Comparison

PlayScore 2 vs Beam Music

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

Head to head
About

PlayScore 2

Scan sheet music from photos or PDFs and have it played back. Adjust instruments, tempo, and transposition. Export your scores as MusicXML and MIDI for further editing.

Highlights
  • Scan music from photos and PDFs
  • Playback with scrolling notation
  • Adjust volume, instrument, and transposition
  • Smart metronome with time signature recognition
  • Export as MusicXML and MIDI
  • Create 'Playable Score' documents
Features
Read full description

Play all kinds of music direct from photos, images and PDF scores. Export as MusicXML and MIDI Snap music with your camera or import images and PDFs. PlayScore will play them right back to you, scrolling through the song following measure by measure • Adjust volume, instrument and transposition for each staff • Accompany yourself while you sing or play your instrument - PlayScore 2 will even count you in! • Playback with smart metronome that understands time signatures • Create Playable Score Documents that anyone can play back by downloading PlayScore 2 • Export Full Notation MusicXML to score editors with text, dynamics, articulation and more PlayScore 2 reads and plays all kinds of music straight off the page† such as: • Songs • Piano, organ, guitar • Hymns • Solos and Sonatas • Chamber, band and orchestral Choirs and ensembles - Learning a new piece? Create a Playable Score, so each member can listen to their part on its own or standing out from the others. • 19 high quality instruments per staff to choose from • Change tempo (even while playing) • Tap anywhere to play, or drag with a finger to create a loop • Mute and adjust volume, and change instrument for each staff individually • Transpose the whole song or by instrument (transposing instruments) * Adjustable multi-measure count-in and metronome * Swing playback • Adjustable dynamic range PlayScore 2 makes it easy to create multi-page Playable Scores: • Rearrange recapture or delete pages • Select a page range in a PDF • Clip and mask • Search and sort by title or composer Subscriptions - Even without a subscription you can • Play and interact with any PlayScore Playable Score • Play pages of music in unlimited staves from a photo • Create and share single page playable documents PlayScore 2 Productivity subscription • Create and play multi-staff, multi-page scores captured with the camera or imported as images • Export your documents for anyone to play • Interact with scores, auto-transpose transposing instruments, export MIDI files PlayScore 2 Professional subscription • Create Playable Score documents from PDF scores that anyone can play • Export any score as MIDI and MusicXML containing full notation and text Productivity and Professional versions are available as 1-month or 12-month auto-renewing subscriptions. • The payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • You may manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings on-line after purchase Important: Capturing copyrighted music without the copyright holder's permission is illegal. PlayScore 2 recognises full music notation – see full spec at playscore.co † please see online help for exclusions Terms of use: https://playscore.co/terms-of-use

About

Beam Music

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
Read full description

IMPORT AND ASSIGN FILES WITH EASE - Import PDFs from Dropbox, Google Drive, and Local Storage - Assign full files or single pages - Crop, cut, and edit parts - Give edit access to student leaders ANNOTATE YOUR MUSIC - Pencil tool: Draw on the music - Highlighter: Mark key areas - Text tool: Add important notes - Shared notes: Section leaders can add notes for the entire section STAY IN SYNC WITH LIVE MODE Activate Live Mode to automatically connect everyone in the ensemble to your device. When you select a piece of music, everyone’s individual parts for that song are instantly displayed on their personal device. All without the need for internet. ORGANIZE YOUR LIBRARY - Create a collection of songs - Add songs to a set list in a specific order - Add the duration of the song - Back up your library with Beam Backup

Screenshots

PlayScore 23 screens
Beam Music4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Beam Music at none against PlayScore 2's 4. Beam Music also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). PlayScore 2's advantage is ratings volume (4.8K vs 306) and review sentiment (50% vs 36%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. PlayScore 2 sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Beam Music asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Beam Music holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlayScore 2 has 4.8K ratings behind it against 306, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of PlayScore 2's written reviews are positive against 36% of Beam Music's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlayScore 2 ships an update every 2 months, Beam Music every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
PlayScore 2 versus Beam Music: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayScore 2Beam Music
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (4.8K ratings)4.4 (306 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.3% of reviews — better36.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4.8K — better306
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#127 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS1616.0
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB159 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOrganum LimitedUltimate Drill Book

Customer experience

PlayScore 2

All ratings4,533 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral6.0%
Negative16.2%
Written reviews491 reviews
Positive50.3%
Neutral13.0%
Negative36.7%

Beam Music

All ratings283 ratings
Positive83.0%
Neutral3.5%
Negative13.4%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive36.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative54.0%

User reviews

PlayScore 2

From 4.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent app for learning music
  • 👍 User-friendly and easy to use
  • 🎉 Impressive music recognition capabilities
  • 💡 Helpful for practicing and isolating parts
  • 🎨 Versatile playback options (tempo, instrument)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent note/rhythm recognition
  • 🔢 Limitations on number of pages scanned
  • 🔇 Issues with volume and audio quality
  • 🤔 Struggles with complex or handwritten scores
  • 💰 Subscription-based model

Beam Music

From 306 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📱 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

Room to improve

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

Bugs and requests

PlayScore 2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes and freezes when scanning/importing
  • Playback issues with timing and note accuracy
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Exporting to MIDI/MusicXML not working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to import PDFs and multiple pages
  • Improved support for transposition and clef changes
  • Metronome functionality and count-in feature
  • Annotation and score editing capabilities
  • Organizational tools (folders, playlists)

Beam Music

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • 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
Show 9 more
  • Notes from other songs appear randomly
  • Search feature fails to work reliably
  • Music fails to load when switching between pieces
  • Auto-download feature doesn't work
  • App becomes unresponsive with frozen screen
  • Battery drains excessively fast
  • Phone overheats during rehearsal
  • Annotations won't save, erase, or stick properly
  • Screenshot returns white page instead of music

Requested features

12 requests
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • Highlighter tool for dynamics
  • White pen/eraser for marking corrections
  • Screenshot capability for backup
  • Access to music files in Files app
  • Rotation lock that maintains landscape orientation
  • Better customization options
  • Improved search functionality

In-app purchases

4 purchases

PlayScore 2

Subscriptions4
  • PlayScore Productivity$5.991 Month
  • PlayScore 2 Professional month$6.991 Month
  • PlayScore Productivity$34.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • PlayScore 2 Professional year$59.991 Year
None

Beam Music

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PlayScore 2 free?
PlayScore 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Beam Music free?
Beam Music is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PlayScore 2 or Beam Music?
Beam Music is rated higher. PlayScore 2 averages 4.2 out of 5 from 4.8K ratings, while Beam Music averages 4.4 from 306 ratings.
Do PlayScore 2 or Beam Music have ads?
Neither PlayScore 2 nor Beam Music shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlayScore 2 or Beam Music?
PlayScore 2 ships an update every 2 months, and Beam Music every 3 weeks. Most recently, PlayScore 2 was updated on October 29, 2026 and Beam Music on October 29, 2026.

Other comparisons