# Flashnote Derby vs Piano Maestro

The clearest difference is price: Piano Maestro at Free against Flashnote Derby's $4.99. Piano Maestro also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (27K vs 105). Flashnote Derby's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and chart position (#24 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Piano Maestro is free to download; Flashnote Derby costs $4.99 up front. Piano Maestro sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Flashnote Derby asks for nothing beyond the download.

Piano Maestro holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Piano Maestro has 27K ratings behind it against 105, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Flashnote Derby's written reviews are positive against 79% of Piano Maestro's.

Flashnote Derby ships an update every 6 months, Piano Maestro every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flashnote Derby | Piano Maestro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.8 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashnote-derby/id453126527/reviews) | **[4.6 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piano-maestro/id604699751/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 105 | **27K** |
| Positive reviews | 70.7% of reviews | **78.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#24** | — |
| Size | 110 MB | 160 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luke Bartolomeo](https://appshunter.io/developer/453126530) | [Simply Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/492065449) |

## What reviewers say

### Flashnote Derby

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

**Currently charting:** #24 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


### Piano Maestro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piano-maestro/id604699751)

This app transforms piano practice into an engaging experience for learners of all ages. It offers interactive lessons, a vast song library, and instant feedback to help master sight-reading, rhythm, and technique. Compatible with any piano or keyboard, it makes learning fun and effective for families and students.

**Highlights:** Interactive piano lessons, Vast song library (2,800+ songs), Instant feedback on playing, Progress tracking with skill points, Method books from publishers, Touch mode for devices without piano, Teacher management features

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access | $9.99 | per month |
| Full Access | $9.99 | per month |
| Teacher Subscription My Studio | $12.99 | per month |
| My Studio | $12.99 | per month |
| Studio + Home | $19.99 | per month |
| Full Access | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Unlimited Access | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| Full Access | $47.99 | per 6 months |
| Unlimited Access | $49.99 | per year |
| Full Access | $59.99 | per year |
| JoyTunes Premium Membership | $89.99 | per 6 months |
| My Studio | $119.99 | per year |
| JoyTunes Premium Membership | $119.99 | per year |
| Studio + Home | $179.99 | per year |
| Premium Member - Lifetime Access | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for learning piano
- 👍 Fun and engaging
- 👍 Helps improve piano skills
- 👍 Motivates practice
- 👍 Suitable for all ages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Note recognition issues
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🔒 Locked content behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Levels not unlocking properly
- Inconsistent note recognition
- App crashing and freezing

**Requested features**

- More popular song options
- Better tutorial videos
- Ability to adjust piano tuning
- Ability to download sheet music
- More advanced content for experienced players


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flashnote Derby free?

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

### Is Piano Maestro free?

Piano Maestro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Flashnote Derby or Piano Maestro?

Piano Maestro is rated higher. Flashnote Derby averages 3.8 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while Piano Maestro averages 4.6 from 27K ratings.

### Do Flashnote Derby or Piano Maestro have ads?

Neither Flashnote Derby nor Piano Maestro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Flashnote Derby or Piano Maestro?

Flashnote Derby ships an update every 6 months, and Piano Maestro every 9 months. Most recently, Flashnote Derby was updated on October 15, 2026 and Piano Maestro on October 17, 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.*