# Flashnote Derby vs StaffWars Live

The clearest difference is rating: StaffWars Live at 4.4 against Flashnote Derby's 3.8. StaffWars Live also leads on ratings volume (880 vs 105) and price ($2.99 vs $4.99). Flashnote Derby's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 58%) and chart position (#54 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Flashnote Derby costs $4.99 and StaffWars Live $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

StaffWars Live holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StaffWars Live has 880 ratings behind it against 105, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Flashnote Derby's written reviews are positive against 58% of StaffWars Live's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Flashnote Derby ships an update every 6 months, StaffWars Live every 4 months. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flashnote Derby | StaffWars Live |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$2.99** |
| Rating | [3.8 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashnote-derby/id453126527/reviews) | **[4.4 (880 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staffwars-live/id1071622918/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 105 | **880** |
| Positive reviews | **70.7% of reviews** | 58.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#54** | — |
| Size | 110 MB | 123 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luke Bartolomeo](https://appshunter.io/developer/453126530) | [TMI Media, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/810405579) |

## What reviewers say

### Flashnote Derby

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

**Currently charting:** #54 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


### StaffWars Live

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staffwars-live/id1071622918)

Enhance instrumental practice with this engaging game. Play notes as they appear on the staff to score points and improve your skills. Customize your practice experience with various instruments, scales, and key signatures.

**Highlights:** Instrumental practice aid, Customizable instrument, key, and scale, Adjustable note range and speed, Score tracking, Transposition practice, MIDI device support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for practicing notes
- 🚀 Great for improving sight reading
- 💡 Customizable to different instruments
- 😊 Fun and engaging game-like experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Note recognition issues, especially for certain instruments
- 🐛 Problems with bass clef and transposing instruments
- 🔧 Difficulty settings could be improved
- 🔧 Occasional crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Notes not registering correctly
- Bass clef not working as expected
- App crashing on launch for some users
- Misalignment of note graphics

**Requested features**

- Add support for more instruments, including piano
- Implement a speed/difficulty slider
- Add an option for the grand staff
- Improve bass clef and transposition accuracy


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flashnote Derby free?

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

### Is StaffWars Live free?

StaffWars Live costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Flashnote Derby or StaffWars Live?

StaffWars Live is rated higher. Flashnote Derby averages 3.8 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while StaffWars Live averages 4.4 from 880 ratings.

### Do Flashnote Derby or StaffWars Live have ads?

Neither Flashnote Derby nor StaffWars Live shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Flashnote Derby or StaffWars Live?

Flashnote Derby ships an update every 6 months, and StaffWars Live every 4 months. Most recently, Flashnote Derby was updated on September 28, 2026 and StaffWars Live on September 28, 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.*