Comparison

Music Drawing Notation vs PianoGato

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Music Drawing Notation

Easily compose music on a staff using your finger. Add notes, chords, rests, sharps, and flats. Save your creations and export them as MIDI or MP3 files via email.

Highlights
  • Draw notes on music staff
  • Move and edit notes
  • Change note duration
  • Add sharps, flats, and chords
  • Save and archive compositions
  • Export as MIDI or MP3
Features
Read full description

The Music Drawing Notation by Virtual Sheet Music has been specifically designed to write music by putting notes on a music staff, the easiest way. Any musician will be easily able to put down melodies "on the go" ad share it via email as MIDI or Mp3 files. You can write music by simply using your finger to put notes on the music staff, move notes around, change the notes' pitches by just moving them up and down, and modify their duration by selecting the corresponding value button. Rests may also be added, as well as sharps and flats. You can also write note chords by adding notes one over another. At any time, you can play, pause, and save the music you created into an archives section of the application, which allows you to retrieve previously saved songs. At any time, you can send or export your created music as a MIDI or Mp3 file via email. About Virtual Sheet Music: Virtual Sheet Music® offers the highest-quality digital sheet music with MIDI and Mp3 audio files to download and enjoy instantly. Many of the Virtual Sheet Music items also include Mp3 music accompaniment files, which allow you to play along with your computer, iPhone, or iPod (over 80,000 files). Get more info on the Virtual Sheet Music® website at: http://www.virtualsheetmusic.com For Feedback and Questions: support@virtualsheetmusic.com Enjoy learning, playing, and composing great music!

About

PianoGato

Compose and play back your piano music with standard notation. This app offers basic composition tools for free, with an optional upgrade for advanced features. Share your creations and learn music symbols.

Highlights
  • Compose music using standard notation
  • Playback compositions
  • Adjust playback settings
  • Create playlists
  • Export as Lilypond source files
  • Share compositions
Read full description

Compose and play back piano compositions anywhere, anytime. Compose your songs using standard music notations on a score sheet, adjust playback settings and then listen to your compositions one at a time or together as part of a playlist. PianoGato composer is designed for: • Piano music lovers wishing to listen to their favorite songs for which they have score sheets; • Professional and amateur musicians to compose and listen to songs on-the-go; • Music students learning music composition and notations; • Pianists of all levels learning a new piece and wishing to listen to the whole song, or a section of the song; and • Learners of music symbols, and in particular, how they are played back on the piano. PianoGato composer is downloaded and installed as a Basic Version with simple composition options available by default. Upgrade from within the app to enable all composition options by purchasing the Composer Extras Package via an In-App Purchase. The Basic Version includes the following features: • Time Signature: 4/4; • Key Signature: C Major; • Tempo: Allegro (crotchet/quarter note) at 120 bpm; • Note durations from breve down to semi-quaver; • Accidentals: sharp, flat, natural, double sharp, double flat; • Up to four different parts/voices; • Rendering of compositions for playback; • Share rendered compositions with friends and colleagues; • Export compositions as Lilypond source files, which can then be compiled to generate pdf and midi files; • Management of playlists for the play back of compositions; and • Editing of composition meta data, such as composer name, version and song name. In addition to the features in the Basic Version, the PianoGato Composer Extras Package offers the full range of piano composition options, such as: • Configurable key and time signatures; • Note durations down to the hundred twenty-eighth (semihemidemisemiquaver) note; • Dotted notes; • Ties; • Slurs; • Pedals; • Dynamics; • Grace notes; • Articulations; • Ornaments; • Accidentals within ornaments; • Tuplets; • Arpeggios; • Glissandos; • Octave changes; • Tremolos; • Pickup measures; • Tempo specifications; • Changes in tempo; • Time and key signature changes; • Repeats; • Coda sections; • Adjustable playback dynamic velocities; and • Velocity balances between the different parts/voices. If you are looking to purchase the Composer Extras Package for multiple copies of PianoGato composer then please consider purchasing the separate PianoGato P2 app, which comes with the Composer Extras Package installed. You may purchase multiple copies of PianoGato P2 and take advantage of the benefits associated with the Volume Purchase Program, subject to eligibility. See Apple's Volume Purchase Program for details.

Screenshots

Music Drawing Notation4 screens
PianoGato4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Music Drawing Notation at none against PianoGato's 1. PianoGato's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 11 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 31%). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PianoGato sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Music Drawing Notation asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Music Drawing Notation ships an update every 11 months, PianoGato every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Music Drawing Notation versus PianoGato: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusic Drawing NotationPianoGato
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews31.4% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB78 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVirtual Sheet Music LLCTanadium Pte. Ltd.

Customer experience

Music Drawing Notation

Written reviews51 reviews
Positive31.4%
Neutral13.7%
Negative54.9%

PianoGato

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Music Drawing Notation

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PianoGato

One-time1
  • PianoGato Composer Extras Package$4.99

Questions

Is Music Drawing Notation free?
Music Drawing Notation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PianoGato free?
PianoGato is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Music Drawing Notation or PianoGato have ads?
Neither Music Drawing Notation nor PianoGato shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Music Drawing Notation or PianoGato?
Music Drawing Notation ships an update every 11 months, and PianoGato every 5 weeks. Most recently, Music Drawing Notation was updated on October 18, 2026 and PianoGato on October 11, 2026.

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