# Drum Notation by Beat Note vs Drum Chart Builder

The clearest difference is rating: Drum Notation by Beat Note at 4.7 against Drum Chart Builder's 3.9. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 67%) and ratings volume (83 vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 and Drum Chart Builder sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Drum Notation by Beat Note holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drum Notation by Beat Note has 83 ratings behind it against 7, 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 67% of Drum Chart Builder's.

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, Drum Chart Builder fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drum Notation by Beat Note | Drum Chart Builder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (83 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews)** | [3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-chart-builder-charts-app/id1661737322/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **83** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 87 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) | [Elizabeth Ficalora](https://appshunter.io/developer/1258372852) |

## 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


### Drum Chart Builder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-chart-builder-charts-app/id1661737322)

Create professional drum charts and setlists quickly for gigs, sessions, and practice. Organize your music with a searchable library and access a playable drum pattern library. Offers a free trial of premium features.

**Highlights:** Build one-page drum charts, Create and edit setlists, Playable drum pattern library, Export charts as PDFs, Organized dashboard, Metronome and tempo click, Dark and light modes

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Std | $8.99 | per month |
| Monthly Pro | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly Std | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro | $69.99 | per year |


## 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 Drum Chart Builder free?

Drum Chart Builder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Drum Notation by Beat Note or Drum Chart Builder?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is rated higher. Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.7 out of 5 from 83 ratings, while Drum Chart Builder averages 3.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do Drum Notation by Beat Note or Drum Chart Builder have ads?

Neither Drum Notation by Beat Note nor Drum Chart Builder shows ads.

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

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, and Drum Chart Builder fortnightly. Most recently, Drum Notation by Beat Note was updated on September 19, 2026 and Drum Chart Builder on September 19, 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.*