Comparison

Tempo vs Drum Notation by Beat Note

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

Head to head
About

Tempo

This highly accurate metronome app offers advanced features for musicians, including customizable time signatures, rhythm patterns, and visual feedback. It allows for the creation and management of setlists, automatic tempo adjustments, and integration with external controllers. The app also includes a pitch pipe and supports background playback.

Highlights
  • 35+ time signatures
  • Customizable rhythm patterns
  • Setlist creation and management
  • Automatic tempo adjustment
  • Visual and auditory feedback
  • External controller support
  • Pitch pipe
Features
Read full description

Tempo is the bestselling and most accurate metronome on the App Store. Featured as "New and Noteworthy" and "Staff Favorite" by Apple on the main iTunes landing page. If you'll like to try Tempo out before purchasing, download Tempo Lite for free now. Ever since its release, Tempo has been consistently in the top 100 of the Music category in over 30 countries, and the top paid metronome app in most countries. Tempo's engine is written from the ground up for high accuracy and stability. It keeps going even in device lock mode, making it a useful aid for live drumming. Tempo features an innovative interface that morphs between modes that each presents a different combination of functionalities optimized for the task at hand. Five modes are available on the iPhone: Basic, Preset, Setlist, Practice and Gig. On the iPad, Preset, Gig and Complete modes are available, the last providing access to all controls. Visit www.frozenape.com for demo videos. Features Summary Configuration • 35 different time signatures, including compound and complex meters: 1-13/2, 1-13/4, 3/8, 5/8(2 variations), 6/8, 7/8(3 variations), 9/8, 12/8  • 6 rhythm patterns for simple meters and 3 for compound meters  • Customize accents or turn beats off to create more complex rhythms • Tap tempo function  • Tempo ranges from 10 to 800 Display • Visual feedback in the form of pulsating LEDs • Two pendulum types, each with two animation types • Flash whole screen • Fullscreen display mode with gesture controls Setlists • Store presets in multiple setlists  • Advanced setlist management including search, overwriting, copying between setlists and multi-deletion • Quick editing • Share setlists via email • Backup via iTunes File Sharing  Tracker and Automator • Track number of bars played or time your practice • Stop playback automatically when limit reached • Up to 2 bars of voice count in • Automatic adjustment of tempo every n number of bars or n amount of time • Loop and auto advance through setlists • Coach Mode alternates between unmuted and muted bars Sound • Choose from 14 sound sets, including one optimized for live drumming click tracks  • Voice counting  • Vibration mode • Pan audio left, right or centered • Volume control and mute button Control • Control setlists, tempo and playback with AirTurn, iRig BlueBoard, PageFlip Cicada, headphones remote and other accessories • Assign action to proximity sensor trigger Miscellaneous • Classical metronome and Italian tempo markings  • Pitch pipe for playback of all 12 chromatic pitches (calibration from A = 414 to 466 Hz) • Multi-tasking support: plays in background, with audio from other apps • Four color themes • Theme Editor to create unlimited custom themes

About

Drum Notation by Beat Note

Create, practice, and share drum music notation with ease. This app transforms sequenced beats into professional sheet music, offering tools for composition, transcription, and interactive teaching. Enhance your drumming journey with customizable practice sessions and high-quality export options.

Highlights
  • Sequencer to notation conversion
  • Compose and transcribe drum beats
  • Customizable practice sessions
  • Interactive teaching tools
  • High-quality PDF and image export
  • Multiple notation voicing options
Features
Read full description

Beat Note — Drum Notation for Drummers, Teachers, and Content Creators The fastest way to write, hear, practice, and share drum notation. Built by a drummer, for drummers. FOR DRUMMERS — FROM YOUR HEAD TO THE PAGE IN SECONDS You have a groove idea. Beat Note gets it down before you lose it. Tap the sequencer grid to build beats. Watch them turn into clean, professional drum notation in real time. Hit play and hear exactly what you wrote — at any tempo, with a click track, on loop. - Transcribe songs to check your ear and lock in what you hear - Compose your own grooves, fills, and exercises from scratch - Count in with a visual on-screen "1, 2, 3, 4" so your eyes and ears are ready together - Use Beat Note as your in-ear metronome during rehearsals — your beats, not just clicks "Been waiting a long time for an app like this. Clearly built by a drummer." — App Store review FOR TEACHERS — WRITE IT, PLAY IT, SEND IT What used to take 30 minutes in a desktop notation program now takes 2 minutes on your phone or iPad. Write exercises on the fly — during the lesson, not after it. Play back the notation so students hear exactly how it should sound. Share a link so they can listen at home. Export a PDF they can print and bring to the kit. - Use the sequencer as a live music whiteboard, in person or online - Build a library of exercises organized by tag, ready for any student - Send a shareable link or export a high-quality PDF in one tap "What would normally take 30 minutes on a computer has become 2 minutes from my mobile device. My students love it." — App Store review FOR CONTENT CREATORS — PROFESSIONAL NOTATION VIDEOS, IN MINUTES Export your beat as an animated MP4 — portrait for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, or landscape for YouTube and Vimeo. Choose 720p, 1080p, or 4K. Pick a color theme. Preview before you export. PDF, PNG, WAV or AAC audio, shareable link, and animated MP4 — all from one app. NOTATION THAT LOOKS RIGHT Professional drum notation, consistent across every format you export. What you see on screen is what your students get in the PDF, what your followers see in the video, and what you hear in playback. - All standard drums, cymbals, and articulations - Subdivisions from 8th notes to 32nd notes, plus triplets, quintuplets (5s), and septuplets (7s) - Common and compound time signatures, including 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8 - Linear, split hands/feet, or split drums/cymbals voicing - Sticking annotations (R, L) - Single-measure repeat symbol (%) — renders automatically when measures repeat ORGANIZE AND DISCOVER - Tags, search, and sort to manage your beat library - Discover tab: curated educational beats for all skill levels - Beat templates to get started fast - Customize tempo, click track, count-in, and timer MADE BY A DRUMMER, SHAPED BY THE COMMUNITY Beat Note was built by me — an independent developer with 35+ years behind the kit. But the direction comes from the community. Every major feature on the roadmap has been voted on, requested, and refined by drummers, teachers, and creators just like you. Join the conversation at roadmap.beat-note.app — vote on upcoming features, share ideas, and see what's coming next. I'm here to make sure it all comes together into something that actually works. Premium subscription required for full access. Educator and Creator tiers available. Free trial included. Payment is charged through your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period via iTunes Account Settings. Terms and Privacy Policy: https://www.beat-note.app/privacy-and-terms

