# Dorico vs Refader

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.

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

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.

Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, Refader every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dorico | Refader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090/reviews)** | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refader/id1667127761/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 55.4% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 975 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | **16.2** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/316698251) | [Pedro Yamada](https://appshunter.io/developer/1604183940) |

## What reviewers say

### Dorico

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dorico Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Dorico Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Dorico Lifetime Unlock | $119.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful and full-featured notation app on iPad
- 👍 Seamless integration with desktop version
- 🚀 Efficient workflow with keyboard shortcuts
- 👍 Impressive engraving and layout capabilities
- 🚀 Comprehensive feature set for composing and arranging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Subscription-only model, no option to purchase outright
- 🐛 Glitchy touch/scroll functionality
- 🐛 Inability to delete clefs or access certain settings
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance on older iPad models

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refader/id1667127761)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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 24, 2026 and Refader on October 24, 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.*