# Drum Notation by Beat Note vs Zildjian

Drum Notation by Beat Note and Zildjian both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's written reviews are positive against 0% of Zildjian's. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (87 vs 5). Zildjian's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ads and device support 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. Zildjian asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Drum Notation by Beat Note against 4.6 for Zildjian. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drum Notation by Beat Note has 87 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's written reviews are positive against 0% of Zildjian's.

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, Zildjian every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drum Notation by Beat Note | Zildjian |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews)** | [4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zildjian/id6621186442/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **87** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **82.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 89 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) | [Avedis Zildjian Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/419044523) |

## 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


### Zildjian

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zildjian/id6621186442)

Personalize your listening experience with a sound tuning test and visual EQ controls. Manage noise cancellation, battery status, volume limits, and firmware updates for your headphones.

**Highlights:** Perfect Tune™ listening test, Visual EQ controls, Adjustable noise cancellation, Battery status monitoring, Volume limiter, Kids Safe mode, Firmware updates

**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 Zildjian free?

Zildjian is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

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

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

Neither Drum Notation by Beat Note nor Zildjian shows ads.

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

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, and Zildjian every 3 months. Most recently, Drum Notation by Beat Note was updated on October 17, 2026 and Zildjian on October 3, 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.*