Comparison

The Strad vs Henle Library

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

Head to head
About

The Strad

Access the world's leading string music magazine, featuring interviews, in-depth articles on instruments, and masterclass sheet music. Explore the latest news, commentary, and analysis for makers, musicians, and teachers.

Highlights
  • Interviews with star string players
  • In-depth articles on instruments
  • Masterclass sheet music section
  • News, comment, and analysis
  • Exclusive videos and audio clips
  • Interactive links
Features
Read full description

The Strad is the most authoritative and influential string music magazine, read by makers, musicians and teachers since 1890. Every month it brings you the latest news, commentary and analysis, in-depth articles, interviews with star string players and retrospectives on great musicians of the past, masterclass sheet music section and much more. It is essential reading for anyone in the string music world. Subscribe today and get: • Interviews with star string players and retrospectives on the great musicians of the past • In-depth articles examining important and unusual instruments by master makers • Reports on the latest advances in science and technology, by leading contemporary luthiers • Trade Secrets contemporary luthiers share their innovative techniques for parts of the making process • In Focus: articles examining important and unusual instruments by master makes of the past • Making Matters: contemporary makers examine themes relevant to instrument and bow making today • Meet your Maker: players and makers give accounts of the commissioning process and its results • Masterclass sheet music section with commentary and annotations by international concert artists • News, comment and analysis from the string music world • Supplements including Cremona 2017, String Courses 2017, Degrees 2018 and Accessories 2017 Subscribe to the digital issue today: - Try before you buy with our FREE 30-DAY TRIAL available exclusively for Apple users.  - Enjoy exclusive VIDEOS, AUDIO CLIPS and INTERACTIVE LINKS.  - Download your issues INSTANTLY  - Exclusive subscriber only SUPPLEMENTS ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

About

Henle Library

Access high-quality digital Urtext editions of classical music scores on your tablet. Practice, rehearse, and perform with a range of interactive features designed for musicians of all levels. Enjoy annotations, metronome, playback, and more.

Highlights
  • Digital Urtext editions
  • Customizable score purchases
  • Print and export PDFs
  • Score modification and annotations
  • Metronome and recording
  • Part and score switching
  • Explanatory notes access
Features
Read full description

“With the Henle Library app a new era begins for classical musicians.” Daniel Hope An indispensable app for professional musicians, amateurs, students and teachers. The Henle Library app delivers G. Henle Publishers’ reliable Urtext editions straight to your tablet. You can practise, rehearse and make music – whenever and wherever you like. And you can enjoy the many unique features of Henle’s digital scores.  Features: - Filter Henle Urtext according to your individual needs and purchase as required (individual part, single movement, bundles etc.) - Free version available for music students (licences for music colleges) - Print, export PDFs, share - Modify the score to suit your needs - Superimpose alternative professional fingerings (or choose “No fingerings”) - Unlimited possibilities for your own annotations - Easily switch between the part and the score at exactly the same measure - Open explanatory notes (footnotes, Critical Report etc.) at the appropriate place in the score - Record and play back your own recordings - Use the integrated metronome - Navigate extremely rapidly - Create and use playlists Do you like our app? Please consider writing a review. Thank you!

Screenshots

The Strad1 screens
Henle Library4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: The Strad at 4.3 against Henle Library's 2.9. The Strad also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 34%). Henle Library's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. The Strad sells 24 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per 3 months and Henle Library sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Strad holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 91 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of The Strad's written reviews are positive against 34% of Henle Library's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Strad ships an update every 7 months, Henle Library every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
The Strad versus Henle Library: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe StradHenle Library
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (37 ratings) — better2.9 (91 ratings)
Positive reviews52.0% of reviews — better34.2% of reviews
Number of ratings3791 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNewsquest Specialist Media LimitedGuenter Henle Verlag

Customer experience

The Strad

All ratings37 ratings
Positive83.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.2%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive52.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative40.0%

