# NoteBrainer vs Tomus

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NoteBrainer at none against Tomus's 5. NoteBrainer also leads on ratings volume (876 vs 52) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Tomus's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (92% vs 70%). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tomus sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. NoteBrainer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tomus holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NoteBrainer has 876 ratings behind it against 52, 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 92% of Tomus's.

NoteBrainer ships an update every 9 months, Tomus monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NoteBrainer | Tomus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (876 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebrainer/id310695461/reviews) | **[4.9 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tomus-music-theory-tutor/id6450682609/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **876** | 52 |
| Positive reviews | 70.3% of reviews | **91.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 56 MB | 87 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) | [Konstantin Khalyushev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1602756176) |

## 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


### Tomus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tomus-music-theory-tutor/id6450682609)

This app offers a game-based approach to learning music theory. It provides daily sessions and training modules covering ear training, sight-reading, rhythm, and music knowledge to enhance musical intelligence and skills.

**Highlights:** Game-based learning, Daily music theory sessions, Ear training modules, Sight-reading practice, Rhythm exercises, Music general knowledge quizzes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly premium subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly premium subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual premium subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Trial premium subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime premium | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NoteBrainer free?

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

### Is Tomus free?

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

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

Tomus is rated higher. NoteBrainer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 876 ratings, while Tomus averages 4.9 from 52 ratings.

### Do NoteBrainer or Tomus have ads?

Neither NoteBrainer nor Tomus shows ads.

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

NoteBrainer ships an update every 9 months, and Tomus monthly. Most recently, NoteBrainer was updated on October 23, 2026 and Tomus on October 24, 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.*