# TM vs Drum Notation by Beat Note

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TM at none against Drum Notation by Beat Note's 5. TM also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 83%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). Drum Notation by Beat Note's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (88 vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Drum Notation by Beat Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.69 per month. TM asks for nothing beyond the download.

Drum Notation by Beat Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drum Notation by Beat Note has 88 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of TM's written reviews are positive against 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TM ships an update fortnightly, Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TM | Drum Notation by Beat Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tm-1-editor/id1442772853/reviews) | **[4.6 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **88** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 82.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Roland Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/387333694) | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) |

## What reviewers say

### TM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tm-1-editor/id1442772853)

This application allows users to customize and organize sounds for their Roland TM-1 Trigger Module. Import your own samples or use the included pro-quality sounds, assign them to trigger inputs, and save custom kits for live performances or studio work.

**Highlights:** Customize TM-1 sounds, Import original samples, Access 150 pro-quality samples, Save and load custom kits, Assign MIDI note numbers, Supports WAV, AIFF, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless

**In-app purchases:** none


### Drum Notation by Beat Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475)

Create, practice, and share drum music notation with ease. This app transforms sequenced beats into professional sheet music, offering tools for composition, transcription, and interactive teaching. Enhance your drumming journey with customizable practice sessions and high-quality export options.

**Highlights:** Sequencer to notation conversion, Compose and transcribe drum beats, Customizable practice sessions, Interactive teaching tools, High-quality PDF and image export, Multiple notation voicing options

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Educator Tier Monthly (No Trial) | $6.69 | per month |
| Creator Tier Monthly (No Trial) | $13.49 | per month |
| Educator Tier Annual (No Trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| Educator Tier Annual + Free Trial | $59.99 | per year |
| Creator Tier Annual + Free Trial | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Quick and efficient notation
- 🎶 Great sound playback
- 💡 Excellent for teaching and learning
- ✍️ Simple to write exercises and ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 💸 High annual cost
- 🆓 Limited free version
- 🚫 No one-time purchase option
- 🤔 Subscription model makes little sense to some

**Reported bugs**

- Preview rarely matches notes on staff
- Sometimes doesn't play any notes
- Sounds not always appropriate for instrument voicing
- Editing measures is inconvenient
- Free trial charged immediately

**Requested features**

- 7/8 time signature support
- Syncing between devices
- Web version
- Native Mac/Windows apps
- Add text or notes to notations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TM free?

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

### Is Drum Notation by Beat Note free?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TM or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is rated higher. TM averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 from 88 ratings.

### Do TM or Drum Notation by Beat Note have ads?

Neither TM nor Drum Notation by Beat Note shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TM or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

TM ships an update fortnightly, and Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. Most recently, TM was updated on November 2, 2026 and Drum Notation by Beat Note on November 3, 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.*