Comparison

Tunepal HD vs NotationPlayer

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

Head to head
About

Tunepal HD

Identify traditional Irish, Scots, Welsh, and Breton music tunes by playing them. This iPad-optimized app searches a vast database of over 22,000 melodies, making it an essential tool for musicians.

Highlights
  • Identify traditional music tunes by playing
  • Database of over 22,000 tunes
  • Optimized for iPad
  • Supports Irish, Scots, Welsh, and Breton music
  • Search by playing melody
Features
Read full description

Tunepal, the world's leading search engine for traditional music is now available in an iPad optimised version! In the top 500 apps of all times by the Sunday Times In the top twenty cultural apps for iPhone by the Sunday Times Winner of the best overall invention 2010 in the Dublin Institute of Technology. Tunepal was in the top 25 grossing apps on the app store (17-18 July 2010). The essential tool for all musicians playing traditional Irish, Scots, Welsh and Breton music! Ever sat in a trad session and wondered what was the name of that great tune someone just played? Well now you can search a database of over 22,000 tunes from your iPad BY PLAYING!

About

NotationPlayer

Read full description

NotationPlayer turns your sheet music into sound. Open any MusicXML or ABC file, choose from over 100 realistic instruments, and hear your music played back instantly - with full tempo control, transposition, and a built-in metronome. Try every feature free for 7 days. After that, a single one-time purchase keeps NotationPlayer fully working - no subscription, no ads. Built for trad and folk musicians, with full MusicXML support for classical, jazz, choral, and any sheet music you read. Now in English, Spanish and German. PLAY YOUR MUSIC • Play MusicXML and ABC notation files with realistic instrument sounds • Adjust tempo from half speed to double speed without changing pitch • Transpose to any key with one tap • Built-in metronome with click, woodblock, and bodhrán sounds • Count-in option for a clean start • Auto-scroll follows the music as it plays FIND NEW TUNES • Search over 30,000 traditional tunes from The Session • Browse the ABC Notation archive and Henrik Norbeck's collection • Paste ABC or MusicXML notation directly into the app • 55 sample tunes included - Celtic, Classical, Bluegrass, and Jazz LEARN AND PRACTISE • Tap any note to set a cue point and play from there • Loop any section by selecting start and end notes - perfect for tricky passages • Show note names on every note - as letters (C, D, E), in solfège (Do, Re, Mi) or German style (H, B) • Lyrics displayed and synced to playback • Swing control for jazz and traditional styles MULTI-TRACK MIXER • Assign different instruments to each voice or part • 100+ instruments including fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin, piano, guitar, flute, choir, and more • Volume, pan, mute, and solo controls per track • Hide parts from the score - see just your own line while the others keep playing • Guitar chord accompaniment from chord symbols ANNOTATE YOUR SCORES • Draw on your scores with pen and highlighter • Add text notes anywhere on the page • Multiple colours and tools • Your annotations are saved with each tune ORGANISE YOUR MUSIC • Build tune sets - group tunes into medleys that play seamlessly • Create playlists with sets and individual tunes • Ensemble mode - add backing instruments to your playlists • Speed control for playlist playback • Favourites and search across your library EXPORT AND SHARE • Export scores as PDF for printing or sharing with bandmates • Export audio as MP3 • Share with other musicians WORKS OFFLINE NotationPlayer works without an internet connection. Your tunes, instruments, and playlists are always available - perfect for rehearsals, sessions, and practice anywhere. FREE TRIAL, THEN BUY ONCE Every feature is unlocked for your first 7 days. After the trial, scores still open and play a 30-second preview; a one-time purchase unlocks everything again, for good. There is no subscription, and purchases can be restored on a new device. Built for musicians who want their notation to do more than just sit on the page. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

NotationPlayer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tunepal HD at none against NotationPlayer's 2. NotationPlayer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. NotationPlayer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Tunepal HD asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tunepal HD ships an update every 2 months, NotationPlayer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Tunepal HD versus NotationPlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTunepal HDNotationPlayer
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (10 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews47.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBryan DugganChorusLogic Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

Tunepal HD

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

NotationPlayer

Subscriptions1
  • NotationPlayer Monthly$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Full Access$6.99

Questions

Is Tunepal HD free?
Tunepal HD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NotationPlayer free?
NotationPlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tunepal HD or NotationPlayer have ads?
Neither Tunepal HD nor NotationPlayer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tunepal HD or NotationPlayer?
Tunepal HD ships an update every 2 months, and NotationPlayer fortnightly. Most recently, Tunepal HD was updated on November 1, 2026 and NotationPlayer on November 5, 2026.

Other comparisons