Comparison

Sibelius vs EFFESTORE

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sibelius

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
Read full description

Sibelius brings professional music notation to iPad and iPhone, putting the workflows used by countless composers, orchestrators, and arrangers at your fingertips. Seamlessly move between iPad, iPhone and desktop, and from studio to coffeeshop to scoring stage, and write anywhere inspiration strikes. # Work on scores anywhere Sibelius for mobile puts the #1 selling music notation program at your fingertips—literally. Work with the same tools and features used by countless composers and production houses every day on your iPad and iPhone. Whether writing down ideas, creating full-blown compositions, or reviewing scores, you have the freedom to create wherever you’re comfortable. #Take your portfolio to go Forget having to bring and break out your laptop when meeting with clients and collaborators. Instead, you can conveniently take the world’s most powerful notation toolset and your entire music portfolio with you wherever you go—ideal for those unexpected opportunities. And for tandemly working through last-minute revisions. # Hear your music in stunning detail Sibelius includes a high-quality sample library filled with a variety of musical instrumentation, so you can hear what your music will sound like when performed by real musicians. The Espressivo advanced notation interpretation even lets you adjust rhythm and swing to create a more humanistic feel. # Speed your workflow Sibelius for mobile is designed to take full advantage of Apple Pencil and iPad touch capabilities. Its elegant, streamlined interface provides the most intuitive and efficient workflows possible while supporting the same keyboard shortcuts you know and love from working on the desktop version, so you’ll feel right at home. # Get innovative note entry Experience the pen and paper workflow reimagined. Enter notes with the onscreen Keypad or a keyboard, and Sibelius takes care of all note layout. Touch a note and drag up or down to change its value, or drag left or right to add a flat or sharp. With an Apple Pencil, tap a note and tilt up or down to add a flat or sharp, or tilt left or right to choose the note value. # Have everything you need In addition to the Keypad, Sibelius for mobile features a Create menu that’s optimized for iOS, making it easy to add clefs, key signatures, time signatures, barlines, symbols, text styles, and more to your score from searchable galleries. You can also quickly search through all Sibelius commands using the Command Search, putting the entire app at your fingertips. # Move tiers to meet needs Sibelius is designed to grow with you to support your creative aspirations and project needs. From the introductory (and free) Sibelius First to the industry-standard Sibelius Ultimate, you can add more notation capabilities and instrument parts to take on more creative opportunities by simply upgrading your subscription tier. # Have everything on one creative platform Seamlessly move from desktop to tablet and back without ever having to import or export files. That’s because whether on mobile or desktop, you’re always in Sibelius. With files saved to iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or other iOS-supported cloud service, you have easy anywhere access to all your ideas and scores. # Enable a hybrid workflow While Sibelius for mobile is fully featured, providing many of the same tools as its desktop counterpart, there are some notation and layout features only available in the desktop version, making it an integral part of a complete workflow (compare versions). Plus, the mobile version comes free with the desktop version, enabling you to work where and how you want.

About

EFFESTORE

Features
Read full description

EFFE-STORE è l'app del negozio di strumenti musicali di Castelceriolo, alle porte di Alessandria. Da una parte gli attrezzi che servono ogni giorno a chi suona, dall'altra il filo diretto con il banco e con il laboratorio. GLI STRUMENTI DA PALCO Accordatore cromatico che ascolta dal microfono e ti dice quanto sei distante dalla nota. Metronomo con accenti, suddivisioni, metri dispari e tempo trainer che sale da solo. Accordi e scale per chitarra, basso e ukulele, con le diteggiature disegnate sul manico. Funzionano senza connessione: in sala prove il telefono non ha campo e loro devono esserci lo stesso. SUONA, E MIGLIORA Esercizi e giri di accordi che scorrono a tempo. Allenamento dell'orecchio su intervalli, accordi, ritmi e intonazione. Il tuo repertorio, cioè i brani che sai suonare davvero, con tonalità, BPM e capotasto. E un registro della pratica che tiene il conto dei giorni di fila: è più difficile saltare un giorno quando vedi la serie. SCOPRI UN DISCO AL GIORNO Un album al giorno scelto sullo strumento che suoni, con il perché conta, i brani da ascoltare e le fonti. Un quiz per vedere quanto ne sai. Un archivio dei dischi già usciti. IL NEGOZIO IN TASCA Il catalogo con acquisto diretto dall'app. Le riparazioni: prenoti, ricevi il preventivo, lo accetti o lo rifiuti e segui lo stato fino al ritiro, con una notifica a ogni passaggio. Il noleggio di strumenti, audio e luci. Il liutaio, un assistente che risponde ai dubbi tecnici e ti dice quando conviene passare in laboratorio. La prenotazione di una prova in negozio, il sabato. Gli eventi in negozio. I PREMI SI RITIRANO AL BANCO Chi si esercita con costanza si guadagna un plettro, un set di corde montato, uno sconto sul set-up. Il codice si mostra alla cassa: nessuna spedizione, nessun punto virtuale. QUELLO CHE RESTA SUL TELEFONO Il microfono viene ascoltato dal vivo per accordare e per gli esercizi, ma non viene mai registrato né inviato da nessuna parte. Scalette, repertorio e progressi restano sul dispositivo. EFFE STORE — Via Provinciale Alessandria - Sale 27, Castelceriolo (AL) — 0131 1641867

Screenshots

Sibelius4 screens
EFFESTORE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EFFESTORE at none against Sibelius's 2. EFFESTORE also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). Sibelius's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 16.4). On price, ads 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. Sibelius sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. EFFESTORE asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sibelius ships an update every 2 months, EFFESTORE every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sibelius versus EFFESTORE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSibeliusEFFESTORE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (1.8K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews35.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.8K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.4 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size1.4 GB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAvid®Fulvio Zangirolami

Bugs and requests

Sibelius

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

7 requests
  • Ability to enlarge chord symbols
  • More time signature options
  • Support for MIDI input
  • Better Apple Pencil integration
  • Autosave and improved file management
Show 2 more
  • Export options like MusicXML and PDF
  • Customizable shortcuts and toolbars

EFFESTORE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Sibelius

Subscriptions2
  • Sibelius Artist for iOS1 Month trial$5.991 Month
  • Sibelius Ultimate for iOS1 Month trial$12.991 Month
None

EFFESTORE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sibelius free?
Sibelius is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EFFESTORE free?
EFFESTORE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sibelius or EFFESTORE have ads?
Neither Sibelius nor EFFESTORE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sibelius or EFFESTORE?
Sibelius ships an update every 2 months, and EFFESTORE every 5 days. Most recently, Sibelius was updated on November 11, 2026 and EFFESTORE on October 31, 2026.

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