# Fingering Strings vs Sheet Music Direct

The clearest difference is price: Sheet Music Direct at Free against Fingering Strings's $3.99. Sheet Music Direct also leads on ratings volume (4.8K vs 4) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 17 months). Fingering Strings's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 48%) and in-app purchases (none vs 12). On ads there is nothing between them.

Sheet Music Direct is free to download; Fingering Strings costs $3.99 up front. Sheet Music Direct sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Fingering Strings asks for nothing beyond the download.

Fingering Strings holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sheet Music Direct has 4.8K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Fingering Strings's written reviews are positive against 48% of Sheet Music Direct's.

Fingering Strings ships an update every 17 months, Sheet Music Direct every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fingering Strings | Sheet Music Direct |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fingering-strings/id367215885/reviews)** | [4.6 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheet-music-direct/id499069309/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **4.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **91.7% of reviews** | 48.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 63 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Patrick Q. Kelly](https://appshunter.io/developer/310068987) | [Sheet Music Direct](https://appshunter.io/developer/1749774433) |

## What reviewers say

### Fingering Strings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fingering-strings/id367215885)

This interactive guide helps string instrument players visualize fingerings for various hand positions across different clefs. It allows users to see and hear notes, intervals, and chords, aiding in learning and practice.

**Highlights:** Multiple instrument support (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass), Extensive hand position library (Simandl, Rabbath), Visual "beginner tape" display, Multi-note display (up to 4 notes), Hear notes, intervals, and chords on piano, Support for Treble, Alto, Tenor, Bass clefs

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sheet Music Direct

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheet-music-direct/id499069309)

Access over 2.2 million premium sheet music arrangements and guitar tabs. Features include instant transposition, score playback, set lists, and offline mode. An optional subscription offers unlimited streaming and access to a vast library.

**Highlights:** 2.2 million+ sheet music arrangements, Interactive score playback, Instant transposition, Set lists for organization, Offline mode, Bluetooth pedal support, Printable sheet music

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Digital Music Score | $0.99 | one-time |
| Digital Music Score | $1.99 | one-time |
| Digital Music Score | $2.99 | one-time |
| Digital Music Score | $3.99 | one-time |
| Digital Music Score | $4.99 | one-time |
| SMD Product | $4.99 | one-time |
| Digital Music Score | $5.99 | one-time |
| Digital Music Score | $6.99 | one-time |
| Digital Music Score | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Instant access to a vast library of sheet music
- 📚 Wide variety of genres and arrangements
- 🎹 Ability to transpose and adjust playback settings
- 💾 Convenient for gigging musicians
- 🔍 Helpful for finding obscure or niche songs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription and per-song costs
- 🔒 Inability to download or print purchased music
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Subpar search functionality and navigation
- 🖌️ Lack of annotation and markup tools

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing music library after updates
- Playback issues with incorrect tempos and speeds
- Compatibility problems on newer iOS devices
- Inconsistent behavior when changing keys or transposing

**Requested features**

- Add offline access and printing capabilities
- Improve search and browsing experience
- Implement annotation and markup features
- Offer more affordable subscription options
- Optimize app performance and stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fingering Strings free?

Fingering Strings costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sheet Music Direct free?

Sheet Music Direct is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Fingering Strings or Sheet Music Direct?

Fingering Strings is rated higher. Fingering Strings averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Sheet Music Direct averages 4.6 from 4.8K ratings.

### Do Fingering Strings or Sheet Music Direct have ads?

Neither Fingering Strings nor Sheet Music Direct shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fingering Strings or Sheet Music Direct?

Fingering Strings ships an update every 17 months, and Sheet Music Direct every 4 months. Most recently, Fingering Strings was updated on October 1, 2026 and Sheet Music Direct on October 23, 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.*