# Flashnote Derby vs NoteWorks

Flashnote Derby and NoteWorks both sit at 3.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of NoteWorks's written reviews are positive against 71% of Flashnote Derby's. NoteWorks also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 16.6). Flashnote Derby's advantage is chart position (#56 vs unranked). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.8 for Flashnote Derby against 3.9 for NoteWorks. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 105 and 155 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of Flashnote Derby's written reviews are positive against 83% of NoteWorks's.

Flashnote Derby ships an update every 6 months, NoteWorks every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flashnote Derby | NoteWorks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashnote-derby/id453126527/reviews) | **[3.9 (155 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteworks/id546003758/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 105 | **155** |
| Positive reviews | 70.7% of reviews | **83.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#56** | — |
| Size | 110 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **7.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luke Bartolomeo](https://appshunter.io/developer/453126530) | [Azati Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/542365975) |

## What reviewers say

### Flashnote Derby

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

**Currently charting:** #56 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


### NoteWorks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteworks/id546003758)

This musical game teaches note recognition and sight-reading skills through interactive gameplay. Players guide a character to catch notes, combining education with entertainment for all ages and skill levels. It offers adjustable difficulty and progress tracking for personalized learning.

**Highlights:** Note recognition game, Sight reading practice, Adjustable difficulty, Multiple clef support, On-screen piano input, Progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helps with piano practice and note memorization
- 🎨 Fun and engaging game-like interface
- 🔍 Good for beginners and advanced users
- 🔗 Works well with MIDI keyboards
- 📚 Useful for learning note reading

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔊 Annoying background music
- 🔍 Keyboard too small on iPad
- 🔧 Difficulty customizing note range

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when connecting to MIDI keyboard
- Doesn't always register correct note input
- Settings not saving properly

**Requested features**

- Allow selecting specific note ranges to practice
- Add support for other instruments like guitar
- Provide option to disable sound effects
- Improve keyboard size and responsiveness


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flashnote Derby free?

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

### Is NoteWorks free?

NoteWorks costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Flashnote Derby or NoteWorks?

NoteWorks is rated higher. Flashnote Derby averages 3.8 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while NoteWorks averages 3.9 from 155 ratings.

### Do Flashnote Derby or NoteWorks have ads?

Neither Flashnote Derby nor NoteWorks shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Flashnote Derby or NoteWorks?

Flashnote Derby ships an update every 6 months, and NoteWorks every 5 months. Most recently, Flashnote Derby was updated on October 6, 2026 and NoteWorks on October 6, 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.*