# Drum Notation by Beat Note vs Ghost Beat

The clearest difference is rating: Ghost Beat at 5.0 against Drum Notation by Beat Note's 4.6. Ghost Beat also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). Drum Notation by Beat Note's advantage is ratings volume (87 vs 4) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and Ghost Beat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Ghost Beat 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 4, 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 Ghost Beat's.

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, Ghost Beat every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drum Notation by Beat Note | Ghost Beat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghost-beat-timing-trainer/id6760374042/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **87** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 83.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 88 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) | [LANCE LAVERNE PEDERSON](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884181306) |

## 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


### Ghost Beat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghost-beat-timing-trainer/id6760374042)

This app challenges your internal rhythm by making metronome beats disappear. It helps you maintain tempo by ear and provides a score based on your accuracy. Features include customizable beat patterns, random mutes, and a speed trainer.

**Highlights:** Disappearing beat patterns, Random beat muting, Accurate timing score with deviation, Automatic speed trainer, Practice tracking and history, Multiple click sounds and pitch shifting, Support for various time signatures and subdivisions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ghost Beat Pro | $4.99 | 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 Ghost Beat free?

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

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

Ghost Beat is rated higher. Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Ghost Beat averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

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

Neither Drum Notation by Beat Note nor Ghost Beat shows ads.

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

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, and Ghost Beat every 3 weeks. Most recently, Drum Notation by Beat Note was updated on October 2, 2026 and Ghost Beat on September 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*