NoteBrainer vs PianoMate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NoteBrainer
This app helps users learn to sight-read sheet music through interactive note identification exercises. It offers configurable flashcards, various instrument sounds, and progress tracking, making it suitable for beginners and music teachers alike.
- Configurable flashcard exercises
- Treble and bass clef support
- Multiple instrument sound options
- Assistant learning modes
- Key signature highlighting
- Play history and high score tracking
- MIDI keyboard support
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Learn to sight read sheet music with this simple note training app. Great for kids and adults trying to learn how to read sheet music by sight. Just play for a minute or two each day and be amazed by how much improved your site reading becomes. The app is super simple: see how many notes you can correctly identify within the time limit. Flash card training exercises are completely configurable for ability covering all the main key signatures. Sound effects from a choice of instruments help train your ear as well as eye. Music teacher? The app is an excellent companion for your students. The play history allows you to review how well and how often your students are practicing. Set them a challenge to beat their high score before the next lesson! NoteBrainer has the following great features: * Full key signature coverage - choose how many to train with * Treble and bass clef - play both or either depending on your instrument * Quality instrument sounds - choose from piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, harp, recorder, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, sax, organ or even bagpipes! * Assistant modes to help learn notes * Key signature highlighting - indicates which keys in the key signature are valid to help gain signature familiarity * English and romantic solfège - C, D, E... or Do, Re, Mi... you choose! * Sound only mode - see how many notes you can identify by sound only * Play history - view all your previous exercises, try to beat your high score * External compatible midi keyboard support * Universal - works great on both your iPhone or iPad * Free - So why not send me some great feedback and improvement suggestions If you have any feedback, suggestions or improvements you would like to see in the app please do not hesitate to contact me via the web site or Facebook. I am open to all and any ideas.
PianoMate
Learn and play piano with interactive on-screen keyboards, fingering hints, and various instrument sounds. Practice hands separately, master difficult chords, and use the metronome and repeat fragment modes for focused learning. Connect a MIDI keyboard for enhanced lessons.
- On-screen keyboard with fingering hints
- Piano and harpsichord sounds
- Practice right and left hand separately
- Built-in metronome
- Repeat fragment practice mode
- MIDI keyboard connectivity
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PianoMate turns your piano into an interactive teacher — and now it plays YOUR sheet music. BRING YOUR OWN SHEET MUSIC Point the camera at a page on your music stand, pick a PDF from Files, import a photo, or open a MusicXML file. PianoMate recognises the notes and builds a fully playable score: it follows your hands, waits for you, counts the beat and marks every note you get right. • Photograph printed music — a book on the stand, a page, a printout • Import PDF scores, single- or multi-page • Open MusicXML from any notation editor • Recognition runs on your device — your music stays yours, and works offline • Imported pieces get everything the library pieces get: hands separately, tempo control, assistance, progress tracking IT LISTENS WHILE YOU PLAY Connect a digital piano or MIDI keyboard over cable or Bluetooth — or use the on-screen keyboard. PianoMate follows the score at your speed, waits when you hesitate, and never rushes you. PRACTISE THE WAY TEACHERS DO • One hand at a time — PianoMate plays the other hand for you • Slow the piece down and build speed up bar by bar • Fingering, note names, and a metronome when you need them • Help with hard chords and ornaments: play one note, PianoMate fills in the rest • Accuracy, tempo and progress for every session A LIBRARY TO GROW INTO Hundreds of pieces from beginner arrangements to the real classical repertoire — Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, Satie — grouped by composer and by difficulty level, plus step-by-step lessons that build technique from the first note. FREE AND SUBSCRIPTION Free pieces and lessons are included. A subscription unlocks the full sheet music library and unlimited imports of your own scores. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period; manage them in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://dodecaton.com/en/terms Privacy Policy: https://dodecaton.com/en/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NoteBrainer at none against PianoMate's 11. NoteBrainer also leads on ratings volume (840 vs 26) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). PianoMate's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 9 months). On price, review sentiment, ads 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
Both are free to download. PianoMate sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. NoteBrainer asks for nothing beyond the download.
NoteBrainer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NoteBrainer has 840 ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of NoteBrainer's written reviews are positive against 65% of PianoMate's.
NoteBrainer ships an update every 9 months, PianoMate every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NoteBrainer | PianoMate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (840 ratings) — better | 4.5 (26 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.3% of reviews — better | 65.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 840 — better | 26 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 201 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | James Buchanan21733609631 | Dmitry Avdeev |
Customer experience
NoteBrainer
PianoMate
Bugs and requests
NoteBrainer
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes when getting a note wrong
- Back button not working on some screens
- Sound not working for some users
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
5 requests- Expand keyboard range to cover full octave
- Add option to require button press to continue after wrong answer
- Include rhythm training exercises
- Add more customization options
- Improve stability and reduce crashes
PianoMate
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NoteBrainer
No in-app purchases
PianoMate
- Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Für Elise (Easy)$0.99
- Ode to Joy$0.99
- Moonlight Sonata (Easy)$1.99
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- Meet Piano$1.99
- Left Hand$1.99
- Black Keys$1.99
- River Flows in You$1.99
- Intervals and Chords$1.99
- Symphony 5$1.99
- Moonlight Sonata$2.99