Screenshots

Tempo4 screens
Drum Notation by Beat Note4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Drum Notation by Beat Note at Free against Tempo's $2.99. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). Tempo's advantage is ratings volume (4.9K vs 87) and chart position (#16 vs unranked). 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

Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download; Tempo costs $2.99 up front. Tempo sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Drum Notation by Beat Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.69 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tempo holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tempo has 4.9K ratings behind it against 87, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Tempo's written reviews are positive against 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tempo ships an update every 3 months, Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Tempo versus Drum Notation by Beat Note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTempoDrum Notation by Beat Note
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (4.9K ratings) — better4.6 (87 ratings)
Positive reviews83.9% of reviews — better82.8% of reviews
Number of ratings4.9K — better87
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#16 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB81 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFrozen Ape Pte. Ltd.Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC

Customer experience

Tempo

All ratings4,919 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews1,108 reviews
Positive83.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative10.5%

Drum Notation by Beat Note

All ratings87 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral4.6%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews122 reviews
Positive82.8%
Neutral7.4%
Negative9.8%

User reviews

Tempo

From 4.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Reliable and easy to use
  • 🚀 Accurate and responsive
  • 💡 Versatile with many features
  • 🎨 Customizable interface
  • ⏱️ Helpful for practice and performance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes when trying to export/share setlists
  • 🐛 Tempo dial glitches when adjusting quickly
  • 🔊 Click volume too low for use with in-ear monitors
  • 📱 No support for split-screen on iPad

Drum Notation by Beat Note

From 87 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🚀 Quick and efficient notation
  • 🎶 Great sound playback
  • 💡 Excellent for teaching and learning
  • ✍️ Simple to write exercises and ideas

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 💸 High annual cost
  • 🆓 Limited free version
  • 🚫 No one-time purchase option
  • 🤔 Subscription model makes little sense to some

Bugs and requests

Tempo

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Tap tempo not working on newer iPhones
  • Metronome randomly stops during use
  • Setlist management issues causing crashes

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add ability to reorder songs in setlists
  • Implement Bluetooth sync between devices
  • Include more click sound options
  • Allow programming of tempo changes and time signature changes within a song

Drum Notation by Beat Note

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Preview rarely matches notes on staff
  • Sometimes doesn't play any notes
  • Sounds not always appropriate for instrument voicing
  • Editing measures is inconvenient
  • Free trial charged immediately
Show 3 more
  • iCloud data sync issues for subscription confirmation
  • Not stable in loopings, slow delay on first note
  • Measure lines on PDFs too thick and close

Requested features

27 requests
  • 7/8 time signature support
  • Syncing between devices
  • Web version
  • Native Mac/Windows apps
  • Add text or notes to notations
Show 22 more
  • Cowbell instrument
  • More drum samples and pitch control
  • Ability to work on spaces longer than a measure
  • Add 32nd notes
  • Duplicate multiple bars at once
  • Copy/paste large sections
  • Option to drag duplicated bars to the end
  • Add melody track
  • More instrument options
  • Ability to manage volumes of different instruments
  • Add quintuplets and sextuplets to a bar
  • Add repetition options for measures
  • Add text to music sheets
  • Improve loop stability and reduce delay
  • Allow monthly subscription option
  • More free beats/unlimited free version
  • Add sticking for grace notes
  • More advanced editing options for multiple bars
  • Improve PDF export readability
  • Add virtual drum kit for accessibility
  • AI-powered automatic notation
  • Auto-sync to track

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Tempo

One-time2
  • Theme Editor$0.99
  • Premium Theme Pack$0.99
5 purchases

Drum Notation by Beat Note

Subscriptions5
  • Educator Tier Monthly (No Trial)$6.691 Month
  • Creator Tier Monthly (No Trial)$13.491 Month
  • Educator Tier Annual (No Trial)$59.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Educator Tier Annual + Free Trial7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Creator Tier Annual + Free Trial7 Days trial$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Tempo free?
Tempo costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Drum Notation by Beat Note free?
Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tempo or Drum Notation by Beat Note?
Tempo is rated higher. Tempo averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.9K ratings, while Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 from 87 ratings.
Do Tempo or Drum Notation by Beat Note have ads?
Neither Tempo nor Drum Notation by Beat Note shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tempo or Drum Notation by Beat Note?
Tempo ships an update every 3 months, and Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. Most recently, Tempo was updated on October 29, 2026 and Drum Notation by Beat Note on October 27, 2026.

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