Henle Library

All ratings91 ratings
Positive38.5%
Neutral18.7%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews187 reviews
Positive34.2%
Neutral21.4%
Negative44.4%

Bugs and requests

The Strad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Henle Library

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Annotations deleted after app updates or restarts
  • Eraser function fails to remove marks consistently
  • Marks don't record when crossing between staff lines
  • App crashes when opening purchased scores
  • Purchased scores disappear from library
Show 15 more
  • Blank pages appear when turning pages
  • App freezes during export to PDF
  • Infinite loading screen in online store
  • Confirmation emails for credit purchases don't arrive
  • App takes 40+ seconds to start
  • Scores don't load immediately after purchase
  • Annotation dots appear randomly when lifting pen
  • Fingering annotations shrink in upper ledger lines
  • Score skips to random pages during performance
  • Export PDF quality is low resolution and fuzzy
  • Annotation layer prevents writing in certain areas
  • Zoom function jumps back to start of page
  • Eraser requires tapping far from annotation to delete
  • Palm rejection fails with Apple Pencil
  • Print layout produces single-line pages for multi-movement pieces

Requested features

20 requests
  • Undo/redo functionality for annotations
  • Ability to print entire multi-movement pieces together
  • Half-page turning option for performers
  • Playlist or collection grouping system
  • Individual score parts (not just full scores)
Show 15 more
  • Better annotation layer management
  • Improved Apple Pencil support and sensitivity
  • Customizable eraser behavior
  • Page turn animation or visual cues
  • Ability to hide specific staves or parts
  • Microphone-activated page turning commands
  • Difficulty ratings visible before purchase
  • Digital-physical score bundling/discounts
  • Better search and filtering in store
  • Support for foot pedal page turners
  • Ability to import scores from other sources
  • Multiple annotation layers with visibility toggle
  • Customizable metronome settings
  • Landscape orientation improvements
  • Persistent user settings and preferences

In-app purchases

24 purchases

The Strad

Subscriptions2
  • The Strad1 Month trial$14.993 Months
  • The Strad1 Month trial$59.991 Year
One-time22
  • June 2012 (id:736861)$4.99
  • September 2012 (id:736003)$4.99
  • May 2013 and De... (id:738002)$4.99
Show 19 more
  • February 2014 (id:738506)$4.99
  • December 2013 (id:736381)$4.99
  • November 2013 (id:735750)$4.99
  • March 2016 (id:738737)$4.99
  • May 2020 And De... (id:771419)$4.99
  • December 2017 (id:757689)$4.99
  • December 2024 (pp:1024896)$4.99
  • January 2019 an... (id:762634)$4.99
  • April 2016 (id:745918)$4.99
  • July 2017 (id:757679)$4.99
  • November 2017 (id:757687)$4.99
  • February 2019 (id:766008)$4.99
  • September 2020 (id:771411)$4.99
  • October 2018 (id:762640)$4.99
  • July 2024 (pp:1024926)$4.99
  • January 2025 a... (pp:1110854)$5.99
  • The Strad Magazine 2 back issue bundle$7.99
  • Great Instruments (id:810171)$14.99
  • The Strad$179.99
8 purchases

Henle Library

One-time8
  • 10 Credits$0.99
  • 22 Credits$1.99
  • 55 Credits2 variants$5.99
Show 5 more
  • 100 Credits2 variants$9.99
  • 200 Credits2 variants$19.99
  • 300 Credits$29.99
  • 500 Credits$49.99
  • 1000 Credits$79.99

Questions

Is The Strad free?
The Strad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Henle Library free?
Henle Library is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, The Strad or Henle Library?
The Strad is rated higher. The Strad averages 4.3 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while Henle Library averages 2.9 from 91 ratings.
Do The Strad or Henle Library have ads?
Neither The Strad nor Henle Library shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Strad or Henle Library?
The Strad ships an update every 7 months, and Henle Library every 2 months. Most recently, The Strad was updated on September 26, 2026 and Henle Library on September 26, 2026.

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