Comparison

PlayScore 2 vs Note Names

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

Note Names

This app helps musicians learn to read sheet music by displaying the letter name on each note. It supports various clefs and allows users to customize the level of assistance, gradually removing it as they become more proficient. Users can also import their own music and print it with the added note names.

Highlights
  • Displays letter names on sheet music notes
  • Supports treble, bass, alto, and tenor clefs
  • Adjustable assistance level for gradual learning
  • Import and edit personal sheet music
  • Print sheet music with note names
  • Trombone slide position tagging
Features
Read full description

Play the music in front of you. Learn to read it as you go. Note Names writes the letter name on every note of your sheet music, right on the page, like subtitles for music. You play from day one, and the notation sinks in while you do. WHO IT'S FOR • Adults learning piano who know a tune faster than they can read it • Parents sitting with a child at practice who never learned to read music • Anyone coming back to an instrument after years away • Players of violin, viola, cello, trombone and other instruments reading a new part HOW IT WORKS 1. Snap a photo of a page, or open a PDF 2. Every note gets its letter, including sharps and flats from the key signature 3. Put it on the stand and play READS EVERY CLEF Treble, bass, alto and tenor clef, so piano, strings and low brass all get their letters. Accidentals carry through the bar, and key signatures are never forgotten. YOUR KIND OF NAMES C D E, Do Re Mi, or ドレミ. NEW: TROMBONE SLIDE POSITIONS Switch the tags from letters to slide positions 1 to 7, right on your part. WEAN OFF AT YOUR OWN PACE The reliance dial turns the help down as a piece becomes familiar: every letter, then only the tricky notes, then ledger lines, then none. Each piece remembers its own setting. A LIBRARY READY TO PLAY Start with the Verified library: pieces by Bach, Mozart and Chopin, with every note name checked against the original. FIX, MARK UP, PRINT Wrong letter? Fix it with a tap and it stays fixed. Add fingerings with your finger or Apple Pencil. Print or share the page with its letters for the music stand. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything happens on your device. No account, no ads, no tracking, and no internet needed. Your music never leaves your iPhone or iPad. TRY IT FIRST The whole Verified library is free, and so is your first import of your own music. One payment unlocks unlimited imports and trombone slide positions. Printing with letters is free for everyone. No subscription. GOOD TO KNOW Built for printed sheet music. Handwritten scores aren't supported, and a blurry photo or faint scan may need a few letters fixed. For iPhone and iPad, and Apple Silicon Macs.

Screenshots

PlayScore 23 screens
Note Names4 screens

Verdict

The call

PlayScore 2 and Note Names both sit at 4.2 stars, but that hides the real split: 50% of PlayScore 2's written reviews are positive against 0% of Note Names's. PlayScore 2 also leads on ratings volume (4.8K vs 6) and chart position (#135 vs unranked). Note Names's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 Note Names sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for PlayScore 2 against 4.2 for Note Names. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlayScore 2 has 4.8K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of PlayScore 2's written reviews are positive against 0% of Note Names's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlayScore 2 ships an update every 2 months, Note Names every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
PlayScore 2 versus Note Names: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayScore 2Note Names
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (4.8K ratings)4.2 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4.8K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#135 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS1616.0
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOrganum LimitedLionel Teo

Customer experience

PlayScore 2

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

Note Names

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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)

Note Names

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

Note Names

One-time1
  • Unlimited Imports$9.99

Questions

Is PlayScore 2 free?
PlayScore 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Note Names free?
Note Names is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PlayScore 2 or Note Names?
Note Names is rated higher. PlayScore 2 averages 4.2 out of 5 from 4.8K ratings, while Note Names averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.
Do PlayScore 2 or Note Names have ads?
Neither PlayScore 2 nor Note Names shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlayScore 2 or Note Names?
PlayScore 2 ships an update every 2 months, and Note Names every 3 days. Most recently, PlayScore 2 was updated on October 29, 2026 and Note Names on October 29, 2026.

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