# Theory Lessons vs Music Theory Notes

The clearest difference is rating: Music Theory Notes at 5.0 against Theory Lessons's 4.4. Theory Lessons's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 28 months). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Theory Lessons costs $2.99 and Music Theory Notes $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Music Theory Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Theory Lessons has 126 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Theory Lessons ships an update every 4 months, Music Theory Notes every 28 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Theory Lessons | Music Theory Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.4 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theory-lessons/id493157418/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-theory-notes/id511627785/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **126** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 83.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 28 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#25** | — |
| Size | 4 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.8** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [musictheory.net](https://appshunter.io/developer/459313479) | [Patrick Q. Kelly](https://appshunter.io/developer/310068987) |

## What reviewers say

### Theory Lessons

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theory-lessons/id493157418)

**Currently charting:** #25 Top Paid · Music, #185 Top Paid (US App Store)

Explore 39 animated music theory lessons covering fundamental concepts like scales, chords, and intervals. Deepen your understanding of musical structure and analysis with this comprehensive resource.

**Highlights:** 39 animated music theory lessons, Covers staff, clefs, and ledger lines, Explains note and rest duration, Details major and minor scales, Teaches intervals and chord inversions, Includes Roman numeral analysis, Features musical analysis examples

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient and easy to use
- 👍 Clear and concise explanations
- 💡 Helpful visual aids and animations
- 🤩 Excellent learning tool for beginners
- 🔍 Comprehensive coverage of music theory

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Audio issues on some devices
- 🔍 Limited content compared to website
- 🤔 Keyboard-centric approach may not suit non-pianists
- 💰 Paid app when website is free

**Reported bugs**

- Directional arrows and guidance symbols not working on iPad
- Text panels cut off at the bottom and unable to be resized

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced theory topics
- Incorporate practice exercises and quizzes
- Include support for other instruments beyond piano
- Integrate with the Tenuto app for a more complete experience


### Music Theory Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-theory-notes/id511627785)

Learn to recognize musical pitches by sight or sound and practice notating them on a piano. Features ear training modes and a grade book to save and print quiz results.

**Highlights:** Pitch recognition by sight and sound, Piano keyboard and musical staff notation, Treble, Alto, Tenor, and Bass clefs, Ear training mode with hidden keyboard/staff, Printable grade book for saved results, Customizable note range

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Theory Lessons free?

Theory Lessons costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Music Theory Notes free?

Music Theory Notes costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Theory Lessons or Music Theory Notes?

Music Theory Notes is rated higher. Theory Lessons averages 4.4 out of 5 from 126 ratings, while Music Theory Notes averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Theory Lessons or Music Theory Notes have ads?

Neither Theory Lessons nor Music Theory Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Theory Lessons or Music Theory Notes?

Theory Lessons ships an update every 4 months, and Music Theory Notes every 28 months. Most recently, Theory Lessons was updated on November 1, 2026 and Music Theory Notes on June 1, 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.*