the Clave vs StaffPad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
the Clave
This app provides a metronome with five selectable clave patterns for practicing Latin American music and other styles. It displays patterns in traditional notation, allows tempo adjustment, and offers background playback. Users can customize sound options for a personalized practice experience.
- Five selectable clave patterns
- Traditional notation display
- 3:2 and 2:3 clave switching
- Variable tempo (40-200 BPM)
- Background playback
- Customizable sound options
Read full descriptionHide full description
the Clave is a clave pattern metronome/click track app with five selectable clave patterns: Son, Rumba, two different Afro (6/8) styles and Bossa Nova. The current pattern is shown on-screen in traditional notation, with each beat highlighted as it is played. Patterns can be switched between 3:2 (forward) and 2:3 (reverse) clave. Tempo is variable from 40 to 200 beats per minute (in cut time), and the timing is rock-solid: accurate to the nearest sample (22 microseconds). Drag the tempo button up or down to choose a tempo in BPM. Tap the tempo button in time with the beat to set a tempo rhythmically. Playback continues in the background, so you can lock your screen and keep on playing. You can alter the sound, there are high and low pitches and a volume boost option. It's a useful practice aid, whether you are beginning to play Latin American music, or an experienced sonero. It can also be used to help inject new vibrance into other styles of music - for example, try playing a jig with the Afro (6/8) clave playing!
StaffPad
Compose music effortlessly on your iPad with intuitive handwriting input and advanced notation tools. Convert your playing into sheet music, record and edit audio directly on the score, and utilize powerful playback with professional sample libraries. Seamlessly share your work with others using the companion reader app.
- Handwriting music notation with Apple Pencil
- Convert audio recordings to notation
- Record and edit audio on score
- Professional playback with sample libraries
- Seamless sharing via ScoreSync
- Import/export MusicXML and MIDI
Read full descriptionHide full description
MADE FOR COMPOSERS ------------------------- StaffPad is designed for composers who want to write music effortlessly, using music notation and audio. Write your music using Apple Pencil, and the app will transform your writing into beautifully typeset notation that can be edited, played back, printed and shared. Record or import audio directly onto your score and edit it intuitively with Apple Pencil. Magically convert your real piano playing or existing recordings into notation using advanced on-device machine learning. Add video, smart symbols and use world leading sample libraries and mix your score with a suite of studio effects. From basic idea to a full film score; StaffPad is the easiest, most powerful and most intuitive way to compose music on iPad. WRITE NATURALLY ------------------- Write your score with the fluidity of natural handwriting. Use touch and Apple Pencil to quickly edit your notation. Transpose, repeat and structure your score with intuitive gestures and tools. Customise the tempo with a unique tempo staff (or import a tempo map from a MIDI file), add chords either manually or automatically with the chord staff. You can even copy music written in StaffPad into other apps, simply using the normal copy and paste functions. HEAR YOUR MASTERPIECE ---------------------------- With a groundbreaking playback engine and over 55 included instruments, StaffPad is ready to perform your written piece instantly. Add industry-standard sample libraries, adapted and customised for StaffPad, from some of the world's leading sample developers. This is a leap forward for composers working at the highest levels. SHARE WITH SCORESYNC --------------------------- Once you're ready to perform or record your work, tap the ScoreSync button in StaffPad and your score is instantly shared across a Wi-Fi network to any device running the free StaffPad Reader app (available in the App Store). The Readers present each individual musical part beautifully formatted, update in realtime with any changes you make to your score, handle automatic page turns, and play back in perfect time with a synchronised metronome, for capturing the perfect recording every time. IMPORT AND EXPORT --------------------------- StaffPad imports and exports MusicXML and MIDI files for easily working with other music apps. You can also export your playback as WAV, AAC or MP3. You can import audio files into your score, with support for most major audio formats. WORK WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO -------------------------------- For the first time, you can seamlessly mix audio with your notated score. Record directly onto the score canvas using your device's in-built microphones, or import loops, Tempo map freeform/rubato performances using the tempo staff. Add shine to your production with a suite of studio quality DSP effects, and polish with precise automation. PIANO AND MIDI CAPTURE --------------------------- Record your real piano and convert it into notation. Don't have a real piano? Don't worry - you can connect a USB or Bluetooth MIDI keyboard and record your performance in realtime, converting to notation as you play. PRINT / PDF ------------ As well as digital parts via ScoreSync, StaffPad will automatically format and print parts or export PDFs for you. Customise the paper size, bar number styles, number of bars per line, scaling, margins, multi-bar consolidation and more. StaffPad automatically formats the score for consistent presentation.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: the Clave at 88% against StaffPad's 40%. the Clave also leads on price (Free vs $49.99) and rating (4.8 vs 4.0). StaffPad's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months). On ratings volume and ads 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
the Clave is free to download; StaffPad costs $49.99 up front. StaffPad sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. the Clave asks for nothing beyond the download.
