# Pro Band vs Drum Notation by Beat Note

The clearest difference is rating: Drum Notation by Beat Note at 4.6 against Pro Band's 2.9. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (83% vs 62%). Pro Band's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pro Band sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and Drum Notation by Beat Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.69 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Drum Notation by Beat Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34 and 87 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Pro Band's written reviews are positive against 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's.

Pro Band ships an update every 2 months, Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pro Band | Drum Notation by Beat Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-band/id447307945/reviews) | **[4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 34 | **87** |
| Positive reviews | 61.8% of reviews | **83.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 90 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ENCLAYVE GROUP LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/343229757) | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) |

## What reviewers say

### Pro Band

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-band/id447307945)

Play along with high-quality, professionally produced backing tracks featuring live musicians. This app allows you to adjust key and tempo, record and share your solos, and access detailed chord charts and scale fingerings for practice and learning.

**Highlights:** High-quality live musician backing tracks, Adjustable key and tempo, Record, mix, and share solos, Detailed chord charts and scale fingerings, In-app track store with bundles, Play through effects apps or Audiobus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Practice Looper | $1.99 | one-time |
| 8 Blues Tracks | $3.99 | one-time |
| Eclectic Styles Bundle #1 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Acoustic Blues Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| 8 Rock Tracks | $3.99 | one-time |
| 14 Track Mode Bundle: Parallel and Derivative | $4.99 | one-time |
| Jazz Bundle Volume 1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Emi Pentatonic - All 16 Tracks | $5.99 | one-time |
| Blues Volume #2: 18-Track Bundle | $5.99 | one-time |
| Bass Bundle | $5.99 | one-time |
| Super Mode Jams! | $5.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Blues Package | $12.99 | one-time |


### Drum Notation by Beat Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475)

Create, practice, and share drum music notation with ease. This app transforms sequenced beats into professional sheet music, offering tools for composition, transcription, and interactive teaching. Enhance your drumming journey with customizable practice sessions and high-quality export options.

**Highlights:** Sequencer to notation conversion, Compose and transcribe drum beats, Customizable practice sessions, Interactive teaching tools, High-quality PDF and image export, Multiple notation voicing options

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Educator Tier Monthly (No Trial) | $6.69 | per month |
| Creator Tier Monthly (No Trial) | $13.49 | per month |
| Educator Tier Annual (No Trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| Educator Tier Annual + Free Trial | $59.99 | per year |
| Creator Tier Annual + Free Trial | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Quick and efficient notation
- 🎶 Great sound playback
- 💡 Excellent for teaching and learning
- ✍️ Simple to write exercises and ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 💸 High annual cost
- 🆓 Limited free version
- 🚫 No one-time purchase option
- 🤔 Subscription model makes little sense to some

**Reported bugs**

- Preview rarely matches notes on staff
- Sometimes doesn't play any notes
- Sounds not always appropriate for instrument voicing
- Editing measures is inconvenient
- Free trial charged immediately

**Requested features**

- 7/8 time signature support
- Syncing between devices
- Web version
- Native Mac/Windows apps
- Add text or notes to notations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pro Band free?

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

### Is Drum Notation by Beat Note free?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pro Band or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is rated higher. Pro Band averages 2.9 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 from 87 ratings.

### Do Pro Band or Drum Notation by Beat Note have ads?

Neither Pro Band nor Drum Notation by Beat Note shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pro Band or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

Pro Band ships an update every 2 months, and Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. Most recently, Pro Band was updated on September 29, 2026 and Drum Notation by Beat Note on October 13, 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.*