Comparison

Guitar Pro vs Guitar Notation

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

Head to head
About

Guitar Pro

View and play sheet music and tablature files from a popular desktop program. Practice songs, record ideas with a single-track tablature editor, and access a library of scores. Supports various file formats and includes practice tools.

Highlights
  • Play GP3/4/5/6/7/8 and PowerTab files
  • Tablature, slash, and standard notation support
  • Multitrack player with soundboard
  • Metronome and visual countdown
  • Single-track tablature editor (NotePad)
  • Export to PDF and Guitar Pro formats
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The Guitar Pro application allows all musicians to view and play sheet music and tablature created with the famous Guitar Pro tab-editing program for Windows and Mac. This mobile version is the ideal companion for you to practice your favorite songs and share them any time, anywhere! Coming up with some arpeggio, a riff, a chord sequence? You can now note and save it all on the single-track tablature NotePad. Powerful score player • Supporting GP3/4/5/6/7/8 (.gp) and PowerTab (.ptb) file formats,
 • Tab (with rhythmics), slash, and standard notations, • Compatible with mySongBook portal to sheet music (monthly subscription and single buying), • Switch between Dark and Light viewing modes, • Load files via WiFi and web browser, iTunes, e-mail, • Integrated sheet-music library with search, filters, and favorites, • Multitrack player with soundboard: volume / solo-mute / soundbanks, • Metronome and visual countdown,
 • 3 zooming levels, • Guitar or bass fretboard (for right- and left-handers), and virtual keyboard, • On-the-fly tempo changes,
 • On-the-fly global transposing by half-tones, • Playing any selection in loops, • Simplified navigation between sections, • E-mailing files directly from the application, • Exporting files to PDF, • Compatible with the Fretlight Wireless Guitar. NotePad tool to create a tablature • Use the NotePad to edit a single-track tablature for guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, and mandolin, • Tablature for 4- to 8-string instruments, • 19 built-in sounds, • Customizable tuning and tempo, • Export your ideas into Guitar Pro 6 and 7 formats so as to later carry on with your composition on the Guitar Pro desktop version. ———————————————————————- The app is updated frequently, so feel free to contact our team to ask any question or give your feedback. For more info: Need help: https://support.guitar-pro.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arobas.music Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/arobasmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpro_official FAQ: Q: Can I create or edit sheet music with this app? A: Unlike Guitar Pro for Windows and Mac, this app does not let you change the notation in an existing Guitar Pro file, or create sheet music in standard notation. It is however possible to edit a single-track tablature with the NotePad tool and export your work into .gpx and .gp formats to finish your composition in Guitar Pro 6 or 7. Editing a drum track is not available with the NotePad tool.

About

Guitar Notation

This app allows guitar enthusiasts to read, compose, edit, and play back guitar sheet music. It supports multi-track tabs, chord charts, and various notation elements, enabling users to create music on the go.

Highlights
  • Read, compose, and edit guitar sheet music
  • Playback functionality with high-quality sound
  • Multi-track tab support
  • Chord chart configuration
  • Export in MusicXML, MIDI, PNG, and PDF formats
  • Supports up to 8 staff for editing
Features
Read full description

A great guitar tabs and chords notation app on iOS. For any guitar music lover, Guitar Notation gives you the ability to read, compose, edit, and playback guitar sheet music scores. With it you can be a talented composer and great musician anywhere. As long as you have a little knowledge of sheet music, you can write music composition simply by touch and move. Of course it could help you to learn guitar notations. It can handle multi-track tabs, also it supports for chord chart configuration. With the help of it you could easily record the flashes of inspiration wherever they strike. Are you ready to compose music in a simple way? ----------------------- Features: -Export in the industry-popular MusicXML file format, allowing for exchanging sheet music with other software (Finale, Sibelius, Encore, MuseScore, etc). -Export MIDI file. -Export PNG image and PDF document. -High quality sound for playback. -Support editing up to 8 staff at the same time. -Support many kinds of guitar and bass instrument. ----------------------- Supported notation: *A variety of note types, from whole note to 128th note and dotted note *Chord chart configuration *A variety of time signatures *All standard key signatures *Adjustable tempo *All accidentals (sharps, flats, double sharps, double flats, and naturals) *Tie, slur, and tuplet *Many types of ornament *A wide range of dynamics ----------------------- UNLIMITED ACCESS SUBSCRIPTION - Support up to 8 staff - Config parts(add, delete, reorder) - Config chord freely - Change beat type and tempo - A wide variety of guitar types - Config sound for each part - No watermark image export - No Ads - Support 2nd voice part - Config capo for each line - Import data file - The subscriptions are $9.99 monthly - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that service, where applicable - Terms of use: https://service.notationpad.com/terms_service.html

