Comparison

TEFpad vs TextMusic

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

Head to head
About

TEFpad

This app is a tablature editor for iOS devices that allows users to open, display, print, and play TablEdit files. It supports importing various music file formats and offers editing capabilities for creating new arrangements or modifying existing ones. Advanced features and unlimited saving are available through an in-app purchase.

Highlights
  • Import various music file formats
  • Create new tablature arrangements
  • Edit and save tablature files
  • Display tablature and standard notation
  • MIDI playback with real-time control
  • Export to PDF, ABC, MIDI, WAV, and Music XML
Features
Read full description

TEFpad is a tablature editor designed for the iPad that implements most features available in the TablEdit desktop program. It is also compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch. Just like TEFview for iOS, our free file viewer, TEFpad opens, displays, prints and plays all TablEdit files (.tef format). It imports as well many types of music files (ASCII tablatures, ABC files, MusicXML, MIDI, Guitar Pro, PowerTab...). In addition to this, TEFpad opens TabRite files and lets you create new tablature arrangements from scratch. The files you have created on your device with TEFpad can be edited and saved without any limitation. Warning: You can edit files not created with TEFpad or imported into TEFpad, but only the first 16 measures can be saved. Likewise the app does not allow copying the contents of one of these files into another .tef file. To get rid of these limitations, you can upgrade to TEFpad Pro (available as an In-App purchase). The .tef files saved with TEFpad can be opened and modified in the TablEdit desktop program that offers advanced capabilities not completely available in TEFpad. Please submit your suggestions and bug reports to http://www.tabledit.com/contact/feedback/ Specifications: - Open/Import TablEdit, ASCII, ABC, MIDI, Music XML, PowerTab, TABrite and GuitarPro files - Optical recognition of tablatures and scores (PDF or image) - Extracts TablEdit files contained in a zip archive - Display tablature and/or standard notation - English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Chinese and Italian language support - Embedded Help (tap the info button in the top-right corner of the screen) - File manager with subdirectory management - Email files as attachment - PDF export. The PDF can be emailed or opened in a third party app - iTunes file sharing - WIFI file sharing - Integration with the Files app - MIDI Playback with full real time control (speed, pitch, volume and MIDI instrument) - Metronome and count down settings - Ability to change the soundfont and to access all the presets - Playlist - Customize background color for screen, special keyboard, palettes, - Print to an Air Printer - ABC, MIDI, ASCII, WAV file, Music XML export - Time and Key signature setup along with a transpose feature - Measures management (Add/Delete/Copy/Move/Pick-up measure) - Instrument setup (String number, Tuning, Capo, Clef...) - Quantize notes (after a MIDI import) - Enter notes and rests in the tablature or standard notation - Edit notes (duration, velocity, special effect, staccato...) - Create chord diagrams - Insert text, tempo changes, pick strokes and fingerings and format them - Create and edit lyrics - Reading guides (repeats and endings) - Fingerboard or keyboard view - External keyboard support - Support for Page turners - Print options dialog - Support drum tabs and pedal steel guitar tabs - Simple grace note management - iPad Pro support

About

TextMusic

Create musical scores using text-based notation. This app offers a rational keyboard for quick input, supports complex musical elements, and includes 90 instrument sounds. Export your compositions in various formats like MIDI, PNG, and PDF.

Highlights
  • Text-based musical notation
  • 90 built-in instrument sounds
  • Support for complex musical elements
  • Export to MIDI, PNG, PDF, TXT, M4A
  • Rational keyboard for quick input
  • Playback and loop functionality
Features
Read full description

TextMusic is a quick-notate App based on Jianpu ( Numbered musical notation ), all musical sheet elements are composed of texts. It build-in 90 kinds of instrument, and support up to 32 voice parts. Learn more about Numbered Musical Notation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbered_musical_notation Main features: ‣Rational designed keyboard for quick notation. ‣Build-in 90 Instruments sound ‣Exports MIDI, PNG, PDF, TXT, M4A ‣Support Multi-parts, Chords, Arpeggio Chords, Tuplets, Portamento,Tied note,Tied chord,Tremolo,Glissandi,Grace note,Flower note(Guzheng technique),Trill, Loops,Jumps.. ‣Musical Tags ‣Varying tempo, Varying Volume, Varying Instrument.. ‣Font adjustment ‣Color adjustment ‣Automatic layout notes by inputing bar-line ‣Playback,Loop playback with selected range, Select, Copy, Cut, Paste, Undo ‣Friendly UI ‣Piano keyboard Please learn more from the file's "Settings" - "Help"

