# NoteBrainer vs Piano eTutor

The clearest difference is rating: NoteBrainer at 4.7 against Piano eTutor's 2.0. NoteBrainer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). Piano eTutor's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (88% vs 70%). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Piano eTutor sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 3 months. NoteBrainer asks for nothing beyond the download.

NoteBrainer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NoteBrainer has 840 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of NoteBrainer's written reviews are positive against 88% of Piano eTutor's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NoteBrainer ships an update every 9 months, Piano eTutor every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NoteBrainer | Piano eTutor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (840 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebrainer/id310695461/reviews)** | [2.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piano-etutor-learn-piano/id592398504/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **840** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 70.3% of reviews | **87.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 288 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Buchanan21733609631](https://appshunter.io/developer/833812039) | [TRAN PHUONG](https://appshunter.io/developer/572550151) |

## 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


### Piano eTutor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piano-etutor-learn-piano/id592398504)

Learn piano with an interactive, technology-driven app that listens to your playing and provides instant feedback. Master songs note by note, hand by hand, with adjustable tempo and helpful tools.

**Highlights:** Interactive real-time feedback, Note and timing correction, Adjustable tempo, Metronome tool, Sheet music import (MusicXML/MIDI), Note hint tool

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Three-month subscription | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| One-year subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Versión completa de por vida | $23.99 | one-time |
| Full Version | $29.99 | one-time |
| Song Library | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for learning piano
- 👍 Easy to use for beginners
- 👍 Helpful for sight-reading practice
- 👍 Good for learning music theory
- 👍 Fun and engaging gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 MIDI chord recognition issues
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Playback lessons not opening
- 🐛 Octave selection limited
- 🐛 Tie notes not recognized

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after pressing play
- App crashes when playback lessons are opening
- App crashes on install
- App keeps crashing, requires reboot
- Game just exits

**Requested features**

- Add more new songs
- Add bagpipe plugin
- Include steps on how to use the app
- Add a search bar for songs
- Don't limit lessons


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NoteBrainer free?

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

### Is Piano eTutor free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NoteBrainer or Piano eTutor?

NoteBrainer is rated higher. NoteBrainer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 840 ratings, while Piano eTutor averages 2.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do NoteBrainer or Piano eTutor have ads?

Piano eTutor shows ads; NoteBrainer does not.

### Which is updated more often, NoteBrainer or Piano eTutor?

NoteBrainer ships an update every 9 months, and Piano eTutor every 6 weeks. Most recently, NoteBrainer was updated on October 19, 2026 and Piano eTutor on October 15, 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.*