Comparison

DeepDish GigBook vs NextPage Sheet Music Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DeepDish GigBook

This app transforms your iPad into a mobile music library for scores, charts, and lyrics. Organize your music with powerful sorting, create custom collections and binders, and build dynamic set lists for performances. It's designed for musicians with stage-ready tools.

Highlights
  • Mobile musical library
  • Organize scores and charts
  • Create custom collections and binders
  • Dynamic set list creator
  • Handwritten notation on scores
  • Foot pedal support
  • Performer's metronome
Features
Read full description

DeepDish GigBook turns your iPad into a truly accessible mobile musical library, keeping your scores, songbooks, charts, and lyric sheets at the tip of your fingers, ready at a moment's notice. With its powerful organizing features you can sort your music to fit your individual needs. Keep all your songbooks in one place with "Collections." Compile scores into infinite personalized Binders. Create dynamic Set Lists. Carry hundreds or thousands of scores with you wherever you play. DeepDish GigBook is built specifically with the performing musician in mind, with tools and a user interface no other sheet music reader offers. Add, Sort and Organize - Simple and intuitive design - Works with PDF files - Cross-reference scores in multiple custom binders and set lists - Pull individual scores from large books to use in binders or set lists - Back up and restore your entire GigBook, including importing and exporting files using Apple's native file sharing, which lets you share with any file-sharing app on your iPad (Apple's Files, iCloud, Dropbox, Drive, etc.) Notes and Data - Assign metadata and typed notes to each score - Add and view typed notes - Write handwritten notes, fingerings, and markings directly on the scores with precision and ease - Batch-edit genres, composers, collections, binders, and set lists - Link scores with audio tracks on your iPad for reference, practice, or performance Ready for the Stage - The most powerful and easy-to-use set list creator for the iPad - Set Lists are independent of one another for ultimate flexibility - Create charts, notes, and handwritten stage directions and view them alongside your PDF scores - Fast page turns - Support for AirTurn Direct pedals (PED / PED 500, PEDpro, DUO 500, and BT200S series) and Bluetooth & USB foot pedals like the AirTurn BT-105 and PageFlip Cicada, to name a few - Performer's Metronome — designed specially for stage use with an auto-off timer, tap-in tempo, and full customization for each individual score - Performance Mode — seamlessly view your set list, notes, and scores in an elegant, easy-to-read format View and Share with bandmates using Email, Messages, and AirDrop - Scores always appear in full screen - Zoom — pinch in and out, or use one- or two-finger tap gestures - Email individual scores or entire set lists with attached scores - Upload scores, binders, and set lists using Apple's native file sharing *DeepDish GigBook does not include any built-in scores. Scores in the images are for reference only.* "DeepDish GigBook does what many other sheet music reader apps do, which is displaying and organizing your sheet music, but what sets GigBook apart are its features for performing musicians, and its sense of style." — Adam Ballif, AppAdvice Please visit our website for more support, including video tutorials and additional screenshots. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with news and feature updates. DeepDish GigBook is designed by professional musicians and music educators. We use DeepDish GigBook every day for every gig, every rehearsal, and in our classroom. We think you'll love GigBook as much as we do.

About

NextPage Sheet Music Reader

This app digitizes your sheet music, eliminating the need for paper. Effortlessly turn pages with a swipe or tap, or jump to specific pages. It's designed for musicians to focus on performance and rehearsal without technological distractions.

Highlights
  • Digital sheet music library
  • Effortless page turning (swipe/tap)
  • Page Link for quick navigation
  • Wireless pedal support (AirTurn)
  • Simple and efficient interface
Read full description