Screenshots

TEFpad4 screens
TextMusic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TextMusic at none against TEFpad's 1. TextMusic also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (73% vs 64%). TEFpad's advantage is ratings volume (46 vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On rating, ads and device support 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

TEFpad costs $5.99 and TextMusic $4.99 up front. TEFpad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TextMusic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for TEFpad against 4.1 for TextMusic. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 10 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of TEFpad's written reviews are positive against 73% of TextMusic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TEFpad ships an update every 5 months, TextMusic every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
TEFpad versus TextMusic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTEFpadTextMusic
Price$5.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.2 (46 ratings) — better4.1 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews64.4% of reviews73.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings46 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB140 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTablEditSupertintin Co., Ltd

Customer experience

TEFpad

All ratings46 ratings
Positive80.4%
Neutral6.5%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews101 reviews
Positive64.4%
Neutral11.9%
Negative23.8%

TextMusic

All ratings10 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive73.1%
Neutral10.4%
Negative16.4%

Bugs and requests

TEFpad

Reported bugs

42 issues
  • Rating pop-ups ignore iOS settings
  • Pro version disappeared after purchase
  • App crashes when printing
  • Audio quits playing
  • Adding pull-offs creates ties across bars
Show 37 more
  • Imported Guitar Pro files have errors (triplets, repeat barlines)
  • Triplet button inconsistency
  • App crashes
  • Work not saved when app crashes
  • Song title not saved
  • Dulcimer TAB not working
  • Tab won't switch to dulcimer DAD TAB
  • Highlighting and repeating passages is difficult
  • Vertical highlighter does not work
  • Notes muted during playback due to highlighter issues
  • File corruption
  • PTB files corrupt
  • 1/8 beat time signature issues
  • Cannot save as a different name (overwrites original)
  • Inserting double bar that cannot be removed
  • Reversing tablature issues
  • Changing instrument destroys file
  • Automatic rests not working correctly
  • Saving files beyond 16th measure is lost
  • Unable to close options popup
  • Notes and playback are 1 octave apart
  • Triplets not entering correctly
  • Saving a tab deleted it
  • Spontaneously closes without saving
  • Cannot view bar being edited
  • Cannot delete bars without tempo/key dialog
  • Cannot delete notes without undo/select/cut
  • Cannot save more than 16 bars of a file
  • Sudden crashes after update
  • Cannot close options popup
  • Cannot add bars after Pro upgrade
  • Cannot change instrument after import
  • Cannot find how to change tempo
  • Cannot change instrument assignment and volume
  • Deleting past 16th measure on import
  • Pages reflow on zoom
  • Cannot select multiple measures/notes

Requested features

21 requests
  • Search function for manual
  • Support for Apple Magic Keyboard
  • Simultaneous input of text, chords, and TAB numbers
  • Ability to change instrument display on sidebar
  • Ability to make font larger
Show 16 more
  • Add title on first page
  • Add D.S. al Coda and Fine
  • Add lyrics and chord notation
  • Files app support (iOS 11 folder support)
  • Open in functionality
  • Custom instrument input (number of strings, string notes)
  • Solfege notation conversion
  • Ability to change pedal steel pedal assignments
  • Ability to customize button placement and size
  • Swing eighth notes setting
  • Better scrolling
  • Custom tuning transpose functionality
  • Cut-and-paste between files/tunings
  • Easier to delete bars/notes
  • Delete notes without undoing/cutting
  • Double tap to open file

TextMusic

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

TEFpad

One-time1
  • TEFpad Pro$19.99
None

TextMusic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TEFpad free?
TEFpad costs $5.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is TextMusic free?
TextMusic costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TEFpad or TextMusic?
TEFpad is rated higher. TEFpad averages 4.2 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while TextMusic averages 4.1 from 10 ratings.
Do TEFpad or TextMusic have ads?
Neither TEFpad nor TextMusic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TEFpad or TextMusic?
TEFpad ships an update every 5 months, and TextMusic every 2 weeks. Most recently, TEFpad was updated on October 15, 2026 and TextMusic on October 16, 2026.

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