# Drum Notation by Beat Note vs Beat Blocks

The clearest difference is price: Drum Notation by Beat Note at Free against Beat Blocks's $1.99. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (87 vs 8). Beat Blocks's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Beat Blocks holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Drum Notation by Beat Note has 87 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 83% and 83% positive.

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, Beat Blocks every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drum Notation by Beat Note | Beat Blocks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews) | **[4.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-blocks-rhythm-practice/id6764073025/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **87** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **83.5% of reviews** | 83.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#161** |
| Size | 88 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) | [Charles Sekel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895626013) |

## 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


### Beat Blocks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-blocks-rhythm-practice/id6764073025)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Master your musical timing with this interactive rhythm trainer. Create endless custom drills, receive real-time feedback, and practice with immersive musical notation. Ideal for musicians of all skill levels looking to improve their rhythm.

**Highlights:** Infinite rhythm drill creation, Custom beat editor, Real-time accuracy feedback, Immersive musical notation, Advanced mode for complex rhythms, Customizable themes and sound kits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 Beat Blocks free?

Beat Blocks costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

Beat Blocks is rated higher. Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Beat Blocks averages 4.9 from 8 ratings.

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

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

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

Drum Notation by Beat Note ships an update every 9 days, and Beat Blocks every 5 weeks. Most recently, Drum Notation by Beat Note was updated on October 13, 2026 and Beat Blocks on October 14, 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.*