# Dorico vs ClariMate

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ClariMate at none against Dorico's 3. Dorico's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, 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. ClariMate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, ClariMate monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dorico | ClariMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 55.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 975 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | **16.7** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/316698251) | [Audio Inventions Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1581625435) |

## 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


### ClariMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clarimate/id6747759334)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dorico free?

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

### Is ClariMate free?

ClariMate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Dorico or ClariMate have ads?

ClariMate shows ads; Dorico does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dorico or ClariMate?

Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, and ClariMate monthly. Most recently, Dorico was updated on October 31, 2026 and ClariMate on October 28, 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.*