# FlipFolder vs Beam Music

The clearest difference is rating: Beam Music at 4.4 against FlipFolder's 3.5. Beam Music also leads on review sentiment (36% vs 22%) and ratings volume (283 vs 57). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Beam Music holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 57 and 283 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of FlipFolder's written reviews are positive against 36% of Beam Music's.

FlipFolder ships an update fortnightly, Beam Music every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | FlipFolder | Beam Music |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flipfolder/id1363344653/reviews) | **[4.4 (283 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 57 | **283** |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | **36.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 36 MB | 159 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226461119) | [Ultimate Drill Book](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455826723) |

## What reviewers say

### FlipFolder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flipfolder/id1363344653)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Beam Music

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909)

Easily import, organize, and annotate music files for ensembles. Share access and collaborate with section leaders. Live Mode synchronizes music across all devices instantly without internet.

**Highlights:** Import PDFs from cloud storage and local files, Edit and crop music pages, Annotate with pencil, highlighter, and text tools, Collaborative notes for section leaders, Real-time music synchronization via Live Mode, Organize music into collections and set lists, Backup music library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Centralized music library in one app
- 🎵 Convenient for marching band use
- ✍️ Annotation and note-taking features
- 📋 Setlist functionality for quick song switching
- 🔄 Live mode for synchronized performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- ⏱️ Severe lag and unresponsiveness
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain (40-90% per hour)
- 🌡️ Phone overheating during use
- 📝 Annotations randomly disappear or delete

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes constantly, especially when needed
- Lag makes page turning and note-taking difficult
- Annotations disappear after using live mode
- Zoom level resets when orientation changes
- Portrait mode activates unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Horizontal page lock (like FlipFolder)
- Ability to save zoom level with vertical scrolling
- Live session annotation capability
- Auto-select correct part for user
- Mass select parts instead of individual selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FlipFolder free?

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

### Is Beam Music free?

Beam Music is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FlipFolder or Beam Music?

Beam Music is rated higher. FlipFolder averages 3.5 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while Beam Music averages 4.4 from 283 ratings.

### Do FlipFolder or Beam Music have ads?

Neither FlipFolder nor Beam Music shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FlipFolder or Beam Music?

FlipFolder ships an update fortnightly, and Beam Music every 3 weeks. Most recently, FlipFolder was updated on September 9, 2026 and Beam Music on September 9, 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.*