Comparison

Music By Numbers vs Composer Lab

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

Head to head
About

Music By Numbers

This application simplifies complex post-tonal music calculations. It allows users to instantly compute matrices and pitch set collections, with options to view detailed set information, rotate, invert, and flip sets. Users can also save and edit their work for future reference.

Highlights
  • Instant matrix and pitch set calculations
  • View pitch set information on matrix
  • Rotate, invert, and flip sets
  • Save and edit matrices and sets
  • Customizable display for 10 and 11
  • Customizable colors for PC selection and axis
Features
Read full description

Music By Numbers is a modern toolkit for post-tonal and twelve-tone analysis. Build rows and pitch-class sets quickly with a dedicated pitch-class keypad, or generate a random row or set at the cardinality you choose. Create matrices from your rows, select pitch classes to explore their related sets, and view collections on the pitch-class circle. Set Explorer calculates normal form, prime form, Forte number, and interval vector, and provides tools to rotate, invert, complement, or flip a set across an axis you select. Save rows and sets to your Library with optional piece information and notes, then revisit or edit them whenever you need them. Music By Numbers accepts T or A for pitch class 10 and E or B for pitch class 11. Customize how those values are displayed, along with pitch-class selection, set-shape, and axis colors, in Settings.

About

Composer Lab

Explore harmonic structures, scales, and microtonal tuning systems. This app offers tools for organizing pitch material, crafting custom tunings, and managing rhythmic units for songwriting and composition.

Highlights
  • Harmonic structure exploration
  • Custom tuning system creation
  • Rhythmic unit management
  • Microtonal scale playback
  • DAW file export (.scl, .tun)
  • Pitch set theory principles
Features
Read full description

Set Module:
 The Set Module enables musicians to explore harmonic structures and scales of all kinds, and discover new ways of organizing pitch material. Built on the principles of pitch set theory, it offers an intuitive interface along with a rich set of practical tools. Features include fixed superset, fixed subset, invariance calculation, interval vector constraints, unfolding, and numeric recombination mode. The module is designed to make working with complex musical ideas easier and more intuitive, and can be used in songwriting, arranging, film scoring, and concert music composition. Tempo Module:
 The Tempo Module allows users to set a range for rhythmic units and define a tolerance for timing variations. It supports a system where up to six different tempos can be freely switched and converted. Tuning Module:
 Start at 1/1 and craft your own tuning system with cents or ratios. Map it onto a standard keyboard so you can transpose in 12ET or in precise cent steps. Hear your microtonal scales live, then export .scl and .tun files straight to your DAW—unlocking boundless realms beyond the twelve-tone limit. New Euclid and Orbit modules added! Detailed guide will be updated shortly.

Screenshots

Music By Numbers4 screens
Composer Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Music By Numbers at Free against Composer Lab's $17.99. Music By Numbers also leads on ratings volume (7 vs 2). Composer Lab's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 days). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

Music By Numbers is free to download; Composer Lab costs $17.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Music By Numbers against 5.0 for Composer Lab. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Music By Numbers ships an update every 8 days, Composer Lab every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Music By Numbers versus Composer Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusic By NumbersComposer Lab
PriceFree — better$17.99
Rating5.0 (7 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings7 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTimothy Bausch笑一 杨

Customer experience

Music By Numbers

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Composer Lab

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Music By Numbers

No in-app purchases

None

Composer Lab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Music By Numbers free?
Music By Numbers is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Composer Lab free?
Composer Lab costs $17.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Music By Numbers or Composer Lab?
Music By Numbers and Composer Lab are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Music By Numbers or Composer Lab have ads?
Neither Music By Numbers nor Composer Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Music By Numbers or Composer Lab?
Music By Numbers ships an update every 8 days, and Composer Lab every 3 days. Most recently, Music By Numbers was updated on October 14, 2026 and Composer Lab on October 22, 2026.

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