Comparison

Dorico vs Refader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dorico

Create professional music notation and compositions with this powerful app. Easily input notes, edit performances, and share your work in various formats. It's suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

Highlights
  • Compose music notation
  • On-screen keyboard, drum pads, fretboard
  • MIDI editing tools
  • PDF, audio, MusicXML export
  • Print to AirPrint
  • Read mode with annotation
  • Automatic engraving
Features
Read full description

Compose your own music for free with Dorico. Create beautiful music notation for up to eight instruments quickly and easily with the on-screen keyboard, drum pads and fretboard. Play back instantly with the included sounds and shape the performance with powerful MIDI editing tools. When your piece is finished, share it as PDF, audio or MusicXML, or print directly to your AirPrint-enabled printer. Perform using the built-in read mode, and annotate with your Apple Pencil. Dorico is the award-winning music notation and composition software from Steinberg for macOS, Windows, and iPadOS. It’s easy enough to learn and use that it is used by students in schools, and deep enough that it satisfies the needs of the most demanding professionals in the worlds of concert music, music for film and TV, and music publishing. Dorico for iPad is fully compatible with Dorico for macOS and Windows, so you can work on your projects on the move on your iPad and in your studio on your desktop or laptop computer, or share projects with musicians using Dorico on any platform. Dorico’s interface is split into four modes. In Setup mode, you can add and change instruments, create and reorder sections of music (called “flows”), and choose how your music will be formatted for your musicians into layouts. In Write mode, you can input and edit music and other notations using simple, well-organized toolboxes and panels. In Engrave mode (included if you buy a paid subscription to Dorico’s advanced features), you can make graphical tweaks to every item in your project. Finally, in Play mode, you have access to powerful sequencer-style MIDI editing tools, including piano roll and velocity editors. Dorico includes built-in virtual instruments and effects to allow you to play back your compositions, and you can also easily use any compatible Audio Unit plug-in or external MIDI device (with optional subscription or Lifetime Unlock in-app purchase), and tweak playback using the on-screen Mixer. Input music using an on-screen piano keyboard, or by connecting a MIDI keyboard to your iPad directly via USB or using a compatible USB-to-Lightning adaptor. If you have a Magic Keyboard or other external keyboard, you can make use of extensive keyboard shortcuts to work quickly and efficiently. Dorico is free to use, allowing you to write for ensembles of up to four players. Register with your free Steinberg ID to increase the player limit to eight, allowing you to write for ensembles like string or wind quartet, or SATB choir. If you want to take your composition and arranging to the next level, you can buy an optional subscription or Lifetime Unlock in-app purchase to access more features and power: write for ensembles of any number of players, and gain access to Engrave mode, allowing you to make graphical tweaks to individual items anywhere in your project. HIGHLIGHTS • Best automatic engraving of any software • Easy note input using on-screen keyboard, MIDI keyboard, or external keyboard • Intelligently adjusts notation as you write • Any number of movements or pieces in a single project • Automatic layout of instrumental parts • Expressive playback using included sounds and effects • Supports Audio Unit virtual instruments and effects processors • Sequencer-style piano roll MIDI editor • Sophisticated chord symbols, unpitched percussion and drum set notation • Unbarred music, tuplets across barlines, etc. all handled correctly — no workarounds • Transfer to and from other apps via MusicXML, MIDI, PDF, etc. For support, please visit www.dorico.com/forum If you like Dorico, please support us by rating this app in the App Store. Thank you!

About

Refader

Control MIDI devices and hosts remotely via USB or Wi-Fi. Connect your device to a computer using "Audio MIDI Setup" to establish a networked MIDI session.

Highlights
  • MIDI fader controller
  • Control MIDI devices
  • Control MIDI hosts
  • USB connectivity
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Networked MIDI sessions
Features
Read full description

Refader is a MIDI fader controller to control MIDI devices and hosts via USB or wi-fi sessions. To connect to your computer, use "Audio MIDI Setup" and join the networked MIDI session on the "MIDI Studio" app.

Screenshots

Refader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Refader at none against Dorico's 3. Refader also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (80% vs 55%). Dorico's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (2.2K vs 6). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Refader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dorico holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dorico has 2.2K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of Dorico's written reviews are positive against 80% of Refader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, Refader every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Dorico versus Refader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDoricoRefader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.2K ratings) — better4.2 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews55.4% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.2K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS1716.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size975 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteinberg Media Technologies GmbHPedro Yamada

Customer experience

Dorico

All ratings1,908 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews294 reviews
Positive55.4%
Neutral12.9%
Negative31.6%

Refader

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

Dorico

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when opening or editing projects
  • Corrupted/lost files after app crashes
  • Unresponsive keyboard and note input issues
  • Scrolling and UI glitches, especially in Engrave mode
  • Incompatibility with certain iPad models and iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Support for Apple Pencil and handwriting input
  • Improved file management and organization
  • Expanded audio unit/plugin integration
  • More customization options for layout and engraving
  • Ability to export/import flows and projects between iPad and desktop

Refader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Dorico

Subscriptions2
  • Dorico Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Dorico Annual Subscription14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Dorico Lifetime Unlock$119.99
None

Refader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dorico free?
Dorico is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Refader free?
Refader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dorico or Refader?
Dorico is rated higher. Dorico averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Refader averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.
Do Dorico or Refader have ads?
Neither Dorico nor Refader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dorico or Refader?
Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, and Refader every 2 days. Most recently, Dorico was updated on October 23, 2026 and Refader on October 15, 2026.

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