Comparison

PlayScore 2 vs Pure Score Reader

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
Currently charting
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

Pure Score Reader

Features
Read full description

Your sheet music, always on stage. Pure Score Reader is a fast, distraction-free reader for your PDF scores. Import, annotate, and build setlists — then turn pages with a tap, a swipe, or a Bluetooth pedal. Everything a performer needs, and nothing in the way. ■ Distraction-free reading Read one page at a time or as a two-page spread. Smart zoom crops blank margins so the music fills the screen — nothing else gets in the way. ■ Effortless page turns Turn pages with a tap, a swipe, or a Bluetooth foot pedal — and pick up right where you left off. ■ Annotate in layers Mark up with a pressure-sensitive pen and highlighter. Keep fingerings, cuts, and cues on separate layers you can show or hide per performance. ■ Setlists Build a virtual score book — pages picked from any piece, in your running order. Jump straight to the next number. ■ Find any score fast Organize with labels and folders, and search by title or composer. Your whole library is one tap away. ■ Sync through your Drive Keep every device in sync through your own Google Drive. Your scores stay yours — there's no account to create. ■ Your library stays yours Works offline. No ads, no analytics profile, no selling your data. Just your music. ■ Simple, fair pricing Start free with up to 4 scores, 2 setlists, and PDFs up to 15 MB — annotations, layers, and Drive sync included. Unlock everything with a single one-time purchase (Essential): unlimited scores, unlimited setlists, any PDF file size, and all future updates. No subscription — pay once, keep it forever.

Screenshots

PlayScore 23 screens
Pure Score Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pure Score Reader at every 3 weeks against PlayScore 2's every 2 months. PlayScore 2's advantage is chart position (#118 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 and Pure Score Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlayScore 2 ships an update every 2 months, Pure Score Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
PlayScore 2 versus Pure Score Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayScore 2Pure Score Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (4.5K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.5K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#118 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOrganum LimitedSukodama Inc.

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)

Pure Score Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
1 purchases

Pure Score Reader

One-time1
  • Pure Score Reader Essential$17.99

Questions

Is PlayScore 2 free?
PlayScore 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pure Score Reader free?
Pure Score Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PlayScore 2 or Pure Score Reader have ads?
Neither PlayScore 2 nor Pure Score Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlayScore 2 or Pure Score Reader?
PlayScore 2 ships an update every 2 months, and Pure Score Reader every 3 weeks. Most recently, PlayScore 2 was updated on October 21, 2026 and Pure Score Reader on October 10, 2026.

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