# Notion vs NotateMe

The clearest difference is price: Notion at Free against NotateMe's $39.99. Notion also leads on rating (3.1 vs 2.6). NotateMe's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Notion is free to download; NotateMe costs $39.99 up front. Notion sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and NotateMe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notion holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 71 and 26 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 42% of Notion's written reviews are positive against 45% of NotateMe's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Notion ships an update every 6 weeks, NotateMe every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notion | NotateMe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $39.99 |
| Rating | **[3.1 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notion-music-notation-and-tab/id475820434/reviews)** | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **71** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | 42.2% of reviews | **44.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#192** |
| Size | 146 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | **6.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fender Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/1107017949) | [Neuratron Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/699470142) |

## What reviewers say

### Notion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notion-music-notation-and-tab/id475820434)

Create dynamic musical compositions using traditional notation or guitar tablature. This app offers an intuitive touch-based interface, realistic playback with orchestral samples, and cross-platform syncing. Share or export your creations in various formats.

**Highlights:** Traditional musical notation, Guitar tablature, Intuitive touch interface, Realistic audio playback, Cross-platform syncing, Multiple export formats

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feature Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Great sound quality and instrument samples
- 💡 Handwriting recognition feature
- 🔗 Seamless integration with desktop version
- 👍 Useful for composing on the go

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔀 Inconsistent and buggy note/chord entry
- 💸 Expensive in-app purchases for full functionality
- 🤔 Unintuitive interface and steep learning curve
- 🔍 Poor documentation and support

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to change key signatures mid-piece
- Incorrect transposition of notes and chords
- Text formatting and positioning issues
- Unreliable MIDI file import/export
- Playback distortion and timing issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize note beaming and stem direction
- Option to display note letter names
- Improved handwriting recognition for complex rhythms
- Folder organization for better file management
- Keyboard shortcuts for power users


### NotateMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139)

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

Compose and edit music notation using handwritten input. This app recognizes a wide range of musical symbols, allowing for creation of scores for various ensembles. Export your work in multiple formats or share it via email.

**Highlights:** Handwritten music recognition, Compose for solo instruments and ensembles, Edit and playback scores, Export as PDF, MusicXML, MIDI, Import MusicXML files, Dropbox synchronization, PhotoScore Add-In for printed music

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NotateMe PhotoScore IAP | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent handwriting recognition
- 🎼 Convenient for jotting down musical ideas
- 💾 Good integration with Dropbox and other apps
- 🎹 Useful for piano teachers and students
- 🎨 Creative tool for composers and arrangers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🤔 Steep learning curve and not very intuitive
- 🖋️ Struggles with complex notation and articulations
- 🔍 Inaccurate recognition of accidentals and ledger lines
- 💰 Expensive for the current feature set

**Reported bugs**

- Photoscore feature crashes frequently
- Notes and rests sometimes get misplaced or lost
- Inconsistent recognition of handwritten input

**Requested features**

- Ability to import and export MusicXML files
- More customization options for layout and formatting
- Support for additional articulations and notation symbols
- Improved palm rejection and stylus compatibility
- Transposition and chord symbol features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notion free?

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

### Is NotateMe free?

NotateMe costs $39.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Notion or NotateMe?

Notion is rated higher. Notion averages 3.1 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while NotateMe averages 2.6 from 26 ratings.

### Do Notion or NotateMe have ads?

Neither Notion nor NotateMe shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notion or NotateMe?

Notion ships an update every 6 weeks, and NotateMe every 2 weeks. Most recently, Notion was updated on October 30, 2026 and NotateMe on October 22, 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.*