# Flashnote Derby vs NoteWorks Lite

The clearest difference is price: NoteWorks Lite at Free against Flashnote Derby's $4.99. NoteWorks Lite also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (81% vs 71%). Flashnote Derby's advantage is chart position (#21 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

NoteWorks Lite is free to download; Flashnote Derby costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NoteWorks Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 105 and 134 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Flashnote Derby's written reviews are positive against 81% of NoteWorks Lite's.

Flashnote Derby ships an update every 6 months, NoteWorks Lite every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flashnote Derby | NoteWorks Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.8 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashnote-derby/id453126527/reviews) | **[4.1 (134 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteworks-lite/id577433139/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 105 | **134** |
| Positive reviews | 70.7% of reviews | **80.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 110 MB | 23 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:** #21 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 Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteworks-lite/id577433139)

This musical game teaches note recognition and improves sight-reading skills through an engaging, visually appealing interface. Players help a character catch notes by playing them on an on-screen keyboard, making learning fun and effective for all ages.

**Highlights:** Note recognition game, Sight reading practice, On-screen piano keyboard, "A, B, C" and "Do, Re, Mi" naming, Treble clef support, Practice and challenge modes, Adjustable game speed

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎓 Effective at teaching note recognition quickly
- 🎮 Engaging gamified learning experience
- 👨‍🏫 Highly recommended by music teachers
- 🎵 Multiple learning modes (keyboard, do-re-mi, ABC)
- 🎨 Fun graphics and cute character design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently on some devices
- 🔊 Sound issues or missing audio
- ⌨️ Piano keyboard too small for comfortable playing
- 🎯 Limited content in free version
- 🔤 Missing German note naming (H instead of B)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes every 2 minutes on iPad 2
- Sound doesn't work in free version
- Video playback not functioning
- Accidentals option disappears in full version
- App stops responding and requires restart

**Requested features**

- Add guitar and other instruments beyond piano
- Include bass clef and grand staff options
- Support German note naming system (H)
- Larger, more responsive keyboard interface
- Advanced difficulty settings for experienced players


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flashnote Derby free?

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

### Is NoteWorks Lite free?

NoteWorks Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

NoteWorks Lite is rated higher. Flashnote Derby averages 3.8 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while NoteWorks Lite averages 4.1 from 134 ratings.

### Do Flashnote Derby or NoteWorks Lite have ads?

Neither Flashnote Derby nor NoteWorks Lite shows ads.

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

Flashnote Derby ships an update every 6 months, and NoteWorks Lite every 5 months. Most recently, Flashnote Derby was updated on October 6, 2026 and NoteWorks Lite on October 4, 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.*