# DrumToolz vs Drum Notation by Beat Note

The clearest difference is rating: Drum Notation by Beat Note at 4.7 against DrumToolz's 4.2. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 58%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). DrumToolz's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (270 vs 83). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. DrumToolz asks for nothing beyond the download.

Drum Notation by Beat Note holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 270 and 83 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of DrumToolz's written reviews are positive against 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's.

DrumToolz ships an update monthly, Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DrumToolz | Drum Notation by Beat Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (270 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drumtoolz/id1461677465/reviews) | **[4.7 (83 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **270** | 83 |
| Positive reviews | 58.1% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jared Simon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1385840653) | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) |

## What reviewers say

### DrumToolz

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drumtoolz/id1461677465)

Compose and practice drum cadences and beats on your mobile device. This app allows manual input of exercises, generation of new ideas, and practice of rudiments. Share your creations and learn from a community of drummers.

**Highlights:** Compose drum cadences and beats, Manual exercise input, Generate new rhythmic ideas, Editable music score, Practice snare rudiments, Library of dynamic exercises, Social profile and sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for writing music
- 👍 Helpful for drumline
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Good sounds
- 👍 Good for practice

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Tutorial not helpful
- 🐛 Hard to find features
- 🐛 UI issues
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Saves progress poorly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and deletes progress
- App won't open
- Repeat function doesn't stop
- Repeat save fails
- Accents, diddles, flams added automatically

**Requested features**

- Turn off metronome
- Add rum shot for snare
- Add rim shots for other drums
- Add triplets, fivelets, sixlets
- Add dynamics (forte, piano)


### 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 DrumToolz free?

DrumToolz 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, DrumToolz or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is rated higher. DrumToolz averages 4.2 out of 5 from 270 ratings, while Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.7 from 83 ratings.

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

Neither DrumToolz nor Drum Notation by Beat Note shows ads.

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

DrumToolz ships an update monthly, and Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. Most recently, DrumToolz was updated on September 25, 2026 and Drum Notation by Beat Note on September 28, 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.*