Screenshots

Guitar Pro4 screens
Guitar Notation4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Guitar Notation at Free against Guitar Pro's $6.99. Guitar Notation also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.0 vs 3.6). Guitar Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and chart position (#26 vs unranked). On 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

Guitar Notation is free to download; Guitar Pro costs $6.99 up front. Guitar Notation sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Guitar Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Guitar Notation holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 906 and 249 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Guitar Pro's written reviews are positive against 58% of Guitar Notation's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Guitar Pro ships an update every 2 months, Guitar Notation every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
Guitar Pro versus Guitar Notation: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGuitar ProGuitar Notation
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating3.6 (906 ratings)4.0 (249 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.9% of reviews58.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings906 — better249
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#26 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013 — better
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB153 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArobas Music嵩 张

Customer experience

Guitar Pro

All ratings896 ratings
Positive64.5%
Neutral8.6%
Negative26.9%
Written reviews1,187 reviews
Positive46.9%
Neutral16.5%
Negative36.6%

Guitar Notation

All ratings246 ratings
Positive75.6%
Neutral4.5%
Negative19.9%
Written reviews191 reviews
Positive58.1%
Neutral6.3%
Negative35.6%

User reviews

Guitar Pro

From 906 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great practice tool
  • 👍 Useful for learning songs
  • 🎸 Essential for guitarists
  • 💡 Notepad feature for quick ideas

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🔇 Poor sound quality
  • 📱 Limited mobile functionality
  • 💰 Overpriced for limited features

Guitar Notation

From 249 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Good app
  • 🚀 Useful
  • 👍 Simple and effective
  • 🚀 Excellent tool
  • 👍 Nice app

Room to improve

  • 💰 Excessively paid version
  • 🐛 Buggy and constantly asking to pay
  • 🚫 Free version is basically unusable
  • 🚫 Can't even use anything but 4/4
  • 🚫 No tutorial on how to use

Bugs and requests

Guitar Pro

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Corrupt file issues
  • Playback sync problems
  • Compatibility issues with iOS updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Multi-track editing
  • Finer tempo control
  • Drum programming
  • Improved file management
  • Seamless desktop integration

Guitar Notation

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Audio playback only works through Bluetooth
  • Can't create a D chord, forces barre chord
  • Freezes on login screen
  • Incompatible with older devices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add ability to change tuning
  • Add palm muting feature
  • Add more examples
  • Add instructions/tutorial
  • Add ability to transpose
Show 1 more
  • Add ability to input chord symbols

In-app purchases

None

Guitar Pro

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Guitar Notation

Subscriptions3
  • Unlimited Access7 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited Access Yearly$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • Guitar Instrument Group$0.99
  • Bass Instrument Group$0.99
  • Extras Package$14.99

Questions

Is Guitar Pro free?
Guitar Pro costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Guitar Notation free?
Guitar Notation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Guitar Pro or Guitar Notation?
Guitar Notation is rated higher. Guitar Pro averages 3.6 out of 5 from 906 ratings, while Guitar Notation averages 4.0 from 249 ratings.
Do Guitar Pro or Guitar Notation have ads?
Guitar Pro shows ads; Guitar Notation does not.
Which is updated more often, Guitar Pro or Guitar Notation?
Guitar Pro ships an update every 2 months, and Guitar Notation every 4 months. Most recently, Guitar Pro was updated on November 6, 2026 and Guitar Notation on November 6, 2026.

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