# Notes! vs Flashnote Derby

The clearest difference is rating: Notes! at 4.4 against Flashnote Derby's 3.8. Notes! also leads on ratings volume (1.4K vs 105) and price ($3.99 vs $4.99). Flashnote Derby's advantage is chart position (#36 vs #199). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Notes! costs $3.99 and Flashnote Derby $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Notes! holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notes! has 1.4K ratings behind it against 105, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Notes!'s written reviews are positive against 71% of Flashnote Derby's.

Notes! ships an update every 3 months, Flashnote Derby every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notes! | Flashnote Derby |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-learn-to-read-music/id423178140/reviews)** | [3.8 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashnote-derby/id453126527/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 105 |
| Positive reviews | **73.0% of reviews** | 70.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #199 | **#36** |
| Size | 4 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.4** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Visions Encoded Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/356842378) | [Luke Bartolomeo](https://appshunter.io/developer/453126530) |

## What reviewers say

### Notes!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-learn-to-read-music/id423178140)

**Currently charting:** #199 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This flashcard app helps beginners learn note names on the bass and treble clef. Customize letter notation and practice specific notes. MIDI enabled for compatible devices.

**Highlights:** Learn bass and treble clef notes, Customizable letter notation (CDEFGAB, CDEFAH, DoReMi), Practice specific notes, MIDI enabled, Toggle visual effects, Portrait/landscape orientation support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helps improve note reading skills
- 💡 Customizable note practice
- 👍 Great for beginners
- 👍 Convenient for practice anywhere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with settings screen
- 🐛 Issues with screen size and navigation
- 💡 Lacks progress tracking and scoring
- 💡 Limited note range and clef options

**Reported bugs**

- Settings screen gets stuck
- Screen size issues on larger devices
- Incorrect note octave displayed

**Requested features**

- Add sharps, flats, and ledger lines
- Implement a game-like scoring system
- Allow switching between treble and bass clef
- Provide more comprehensive learning modes


### Flashnote Derby

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashnote-derby/id453126527)

**Currently charting:** #36 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app transforms music note learning into an engaging game for young musicians. It offers various ways to practice and play, with customizable drills to suit any student's level. Track progress and make learning fun, whether at home or in lessons.

**Highlights:** Gamified note recognition races, Practice mode with no timer, Play notes on instrument or MIDI, On-screen piano keyboard input, Customizable clefs and note ranges, Multiple engaging themes, Teacher tools for assignments and progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Engaging gamified learning experience with racing themes
- 🎵 Effective tool for learning note reading and music literacy
- 🎨 Customizable themes and visual designs
- ⚙️ Highly customizable settings for notes, speed, and difficulty
- 👨‍🏫 Teacher-friendly features with student tracking and presets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app freezing issues
- 🔊 Harsh negative feedback sounds (booing) discourages learners
- 🎵 Inaccurate note detection, especially for E note and lower instruments
- 📱 Poor mobile responsiveness and slider controls on phones
- ⚠️ Data loss after updates without warning

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during use
- White screen on startup that auto-closes
- Note recognition fails, particularly for E note
- Low instrument octave recognition issues
- Data and student names lost after updates

**Requested features**

- Restore previous speed options (Walk, Trot, Canter, Gallop)
- Option to customize number of test notes (return 10/20 options)
- Remove or tone down negative feedback sounds
- Add more theme options (animals, seasonal themes)
- Untimed mode without racing element


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notes! free?

Notes! costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Flashnote Derby free?

Flashnote Derby costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Notes! or Flashnote Derby?

Notes! is rated higher. Notes! averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Flashnote Derby averages 3.8 from 105 ratings.

### Do Notes! or Flashnote Derby have ads?

Neither Notes! nor Flashnote Derby shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notes! or Flashnote Derby?

Notes! ships an update every 3 months, and Flashnote Derby every 6 months. Most recently, Notes! was updated on September 24, 2026 and Flashnote Derby on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Notes! or Flashnote Derby?

Notes! currently peaks at #199 in the App Store charts, and Flashnote Derby at #36. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*