Comparison

Music Tutor (Sight vs NotationPlayer

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

Head to head
About

Music Tutor (Sight

This app helps you learn to read sheet music and improve your sight-reading abilities. Practice identifying notes in various clefs with timed or untimed sessions and track your progress. It offers MIDI support and a companion Apple Watch app for on-the-go practice.

Highlights
  • Sheet music reading practice
  • Timed note identification
  • Treble, bass, and alto clef support
  • Customizable note practice range
  • MIDI keyboard integration
  • Apple Watch companion app
  • App Clips for quick access
Features
Read full description

Note: This free version is supported by ads. To remove advertisements, use the in-app purchase to upgrade or buy the paid version, Music Tutor Plus from the App Store. Learn to read sheet music and improve your sight-reading skills with Music Tutor. Develop your speed and accuracy in reading sheet music by identifying music notes in timed sessions. Choose to practice with notes in treble, bass and alto clefs in timed or untimed sessions. After each test, you can review your mistakes and see your progress. Other features of Music Tutor include: • Custom Practice Range - Set your own range of notes that you want to practice with. • Supports notes up to 4 ledger lines above or below the staff on any of the clefs. • Notes Reference Charts - For Treble, Bass and Alto clefs. • MIDI Support - Connect your keyboard or digital piano using Lightning to USB Camera Adapter and respond directly from your instrument. • Companion Apple Watch app using which you can practice recognising music notes on the go. • Supports App Clips and Advanced App Clip Experiences - a way to quickly access and experience a practice session with Music Tutor without having to install the complete app. For Advanced App Clip Experiences, an App Clip invocation URL can be configured using the documentation available at https://musictutorapp.com/appclip.

About

NotationPlayer

Read full description

NotationPlayer turns your sheet music into sound. Open any MusicXML or ABC file, choose from over 100 realistic instruments, and hear your music played back instantly - with full tempo control, transposition, and a built-in metronome. Try every feature free for 7 days. After that, a single one-time purchase keeps NotationPlayer fully working - no subscription, no ads. Built for trad and folk musicians, with full MusicXML support for classical, jazz, choral, and any sheet music you read. Now in English, Spanish and German. PLAY YOUR MUSIC • Play MusicXML and ABC notation files with realistic instrument sounds • Adjust tempo from half speed to double speed without changing pitch • Transpose to any key with one tap • Built-in metronome with click, woodblock, and bodhrán sounds • Count-in option for a clean start • Auto-scroll follows the music as it plays FIND NEW TUNES • Search over 30,000 traditional tunes from The Session • Browse the ABC Notation archive and Henrik Norbeck's collection • Paste ABC or MusicXML notation directly into the app • 55 sample tunes included - Celtic, Classical, Bluegrass, and Jazz LEARN AND PRACTISE • Tap any note to set a cue point and play from there • Loop any section by selecting start and end notes - perfect for tricky passages • Show note names on every note - as letters (C, D, E), in solfège (Do, Re, Mi) or German style (H, B) • Lyrics displayed and synced to playback • Swing control for jazz and traditional styles MULTI-TRACK MIXER • Assign different instruments to each voice or part • 100+ instruments including fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin, piano, guitar, flute, choir, and more • Volume, pan, mute, and solo controls per track • Hide parts from the score - see just your own line while the others keep playing • Guitar chord accompaniment from chord symbols ANNOTATE YOUR SCORES • Draw on your scores with pen and highlighter • Add text notes anywhere on the page • Multiple colours and tools • Your annotations are saved with each tune ORGANISE YOUR MUSIC • Build tune sets - group tunes into medleys that play seamlessly • Create playlists with sets and individual tunes • Ensemble mode - add backing instruments to your playlists • Speed control for playlist playback • Favourites and search across your library EXPORT AND SHARE • Export scores as PDF for printing or sharing with bandmates • Export audio as MP3 • Share with other musicians WORKS OFFLINE NotationPlayer works without an internet connection. Your tunes, instruments, and playlists are always available - perfect for rehearsals, sessions, and practice anywhere. FREE TRIAL, THEN BUY ONCE Every feature is unlocked for your first 7 days. After the trial, scores still open and play a 30-second preview; a one-time purchase unlocks everything again, for good. There is no subscription, and purchases can be restored on a new device. Built for musicians who want their notation to do more than just sit on the page. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Music Tutor (Sight4 screens
NotationPlayer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: NotationPlayer at none against Music Tutor (Sight's shown. Music Tutor (Sight's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence 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. Music Tutor (Sight sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and NotationPlayer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Music Tutor (Sight ships an update every 2 weeks, NotationPlayer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Music Tutor (Sight versus NotationPlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusic Tutor (SightNotationPlayer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (2.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews74.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.2K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBijoy ThangarajChorusLogic Ltd.

Bugs and requests

Music Tutor (Sight

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect note sounds when playing higher/lower octaves
  • Inability to restore purchases and remove ads
  • Landscape mode not supported

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to display both treble and bass clefs simultaneously
  • Ability to select specific notes or intervals to practice
  • More detailed statistics and progress tracking
  • Inclusion of rhythm and chord recognition exercises

NotationPlayer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Music Tutor (Sight

One-time1
  • Music Tutor Plus Upgrade$2.99
2 purchases

NotationPlayer

Subscriptions1
  • NotationPlayer Monthly$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Full Access$6.99

Questions

Is Music Tutor (Sight free?
Music Tutor (Sight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NotationPlayer free?
NotationPlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Music Tutor (Sight or NotationPlayer have ads?
Music Tutor (Sight shows ads; NotationPlayer does not.
Which is updated more often, Music Tutor (Sight or NotationPlayer?
Music Tutor (Sight ships an update every 2 weeks, and NotationPlayer fortnightly. Most recently, Music Tutor (Sight was updated on November 1, 2026 and NotationPlayer on October 31, 2026.

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