Imagine having all of your music on one iPad, and never another page turn to worry about. NextPage was made by a lifelong musician and software engineer for one job: reading music in rehearsal and on stage. TURN PAGES WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT • Tap or swipe to turn, or use a Bluetooth page-turn pedal and keep both hands playing. • Page Links jump straight to any page, a repeat, a coda or the next verse with one tap. • The bars fade away while you play, so the music fills the screen. • Crop away wide margins, and rearrange, repeat or skip pages without touching the PDF. MARK IT UP LIKE PAPER • Use pens, a highlighter that tints the page without hiding the notes, musical symbols, shapes and text notes. • Write with Apple Pencil using Apple's own pens, pencil and marker. • Share any song as a PDF with all your markings, ready to send to the band or print. BUILD THE SET • Line up your songs for the performance and step easily through them from one to the next. • Keep as many set lists as you need and reuse them. • Bring in charts from the Files app, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive and Planning Center. KNOW EVERY SONG AT A GLANCE • Song Info keeps the key, tempo, composer and arrangement for each song, with a circle of fifths for picking the key. • Attach a rehearsal track from the Music app or the Files app and play along from the bar at the bottom of the screen. • A built-in metronome keeps counting as you move from song to song. KEEP IT SAFE • Back up your songs, set lists and markings to iCloud or Dropbox, and bring them back on a new iPad. • Show the music on an external display or projector. • Dark music mode shows white notes on black paper for dim stages. NextPage Annual subscription NextPage is free to try: 5 songs in your library and one set list of up to 3 songs. A NextPage Annual subscription removes those limits and unlocks everything: • Every song in your library — import as many charts as you like • Set lists of any length, and as many of them as you need • Backup & Restore for your library, set lists and markup Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings at any time. Cancelation of the current active subscription period is not allowed. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://nextpageapp.com/privacy/ Designed and built in the USA

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NextPage Sheet Music Reader at Free against DeepDish GigBook's $9.99. DeepDish GigBook's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (4.2 vs 3.8). On review sentiment, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

NextPage Sheet Music Reader is free to download; DeepDish GigBook costs $9.99 up front. NextPage Sheet Music Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per year. DeepDish GigBook asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DeepDish GigBook holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DeepDish GigBook has 165 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 51% and 50% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DeepDish GigBook ships an update fortnightly, NextPage Sheet Music Reader every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
DeepDish GigBook versus NextPage Sheet Music Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeepDish GigBookNextPage Sheet Music Reader
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (165 ratings) — better3.8 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews50.9% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings165 — better25
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB108 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDeep Dish Designs, LLCOnStage Technologies, LLC

Customer experience

DeepDish GigBook

All ratings165 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral1.8%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews212 reviews
Positive50.9%
Neutral11.3%
Negative37.7%

NextPage Sheet Music Reader

All ratings25 ratings
Positive64.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative24.0%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative35.0%

Bugs and requests

DeepDish GigBook

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when trying to link audio tracks
  • Inability to input time signatures or other score details
  • Issues with super bookmarks and page navigation
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions and devices
  • Unreliable Dropbox and email sharing functionality

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved annotation tools with text, highlighting, and drawing
  • Ability to sync setlists and collections across devices
  • Integration with more cloud storage providers (e.g., Google Drive)
  • Enhanced metronome and practice tools
  • Streamlined workflow for managing large music libraries

NextPage Sheet Music Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

DeepDish GigBook

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

NextPage Sheet Music Reader

Subscriptions1
  • NextPage Annual Subscription$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • Professional Edition$17.99

Questions

Is DeepDish GigBook free?
DeepDish GigBook costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is NextPage Sheet Music Reader free?
NextPage Sheet Music Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DeepDish GigBook or NextPage Sheet Music Reader?
DeepDish GigBook is rated higher. DeepDish GigBook averages 4.2 out of 5 from 165 ratings, while NextPage Sheet Music Reader averages 3.8 from 25 ratings.
Do DeepDish GigBook or NextPage Sheet Music Reader have ads?
Neither DeepDish GigBook nor NextPage Sheet Music Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DeepDish GigBook or NextPage Sheet Music Reader?
DeepDish GigBook ships an update fortnightly, and NextPage Sheet Music Reader every 2 months. Most recently, DeepDish GigBook was updated on October 24, 2026 and NextPage Sheet Music Reader on October 24, 2026.

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