Comparison

IMSLP vs The Gnome

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

Head to head
About

IMSLP

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
Read full description

Browse IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library and view scores from the comfort of your iOS device. IMSLP Membership Subscription Length of subscription: 1 month. Benefits include: • Full access to commercial recordings • Access all features in this app • No waiting for downloads • Access new uploads instantly • Knowing that you helped keep IMSLP running and serving the music community Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of Service and Privacy policy - https://imslp.org/wiki/IMSLP:Terms_of_Service_and_Privacy_policy_(app)

About

The Gnome

This app is a powerful practice and rehearsal tool designed to improve rhythmic accuracy and technique. It offers advanced features like polyrhythm generation, customizable sound sets, and pattern sequencing for detailed click track creation. Users can also experiment with rhythmic feels and receive real-time feedback on their timing.

Highlights
  • Process-oriented rhythmic practice
  • Flexible click track creation
  • Polyrhythm generation with 4 channels
  • Customizable sound sets and beep generation
  • Step sequencer for rhythmic patterns
  • Real-time timing accuracy feedback
  • Tempo and time automation
Features
Read full description

The Gnome is a powerful practice and rehearsal tool. The Gnome provides process-oriented features that help strengthen your internal pulse, refine your sense of rhythmic feel, and build technique. You can also use The Gnome to build click tracks with flexible meter representation, full tempo automation, and scalable playback speed. - The simple Home Screen provides easy access to the most basic Gnome functions. If you just need a basic metronome, you’ll find it here. - The intuitive, DAW-like Mixer screen includes four channels that can each be assigned to a different rhythmic rate (subdivision), making it a snap to subdivide a beat, or generate polyrhythms. - The intermittent clicks feature allows The Gnome to play for a number of counts, and then rest in silence for a number of counts. You can also easily alternate back and forth between two Gnome channels, making it extremely easy to practice switching between two different rhythmic subdivisions (triplets to sixteenths, for instance). - The Sound Set Editor allows you to assign each of the four channels one or more of the over 250 sounds from the built-in Sound Library, or any sound file(s) you share to the app. You can even generate your own customized beep sounds with assignable frequency, waveform, and simple envelope settings (fade-in, length, fade-out). The sonic possibilities of The Gnome are virtually limitless. - The Pattern Editor is a simple yet powerful step sequencer that allows each channel of The Gnome to play rhythmic patterns. There are 32 patterns available to each of the four Gnome channels, and each 'step' of a pattern can be assigned to a specific sound in that channel's Sound Set, as well as its own dynamic level. - The Meter Builder allows you to quickly create Gnome patterns to represent common time signatures. - The Pattern Sequencer allows you to combine a channel’s 32 patterns in any order you wish. The “Global Pattern Sequencer” on Channel 1 allows for the creation of full click tracks with automated and fully scalable tempo changes, and is capable of triggering patterns on the other channels through the “Pattern Link” feature. The Pattern Sequencer is designed to be usable in individual practice as well as ensemble rehearsals. - The innovative Groove Editor allows you to define precise rhythmic feels by altering the proportions of the subdivisions within a beat. Add a touch of shuffle to a rhythm, explore rhythmic feels from around the world, or use the Groove Editor as a springboard for rhythmic experimentation. - The fun and unique Timing Gauge uses the microphone to assess the user's rhythmic accuracy, providing realtime visual and statistical feedback on your rhythmic tendencies. Quick calibration and customizable settings ensure accurate and meaningful readings. - The Tempo Ramp provides simple tempo and time automation. In Continuous Mode, you can gradually speed up toward a 'peak' tempo, hold that tempo for a specified length of time (measured in either seconds, or beats) and then slow back down to the starting tempo. In Stair Step mode, The Gnome will hold the specified tempo for the specified amount of time (again, measured in seconds or beats) and then increment toward a goal tempo or time. - It is easy to save and organize Gnome Preset files, so any settings you wish can be recalled with one tap. Create a series of practice routines, settings for different exercises or pieces, or even create presets for your students. Presets can be shared very easily. The Gnome also features an audio export function, making it possible to generate .m4a or .wav files of the app’s audio output. - The Gnome features a built-in contextual help system, providing instant access to full documentation simply by swiping inward from the left side of the screen. The help system always provides documentation for the screen you are currently viewing, so you can always learn more about any feature of the app on-demand.

Screenshots

IMSLP4 screens
The Gnome4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: IMSLP at Free against The Gnome's $4.99. IMSLP also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (513 vs 13). The Gnome's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On 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

IMSLP is free to download; The Gnome costs $4.99 up front. IMSLP sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. The Gnome asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Gnome holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IMSLP has 513 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of IMSLP's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Gnome's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IMSLP ships an update every 10 days, The Gnome every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
IMSLP versus The Gnome: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIMSLPThe Gnome
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.6 (513 ratings)5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings513 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size232 MB116 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProject Petrucci LLCBrian Mueller

Customer experience

IMSLP

All ratings507 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral3.7%
Negative7.9%
Written reviews298 reviews
Positive70.1%
Neutral11.4%
Negative18.5%

The Gnome

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

IMSLP

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Inability to edit file information after import

Requested features

11 requests
  • 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
Show 6 more
  • Ability to rename music files
  • Different color folder options
  • Split view support
  • Easier way to import scores from other sources
  • Instrumentation information for scores
  • Sorting by instrumentation

The Gnome

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

IMSLP

Subscriptions1
  • Membership Subscription$3.991 Month
None

The Gnome

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is IMSLP free?
IMSLP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is The Gnome free?
The Gnome costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, IMSLP or The Gnome?
The Gnome is rated higher. IMSLP averages 4.6 out of 5 from 513 ratings, while The Gnome averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.
Do IMSLP or The Gnome have ads?
Neither IMSLP nor The Gnome shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IMSLP or The Gnome?
IMSLP ships an update every 10 days, and The Gnome every 2 months. Most recently, IMSLP was updated on October 27, 2026 and The Gnome on October 24, 2026.

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