# Music Theory 101 vs Symphonium

The clearest difference is rating: Music Theory 101 at 4.8 against Symphonium's 3.4. Music Theory 101 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). Symphonium's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 82%). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Symphonium sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Music Theory 101 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Music Theory 101 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Music Theory 101 has 64 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of Music Theory 101's written reviews are positive against 100% of Symphonium's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Music Theory 101 ships an update every 5 days, Symphonium every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Music Theory 101 | Symphonium |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-theory-101-study-course/id1629995579/reviews)** | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symphonium/id6739544310/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **64** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 82.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 78 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Poesie Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1505664474) | [Ryu Brinkmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773289644) |

## What reviewers say

### Music Theory 101

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-theory-101-study-course/id1629995579)

An interactive music theory training app covering classical fundamentals. It features 19 units with audio, exercises, and definitions, mirroring AP Music Theory exam curriculum. Practice skills with over 90 exercise types.

**Highlights:** Interactive music theory course, 19 comprehensive units, Audio samples and key definitions, Skill practice exercises, AP Music Theory exam curriculum, Over 90 exercise types, Aural recognition and dictation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Symphonium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symphonium/id6739544310)

Discover the stories behind classical music masterpieces and composers. Enjoy daily musical highlights, curated collections, and audio snippets. Upgrade for an ad-free experience and personalized features.

**Highlights:** Daily musical highlights with stories, Curated composer and movement collections, Audio snippets of famous works, Save favorite discoveries, Ad-free premium experience, Personalized liked collection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Orchestra tier | $1.99 | per month |
| Orchestra tier | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Music Theory 101 free?

Music Theory 101 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Symphonium free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Music Theory 101 or Symphonium?

Music Theory 101 is rated higher. Music Theory 101 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Symphonium averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do Music Theory 101 or Symphonium have ads?

Symphonium shows ads; Music Theory 101 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Music Theory 101 or Symphonium?

Music Theory 101 ships an update every 5 days, and Symphonium every 8 days. Most recently, Music Theory 101 was updated on October 17, 2026 and Symphonium on October 6, 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.*