# Sibelius vs Polymeter

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sibelius at 36% against Polymeter's 0%. Sibelius also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 18.0). Polymeter's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sibelius sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Polymeter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Polymeter holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sibelius has 1.8K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of Sibelius's written reviews are positive against 0% of Polymeter's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sibelius ships an update every 2 months, Polymeter every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sibelius | Polymeter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259/reviews) | **[4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polymeter-mixed-meters/id6756774115/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **35.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 1.4 GB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Avid®](https://appshunter.io/developer/436394595) | [Jack Gruber](https://appshunter.io/developer/1262516427) |

## What reviewers say

### Sibelius

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259)

Professional music notation software is now available on mobile devices. Create, edit, and hear your compositions anywhere with a full suite of tools optimized for touch and stylus input. Seamlessly sync across platforms and access different feature tiers to suit your needs.

**Highlights:** Professional music notation, Cross-platform synchronization, High-quality sample library, Apple Pencil and touch optimization, Innovative note entry, Command Search functionality, Scalable subscription tiers

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sibelius Artist for iOS | $5.99 | per month |
| Sibelius Ultimate for iOS | $12.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 🚀 Useful for composing on the go
- 💡 Good for making quick edits to existing scores
- 🎨 Stylish and professional-looking app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔒 Difficulty unlocking full version and accessing features
- 💰 Subscription service is very expensive
- 🔇 Limited sound library and poor playback quality
- 📁 Unreliable saving and file management

**Reported bugs**

- Scores disappearing or not saving properly
- Subscription issues and inability to log in
- Crashes when performing basic actions
- Compatibility problems with newer iPad OS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to enlarge chord symbols
- More time signature options
- Support for MIDI input
- Better Apple Pencil integration
- Autosave and improved file management


### Polymeter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polymeter-mixed-meters/id6756774115)

This metronome helps musicians practice complex time signatures and changing meters without constant resets. Create custom sequences, save them as songs, and share with bandmates.

**Highlights:** Combine multiple time signatures, Reorder bars with drag & drop, Create custom meters, Save and recall song sequences, Share songs with other musicians

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Polymeter Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sibelius free?

Sibelius is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Polymeter free?

Polymeter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sibelius or Polymeter?

Polymeter is rated higher. Sibelius averages 4.2 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Polymeter averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do Sibelius or Polymeter have ads?

Neither Sibelius nor Polymeter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sibelius or Polymeter?

Sibelius ships an update every 2 months, and Polymeter every 3 months. Most recently, Sibelius was updated on November 7, 2026 and Polymeter on November 5, 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.*