the Clave holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 220 and 642 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of the Clave's written reviews are positive against 40% of StaffPad's.
the Clave ships an update every 6 months, StaffPad every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | the Clave | StaffPad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $49.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (220 ratings) — better | 4.0 (642 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 87.9% of reviews — better | 39.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 220 | 642 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 1.0 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Drew Milloy | StaffPad Ltd. |
Customer experience
the Clave
StaffPad
User reviews
the Clave
From 220 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Great for practice
- 👍 Simple and straightforward
- 👍 Helps internalize clave
- 👍 Good for beginners
Room to improve
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🐛 App crashes
- 🐛 App disappears
- 🐛 Sound quality issues
- 🐛 Tempo slider difficult
StaffPad
From 642 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Powerful composing tool
- 🎨 Intuitive handwriting interface
- 🎹 High-quality playback sounds
- 💻 Seamless iPad integration
- 🎨 Smooth workflow for sketching ideas
Room to improve
- 🐛 Inconsistent handwriting recognition
- 🔧 Steep learning curve
- 🔒 Requires Apple Pencil
- 💰 Expensive with additional purchases
- 🐛 Stability issues and crashes
Bugs and requests
the Clave
Reported bugs
7 issues- App disappears after a few months
- App crashes when opened
- App bombs out after clearing tempo adjustment screen
- Battery draining quickly
- App using high percentage of battery
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Developer website disappeared
- Adjusting volume causes app to shut down
Requested features
25 requests- Customize claves with manual rhythms
- Option to change metronome by one bpm
- Type in tempo instead of slider
- Add 2:3 Son Clave
- Add 6/8 bell pattern
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- Add Afrobeat clave
- Add 6/8 variations
- Add cascara
- Add downbeat tone
- Add shaker
- Add agogo bell
- Add Abakua
- Add cinquillo
- Add more 6/8 patterns
- Add tap tempo
- Allow finer gradations of tempo (half-BPMs)
- Set number of measures to play
- Other instrument samples (woodblock, cowbell)
- Sequence certain bars (e.g., 3:2/3:2/2:3/2:3)
- Accent the first beat
- Turn on a click track in the background
- More Clave patterns
- Rumba option for 6/8 clave
- Adjust volume without app closing
- Metronome that keeps quarters or 2 and 4
StaffPad
Reported bugs
5 issues- Inability to recognize certain note values
- Eraser function unreliable
- Inconsistent behavior when writing accidentals
- Crashes when attempting to create new scores
- Syncing and file management issues
Requested features
5 requests- Improved handwriting recognition
- More flexible note input options
- Cross-staff notation support
- Customizable UI and layout
- Better collaboration and sharing features
In-app purchases
the Clave
No in-app purchases
StaffPad
- Toy GlockenspielFree
- StaffPad Essential GuitarsFree
- Retro KeyboardsFree
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Muse StringsFree
- Muse ChoirFree
- Muse WoodwindsFree
- Muse PercussionFree
- Muse BrassFree
- Muse HarpFree
- Muse KeysFree
- Muse Guitars Vol. 1Free
- StaffPad Essentials: AccordionFree









