Comparison

Dorico vs Practice Pet!

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

Practice Pet!

This app transforms music practice into a game by letting you care for a virtual pet that thrives on your playing time. It automatically detects practice sessions, tracks your streaks, and offers extensive customization for pets and rooms. Connect with friends, climb leaderboards, and level up your musical journey.

Highlights
  • Automatic practice detection
  • Virtual pet care and happiness
  • Daily streak tracking
  • Pet and room customization
  • Social features with friends
  • Leaderboards and achievements
  • Leveling system
Features
Read full description

Meet your new practice buddy! Practice Pet turns daily music practice into a fun, rewarding experience. Care for your adorable musical note pet by practicing your instrument - the more you play, the happier your pet becomes! YOUR PET NEEDS YOU Your pet's health and happiness depend on your practice. Skip a day and your pet gets sad. Practice regularly and watch them thrive! It's the perfect motivation to build consistent habits. SMART PRACTICE DETECTION Just tap start and play your instrument. Practice Pet listens and automatically tracks your practice time. No manual timers or logging required - just focus on making music. BUILD YOUR STREAK Practice every day to build your streak. How many days in a row can you keep it going? Track your progress and watch your dedication pay off. CUSTOMIZE EVERYTHING Make it yours! Customize your pet with different colors, patterns, accessories, and instruments. Decorate your room with themes, furniture, wall art, and more. Unlock new items as you level up or visit the shop. PRACTICE WITH FRIENDS Connect with Game Center to visit your friends' pets! See their rooms, check their progress, and even help their pets by practicing in their space. Climb the leaderboards and earn achievements together. LEVEL UP Earn XP with every practice session. Level up to unlock new customization options and show off your dedication. FEATURES • Automatic practice detection using your microphone • Daily streak tracking to build consistency • Pet customization with colors, patterns, and accessories • Room decoration with themes and furniture • Game Center friends, leaderboards, and achievements • iCloud sync across all your devices • No ads interrupting your practice Perfect for musicians of all ages and skill levels. Whether you're just starting out or preparing for a performance, Practice Pet makes every practice session count. Download now and start your practice journey!

Screenshots

Practice Pet!3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Dorico at Free against Practice Pet!'s $0.99. Dorico also leads on ratings volume (2.3K vs 13). Practice Pet!'s advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 55%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Dorico is free to download; Practice Pet! costs $0.99 up front. Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Practice Pet! sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Practice Pet! holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dorico has 2.3K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Dorico's written reviews are positive against 83% of Practice Pet!'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, Practice Pet! every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Dorico versus Practice Pet!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDoricoPractice Pet!
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.6 (2.3K ratings)5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.4% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.3K — better13
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size975 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteinberg Media Technologies GmbHAlvin Simpson

Customer experience

Dorico

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

Practice Pet!

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

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

Practice Pet!

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
6 purchases

Practice Pet!

One-time6
  • Handful of Gems$0.99
  • Piggy Bank$0.99
  • Sack of Gems$4.99
Show 3 more
  • Sack of Gold$4.99
  • Dragon's Hoard$9.99
  • Treasure Chest$9.99

Questions

Is Dorico free?
Dorico is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Practice Pet! free?
Practice Pet! costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dorico or Practice Pet!?
Practice Pet! is rated higher. Dorico averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while Practice Pet! averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.
Do Dorico or Practice Pet! have ads?
Neither Dorico nor Practice Pet! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dorico or Practice Pet!?
Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, and Practice Pet! every 11 days. Most recently, Dorico was updated on November 7, 2026 and Practice Pet! on October 31, 2026.

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