# NML vs forScore

The clearest difference is price: NML at Free against forScore's $24.99. NML also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (15.3 vs 18.0). forScore's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (43K vs 66). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

NML is free to download; forScore costs $24.99 up front. forScore sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. NML asks for nothing beyond the download.

forScore holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: forScore has 43K ratings behind it against 66, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of NML's written reviews are positive against 50% of forScore's.

NML ships an update every 2 months, forScore fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NML | forScore |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $24.99 |
| Rating | [3.0 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nml/id338059159/reviews) | **[4.8 (43K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forscore/id363738376/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 66 | **43K** |
| Positive reviews | 39.5% of reviews | **49.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#9** |
| Size | 70 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.3** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Naxos Digital Services Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/338059162) | [forScore LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/797590287) |

## What reviewers say

### NML

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nml/id338059159)

Access a vast library of classical music recordings with extensive metadata. Create personalized playlists and utilize study tools. Ideal for music enthusiasts and students seeking in-depth information.

**Highlights:** 2.73 million+ classical music tracks, Rich metadata (composer bios, program notes), Customizable playlists, Playlists created by educators, Study tools and resources, Latest releases from over 1000 labels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Exceptional classical music library and selection
- 📚 Comprehensive coverage of albums and recordings
- 🎧 High-quality audio on web/browser version
- 📱 Offline listening capability
- 🎯 Easy search functionality when working

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app instability
- 🔐 Session expires too quickly and frequent forced logouts
- 📱 iPad/tablet UI incompatibility and portrait-only orientation
- 🔊 Poor audio quality (robotic, glitchy, over-compressed)
- ⚠️ Offline access requires constant re-authentication

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during playback or when switching apps
- Audio stops when screen goes to sleep
- Tracks cut off mid-movement or stop arbitrarily
- Login session expires too quickly despite 'remember me' option
- Cannot connect to internet via WiFi (requires VPN workaround)

**Requested features**

- Dark mode support
- Interactive widgets
- Landscape orientation support for tablets/iPads
- Chromecast and AirPlay support
- Background music playback while using other apps


### forScore

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forscore/id363738376)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Paid · Music, #146 Top Paid, #170 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

This app digitizes sheet music, offering organization, annotation, and playback tools for musicians. It allows for easy import, library management, and hands-free navigation, enhancing the performance experience.

**Highlights:** PDF sheet music reading, Cloud sync and import, Library organization and search, Annotation tools, Hands-free page turning, Integrated metronome and tuner

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| forScore Pro | $14.99 | per year |
| Brahms: The Mutopia Collection | Free | one-time |
| Haydn: The Mutopia Collection | Free | one-time |
| Händel: The Mutopia Collection | Free | one-time |
| Liszt: The Mutopia Collection | Free | one-time |
| Satie: The Mutopia Collection | Free | one-time |
| Schumann: The Mutopia Collection | Free | one-time |
| Tchaikovsky: The Mutopia Collection | Free | one-time |
| Beethoven: The Mutopia Collection | $0.99 | one-time |
| forScore Pro 30-Day Pass | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient navigation
- 🔒 Reliable performance
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 👍 Excellent organization
- 👍 Seamless annotation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues
- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🔋 Battery drain concerns
- 👎 Unintuitive settings/features
- 👎 Lack of customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing annotations
- Unreliable page turning
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Unresponsive touch controls

**Requested features**

- Ability to cut and paste sections of scores
- More flexible page turning controls
- Customizable metronome
- Improved backup and restore functionality
- Easier sharing of annotated scores


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NML free?

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

### Is forScore free?

forScore costs $24.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NML or forScore?

forScore is rated higher. NML averages 3.0 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while forScore averages 4.8 from 43K ratings.

### Do NML or forScore have ads?

Neither NML nor forScore shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NML or forScore?

NML ships an update every 2 months, and forScore fortnightly. Most recently, NML was updated on August 28, 2026 and forScore on October 1, 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.*