# Reflow vs Notation Scanner

The clearest difference is price: Reflow at Free against Notation Scanner's $2.99. Notation Scanner's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Reflow is free to download; Notation Scanner costs $2.99 up front. Reflow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per year. Notation Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

Notation Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notation Scanner has 730 ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Reflow's written reviews are positive against 50% of Notation Scanner's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reflow | Notation Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [3.5 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reflow-score-editor/id517574672/reviews) | **[4.1 (730 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-scanner-sheet-music/id1260311003/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **730** |
| Positive reviews | 44.0% of reviews | **49.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 101 MB | 168 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gargant](https://appshunter.io/developer/412446995) | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) |

## What reviewers say

### Reflow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reflow-score-editor/id517574672)

Create, edit, and share musical scores and guitar tablature. Supports multiple instruments, realistic playback, and import/export of various file formats. Ideal for songwriters and musicians looking to compose and practice.

**Highlights:** Tablature and notation editor, Import Guitar Pro and MIDI files, Realistic instrument playback, Instant web sharing, Multi-track scores, Chord diagrams, Edit while playing

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reflow Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| Reflow — Full Version | $14.99 | one-time |


### Notation Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-scanner-sheet-music/id1260311003)

This app allows users to scan and recognize sheet music using their device's camera or existing images. It functions as a sheet music reader and player, supporting over 100 instruments and offering playback controls. Users can also export their recognized scores in various formats.

**Highlights:** Scan sheet music via camera or image library, Recognize and playback music scores, Support for over 100 instruments, Adjust tempo and voice parts, Export as MusicXML, MIDI, PNG, PDF

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning and practicing music
- 🚀 Works well when the sheet music is clear
- 💡 Useful for choir and band members

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Struggles to recognize complex or low-quality sheet music
- 🔒 Forces users to leave 5-star reviews to unlock features
- 🔋 Slow scanning and processing times

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot recognize any photos or scans of sheet music
- Playback skips notes and has timing issues
- App crashes frequently when trying to scan music

**Requested features**

- Allow users to manually correct scanned music
- Improve recognition accuracy for different sheet music styles
- Add more instrument options beyond just piano


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reflow free?

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

### Is Notation Scanner free?

Notation Scanner costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Reflow or Notation Scanner?

Notation Scanner is rated higher. Reflow averages 3.5 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Notation Scanner averages 4.1 from 730 ratings.

### Do Reflow or Notation Scanner have ads?

Neither Reflow nor Notation Scanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reflow or Notation Scanner?

Reflow ships an update every 2 weeks, and Notation Scanner every 2 weeks. Most recently, Reflow was updated on October 16, 2026 and Notation Scanner on October 19, 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.*