# Drum Notation by Beat Note vs Scale Theory

The clearest difference is price: Drum Notation by Beat Note at Free against Scale Theory's $1.99. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). Scale Theory's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5).

Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download; Scale Theory costs $1.99 up front. Drum Notation by Beat Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.69 per month. Scale Theory asks for nothing beyond the download.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drum Notation by Beat Note | Scale Theory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **87** | — |
| Positive reviews | 82.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 81 MB | 19 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) | [YellowDress](https://appshunter.io/developer/509933147) |

## 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


### Scale Theory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scale-theory/id6761800685)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, 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 Scale Theory free?

Scale Theory costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Drum Notation by Beat Note or Scale Theory have ads?

Scale Theory shows ads; Drum Notation by Beat Note does not.

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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.*