# Blue Devils vs Beam Music

Blue Devils and Beam Music both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 78% of Blue Devils's written reviews are positive against 36% of Beam Music's. Beam Music's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (283 vs 55). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Blue Devils holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beam Music has 283 ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Blue Devils's written reviews are positive against 36% of Beam Music's.

Blue Devils ships an update every 5 months, Beam Music every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blue Devils | Beam Music |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blue-devils/id370569272/reviews)** | [4.4 (283 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 55 | **283** |
| Positive reviews | **78.3% of reviews** | 36.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 159 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BD Performing Arts](https://appshunter.io/developer/370569275) | [Ultimate Drill Book](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455826723) |

## What reviewers say

### Blue Devils

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blue-devils/id370569272)

Access exclusive media content, including over 1500 videos and 350 audio tracks, from a renowned drum and bugle corps. Stay updated on event schedules with integrated maps and calendar saving. Explore historical data, connect with members, and view competition scores.

**Highlights:** Watch 1500+ videos, Listen to 350+ audio tracks, View 85,000+ photos, Submit user content, Event maps and calendar integration, Full season information (1971-present), View DCI scores

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Access to extensive music library
- 🏆 Great content for Blue Devils fans
- 📱 User-friendly interface
- 🌟 High-quality videos and audio
- 🆓 Free content available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- ⚠️ Inconsistent performance
- 💰 Some content requires payment
- 🔄 Outdated content in some areas
- 🚫 Cannot save photos

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when clicking on dates under schedule tab
- App crashes when attempting to save a photo
- App requires update even after updating
- App crashes when opening roster
- App crashes when hitting Videos

**Requested features**

- Make the app Android compatible
- Add playlist functionality
- Include DCI and DCP news
- Optimize for newer iPhone versions
- Add Airplay support


### Beam Music

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909)

Easily import, organize, and annotate music files for ensembles. Share access and collaborate with section leaders. Live Mode synchronizes music across all devices instantly without internet.

**Highlights:** Import PDFs from cloud storage and local files, Edit and crop music pages, Annotate with pencil, highlighter, and text tools, Collaborative notes for section leaders, Real-time music synchronization via Live Mode, Organize music into collections and set lists, Backup music library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Centralized music library in one app
- 🎵 Convenient for marching band use
- ✍️ Annotation and note-taking features
- 📋 Setlist functionality for quick song switching
- 🔄 Live mode for synchronized performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- ⏱️ Severe lag and unresponsiveness
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain (40-90% per hour)
- 🌡️ Phone overheating during use
- 📝 Annotations randomly disappear or delete

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes constantly, especially when needed
- Lag makes page turning and note-taking difficult
- Annotations disappear after using live mode
- Zoom level resets when orientation changes
- Portrait mode activates unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Horizontal page lock (like FlipFolder)
- Ability to save zoom level with vertical scrolling
- Live session annotation capability
- Auto-select correct part for user
- Mass select parts instead of individual selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blue Devils free?

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

### Is Beam Music free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blue Devils or Beam Music?

Blue Devils is rated higher. Blue Devils averages 4.6 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Beam Music averages 4.4 from 283 ratings.

### Do Blue Devils or Beam Music have ads?

Neither Blue Devils nor Beam Music shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blue Devils or Beam Music?

Blue Devils ships an update every 5 months, and Beam Music every 3 weeks. Most recently, Blue Devils was updated on October 3, 2026 and Beam Music on October 6, 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.*