# NoteBrainer vs PianoMate

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | NoteBrainer | PianoMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (840 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebrainer/id310695461/reviews)** | [4.5 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianomate-learn-piano/id1045907906/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **840** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | **70.3% of reviews** | 65.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 201 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Buchanan21733609631](https://appshunter.io/developer/833812039) | [Dmitry Avdeev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1045907905) |

## What reviewers say

### NoteBrainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebrainer/id310695461)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helps with sight reading and note recognition
- 💡 Useful for beginners and those wanting to improve music reading skills
- 🚀 Effective and efficient for learning notes
- 🚀 Improves speed of note reading
- 👍 Simple and straightforward interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues on some devices
- 🔒 Lacks customization options
- 💡 Keyboard range is limited, doesn't cover full octave range
- 🔒 Doesn't differentiate between notes in different octaves
- 🔒 Doesn't provide rhythm training

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianomate-learn-piano/id1045907906)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Für Elise (Easy) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ode to Joy | $0.99 | one-time |
| Moonlight Sonata (Easy) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Meet Piano | $1.99 | one-time |
| Left Hand | $1.99 | one-time |
| Black Keys | $1.99 | one-time |
| River Flows in You | $1.99 | one-time |
| Intervals and Chords | $1.99 | one-time |
| Symphony 5 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Moonlight Sonata | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NoteBrainer free?

NoteBrainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PianoMate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NoteBrainer or PianoMate?

NoteBrainer is rated higher. NoteBrainer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 840 ratings, while PianoMate averages 4.5 from 26 ratings.

### Do NoteBrainer or PianoMate have ads?

Neither NoteBrainer nor PianoMate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NoteBrainer or PianoMate?

NoteBrainer ships an update every 9 months, and PianoMate every 9 days. Most recently, NoteBrainer was updated on October 2, 2026 and PianoMate on September 28, 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.*