# Blackbinder vs MusicReader

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Blackbinder at 79 against MusicReader's 8. Blackbinder also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). MusicReader's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Blackbinder sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.49 per month and MusicReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Blackbinder against 4.5 for MusicReader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackbinder has 79 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 55% and 55% positive.

Blackbinder ships an update fortnightly, MusicReader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackbinder | MusicReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbinder-sheet-reader/id1374128495/reviews) | [4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musicreader/id1462173924/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **79** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | 54.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 69 MB | 266 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Rolling Scores S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1374128494) | [Leoné MusicReader B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/364580608) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackbinder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbinder-sheet-reader/id1374128495)

This app offers a unique scrolling sheet music experience for brass musicians. It features a free library of popular pieces, allows importing and converting your own scores, and provides tools for annotation, editing, and organization. Focus on your performance with automatic page scrolling.

**Highlights:** Continuous scrolling sheet music, Free library of brass music, Import PDF and MusicXML scores, Manage and edit repetitions, Annotate and share scores, Organize scores into playlists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MONTHLY Premium | $9.49 | per month |
| HALF-YEARLY Premium | $47.99 | per 6 months |
| ANNUAL Premium | $96.99 | per year |
| MONTHLY Premium | $8.99 | one-time |
| ANNUAL Premium | $89.99 | one-time |


### MusicReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musicreader/id1462173924)

Transform your devices into an electronic music stand with a complete sheet music solution. Manage, annotate, and access your scores offline or via cloud sync. Features include a metronome, recorder, and hands-free page turning.

**Highlights:** Offline music playback, Customizable music library, Versatile display options, In-app annotations, Hands-free page turning, Integrated music tools, Cross-device synchronization

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MRSync Subscription 1 Year | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackbinder free?

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

### Is MusicReader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blackbinder or MusicReader?

Blackbinder and MusicReader are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 79 and 8 ratings respectively.

### Do Blackbinder or MusicReader have ads?

Neither Blackbinder nor MusicReader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blackbinder or MusicReader?

Blackbinder ships an update fortnightly, and MusicReader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Blackbinder was updated on October 2, 2026 and MusicReader on October 10, 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.*