive playback using included sounds and effects • Supports Audio Unit virtual instruments and effects processors • Sequencer-style piano roll MIDI editor • Sophisticated chord symbols, unpitched percussion and drum set notation • Unbarred music, tuplets across barlines, etc. all handled correctly — no workarounds • Transfer to and from other apps via MusicXML, MIDI, PDF, etc. For support, please visit www.dorico.com/forum If you like Dorico, please support us by rating this app in the App Store. Thank you!

Screenshots

FlipFolder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Dorico at 4.6 against FlipFolder's 3.5. Dorico also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 22%) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 57). FlipFolder's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence and ads 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. Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. FlipFolder asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dorico holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dorico has 2.3K ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of FlipFolder's written reviews are positive against 55% of Dorico's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FlipFolder ships an update fortnightly, Dorico every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
FlipFolder versus Dorico: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlipFolderDorico
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (57 ratings)4.6 (2.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews55.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings572.3K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB975 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJ.W. Pepper & Son, Inc.Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH

Customer experience

FlipFolder

All ratings57 ratings
Positive56.1%
Neutral8.8%
Negative35.1%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral27.8%
Negative50.0%

Dorico

All ratings1,908 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews294 reviews
Positive55.4%
Neutral12.9%
Negative31.6%

Bugs and requests

FlipFolder

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Dorico

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when opening or editing projects
  • Corrupted/lost files after app crashes
  • Unresponsive keyboard and note input issues
  • Scrolling and UI glitches, especially in Engrave mode
  • Incompatibility with certain iPad models and iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Support for Apple Pencil and handwriting input
  • Improved file management and organization
  • Expanded audio unit/plugin integration
  • More customization options for layout and engraving
  • Ability to export/import flows and projects between iPad and desktop

In-app purchases

None

FlipFolder

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Dorico

Subscriptions2
  • Dorico Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Dorico Annual Subscription14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Dorico Lifetime Unlock$119.99

Questions

Is FlipFolder free?
FlipFolder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dorico free?
Dorico is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FlipFolder or Dorico?
Dorico is rated higher. FlipFolder averages 3.5 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while Dorico averages 4.6 from 2.3K ratings.
Do FlipFolder or Dorico have ads?
Neither FlipFolder nor Dorico shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FlipFolder or Dorico?
FlipFolder ships an update fortnightly, and Dorico every 3 weeks. Most recently, FlipFolder was updated on October 24, 2026 and Dorico on November 3, 2026.

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