# Drum Notation by Beat Note vs Subdivide

Drum Notation by Beat Note and Subdivide both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Subdivide's written reviews are positive against 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's. Drum Notation by Beat Note's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Subdivide sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Drum Notation by Beat Note against 4.7 for Subdivide. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 87 and 191 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's written reviews are positive against 100% of Subdivide's.

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, Subdivide every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drum Notation by Beat Note | Subdivide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews) | **[4.7 (191 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subdivide-metronome-and-tuner/id6475792843/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 87 | **191** |
| Positive reviews | 82.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 81 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) | [Tap Five](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725191445) |

## 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


### Subdivide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subdivide-metronome-and-tuner/id6475792843)

This app is a rehearsal engine for musicians, offering precise control over tempo, timing, and transitions. It includes a metronome, chromatic tuner, and the ability to import and practice with audio files, making it ideal for daily practice and ensemble rehearsals.

**Highlights:** Custom click track builder, Chromatic instrument tuner, Practice with imported audio files, Tempo change transitions, Looping and count-off features, Track sharing and export, Customizable metronome settings

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $44.99 | one-time |


## 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 Subdivide free?

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

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

Subdivide is rated higher. Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Subdivide averages 4.7 from 191 ratings.

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

Neither Drum Notation by Beat Note nor Subdivide shows ads.

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

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, and Subdivide every 10 days. Most recently, Drum Notation by Beat Note was updated on October 25, 2026 and Subdivide on October 24, 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.*