# 8Strummer vs Guitar Notation

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 8Strummer at none against Guitar Notation's 6. 8Strummer also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 58%) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 13). Guitar Notation's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 26 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Guitar Notation sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. 8Strummer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Guitar Notation holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Guitar Notation has 249 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of 8Strummer's written reviews are positive against 58% of Guitar Notation's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

8Strummer ships an update every 26 months, Guitar Notation every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 8Strummer | Guitar Notation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8strummer/id441799069/reviews) | **[4.0 (249 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guitar-notation-tabs-and-chords/id1144464459/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **249** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 58.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 38 MB | 153 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 13 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Drew Milloy](https://appshunter.io/developer/328220392) | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) |

## What reviewers say

### 8Strummer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8strummer/id441799069)

This app helps guitarists improve their rhythm and strumming skills. Practice complex patterns with a metronome and various chord shapes. It also serves as a tool for songwriters to find the perfect groove.

**Highlights:** Rhythm pattern practice, 27 chord shapes, Metronome accompaniment, Save favorite patterns, Randomize pattern, Muted and ringing chords

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Guitar Notation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guitar-notation-tabs-and-chords/id1144464459)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Access Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Access Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Guitar Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bass Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extras Package | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- Add ability to change tuning
- Add palm muting feature
- Add more examples
- Add instructions/tutorial
- Add ability to transpose


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 8Strummer free?

8Strummer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Guitar Notation free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 8Strummer or Guitar Notation?

Guitar Notation is rated higher. 8Strummer averages 3.6 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Guitar Notation averages 4.0 from 249 ratings.

### Do 8Strummer or Guitar Notation have ads?

Neither 8Strummer nor Guitar Notation shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 8Strummer or Guitar Notation?

8Strummer ships an update every 26 months, and Guitar Notation every 4 months. Most recently, 8Strummer was updated on October 23, 2026 and Guitar Notation on October 29, 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.*