# IMSLP vs Music Reader

The clearest difference is ads: IMSLP at none against Music Reader's shown. IMSLP also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (70% vs 51%). Music Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IMSLP sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month and Music Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for IMSLP against 4.5 for Music Reader. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 513 and 192 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of IMSLP's written reviews are positive against 51% of Music Reader's.

IMSLP ships an update every 10 days, Music Reader every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IMSLP | Music Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (513 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imslp/id1373671782/reviews)** | [4.5 (192 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-reader-sheet-music-note/id1491308446/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **513** | 192 |
| Positive reviews | **70.1% of reviews** | 51.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 232 MB | 183 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Project Petrucci LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1373671781) | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) |

## What reviewers say

### IMSLP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imslp/id1373671782)

Access a vast digital library of classical music scores on your iOS device. Enjoy full access to commercial recordings, instant downloads, and new uploads with a membership subscription. Support the music community while exploring a comprehensive collection.

**Highlights:** Browse IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library, View musical scores, Access commercial recordings, Instant downloads, Access new uploads instantly, Membership subscription benefits

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Membership Subscription | $3.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Integrated IMSLP library
- 👍 Well-made app
- 👍 Game changer for musicians
- 👍 Indispensable for professionals and amateurs
- 👍 Fantastic offering

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes when zooming in and annotating
- 💰 Money grabbing with constant subscription prompts
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Annotation issues and lost data
- 🐛 Battery drain on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening scores
- Scores disappearing from library
- Login issues and lost data
- Incompatibility with older devices after updates
- Annotation issues causing loss of data

**Requested features**

- Predictive text for score annotations
- Ability to restore original zoom settings
- Metric to indicate device performance during page turns
- Folder-like organization system
- Color wheel and custom pen/highlighter options


### Music Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-reader-sheet-music-note/id1491308446)

This app is a comprehensive tool for sheet music. It allows users to view, learn, listen, mark, and play musical scores. It supports various music genres and instruments, acting as a portable songbook and powerful player.

**Highlights:** View and play sheet music, Mark and annotate scores, Import MusicXML and NotationPad files, Supports dark mode, Transposition (PRO), Change instrument parts (PRO)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Access | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro Access | $14.99 | per year |
| Pro Access | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IMSLP free?

IMSLP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Music Reader free?

Music Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, IMSLP or Music Reader?

IMSLP is rated higher. IMSLP averages 4.6 out of 5 from 513 ratings, while Music Reader averages 4.5 from 192 ratings.

### Do IMSLP or Music Reader have ads?

Music Reader shows ads; IMSLP does not.

### Which is updated more often, IMSLP or Music Reader?

IMSLP ships an update every 10 days, and Music Reader every 4 months. Most recently, IMSLP was updated on October 27, 2026 and Music Reader on October 26, 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.*