# Drum Notation by Beat Note vs The Gnome

The clearest difference is price: Drum Notation by Beat Note at Free against The Gnome's $4.99. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (87 vs 13). The Gnome's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download; The Gnome costs $4.99 up front. Drum Notation by Beat Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.69 per month. The Gnome asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Gnome holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drum Notation by Beat Note has 87 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Gnome's.

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, The Gnome every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drum Notation by Beat Note | The Gnome |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews) | **[5.0 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-gnome/id1612001531/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **87** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 82.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 89 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) | [Brian Mueller](https://appshunter.io/developer/1612001533) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### The Gnome

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-gnome/id1612001531)

This app is a powerful practice and rehearsal tool designed to improve rhythmic accuracy and technique. It offers advanced features like polyrhythm generation, customizable sound sets, and pattern sequencing for detailed click track creation. Users can also experiment with rhythmic feels and receive real-time feedback on their timing.

**Highlights:** Process-oriented rhythmic practice, Flexible click track creation, Polyrhythm generation with 4 channels, Customizable sound sets and beep generation, Step sequencer for rhythmic patterns, Real-time timing accuracy feedback, Tempo and time automation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Drum Notation by Beat Note free?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Gnome free?

The Gnome costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Drum Notation by Beat Note or The Gnome?

The Gnome is rated higher. Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while The Gnome averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.

### Do Drum Notation by Beat Note or The Gnome have ads?

Neither Drum Notation by Beat Note nor The Gnome shows ads.

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

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, and The Gnome every 2 months. Most recently, Drum Notation by Beat Note was updated on October 17, 2026 and The Gnome on October 4, 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.*