# PlayScore 2 vs Note Names

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 (#136 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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | PlayScore 2 | Note Names |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playscore-2/id1449591118/reviews) | **[4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/note-names-read-sheet-music/id6804367959/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.8K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **50.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#136** | — |
| Size | 93 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Organum Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422471846) | [Lionel Teo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842096955) |

## What reviewers say

### PlayScore 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playscore-2/id1449591118)

**Currently charting:** #136 Top Grossing · Music, #192 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PlayScore Productivity | $5.99 | per month |
| PlayScore 2 Professional month | $6.99 | per month |
| PlayScore Productivity | $34.99 | per year |
| PlayScore 2 Professional year | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/note-names-read-sheet-music/id6804367959)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Imports | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*