# iWriteMusic SE vs Notion

The clearest difference is rating: iWriteMusic SE at 4.4 against Notion's 3.1. iWriteMusic SE also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (57% vs 42%). Notion's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notion sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iWriteMusic SE asks for nothing beyond the download.

iWriteMusic SE holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 148 and 71 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of iWriteMusic SE's written reviews are positive against 42% of Notion's.

iWriteMusic SE ships an update every 4 weeks, Notion every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iWriteMusic SE | Notion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (148 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iwritemusic-se/id393614358/reviews)** | [3.1 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notion-music-notation-and-tab/id475820434/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **148** | 71 |
| Positive reviews | **56.8% of reviews** | 42.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 146 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iWriteMusicProject](https://appshunter.io/developer/393551666) | [Fender Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/1107017949) |

## What reviewers say

### iWriteMusic SE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iwritemusic-se/id393614358)

Create professional-quality sheet music efficiently, even on small screens. This app offers intuitive interfaces and powerful tools for musicians of all levels, from beginners to professionals. Easily compose, edit, and share your musical ideas.

**Highlights:** Intuitive and simple user interface, Highly efficient input systems (One-Flick & Traditional), Professional quality sheet music creation, Supports major notation elements, Useful playback options for practice, Data and sheet music sharing (PDF, JPG, MIDI)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎼 Comprehensive notation tools and features
- 👍 Intuitive interface for music composition
- 🎵 Wide range of instruments available
- 💾 Easy saving and exporting to PDF
- 🎹 Playback functionality for reviewing compositions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 😤 Difficult and unintuitive note input
- 🔧 Poor user interface design
- 📖 Confusing and poorly organized help documentation
- ⚠️ Inaccurate instrument sound playback

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when adding rests at beginning of measure
- App crashes when adding/removing notation
- App freezes when entering notes on certain pitches
- App randomly quits during composition
- Note placement inaccuracy on iPhone with retina display

**Requested features**

- Auto-save functionality
- MusicXML file transfer support
- Guitar tablature (TAB) notation
- Ability to change time signature mid-composition
- Better grace note controls


### Notion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notion-music-notation-and-tab/id475820434)

Create dynamic musical compositions using traditional notation or guitar tablature. This app offers an intuitive touch-based interface, realistic playback with orchestral samples, and cross-platform syncing. Share or export your creations in various formats.

**Highlights:** Traditional musical notation, Guitar tablature, Intuitive touch interface, Realistic audio playback, Cross-platform syncing, Multiple export formats

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feature Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Great sound quality and instrument samples
- 💡 Handwriting recognition feature
- 🔗 Seamless integration with desktop version
- 👍 Useful for composing on the go

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔀 Inconsistent and buggy note/chord entry
- 💸 Expensive in-app purchases for full functionality
- 🤔 Unintuitive interface and steep learning curve
- 🔍 Poor documentation and support

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to change key signatures mid-piece
- Incorrect transposition of notes and chords
- Text formatting and positioning issues
- Unreliable MIDI file import/export
- Playback distortion and timing issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize note beaming and stem direction
- Option to display note letter names
- Improved handwriting recognition for complex rhythms
- Folder organization for better file management
- Keyboard shortcuts for power users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iWriteMusic SE free?

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

### Is Notion free?

Notion is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iWriteMusic SE or Notion?

iWriteMusic SE is rated higher. iWriteMusic SE averages 4.4 out of 5 from 148 ratings, while Notion averages 3.1 from 71 ratings.

### Do iWriteMusic SE or Notion have ads?

Neither iWriteMusic SE nor Notion shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iWriteMusic SE or Notion?

iWriteMusic SE ships an update every 4 weeks, and Notion every 6 weeks. Most recently, iWriteMusic SE was updated on October 29, 2026 and Notion on October 30, 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.*