Comparison

TEFpad vs Nota ABC

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

Nota ABC

Manage and browse a vast collection of traditional music tunes with this app. Features include a zoomable score, audio player, tune identification, and the ability to edit and organize your music.

Highlights
  • Manage ABC tunes collection
  • Zoomable score and audio player
  • Tune identification with Folkfriend
  • Organize tunes into sets and books
  • Edit and create new tunes
  • Offline archive of 40,000+ tunes
  • Automatic iCloud sync
Features
Read full description

Nota ABC, the simplest way to manage your ABC tunes collection Nota ABC is a new app that lets you manage and browser your ABC. It features a zoomable score, a rich audio player and many customizable options. A RICH ARCHIVE OF TRADITIONAL TUNES With an archive of +40.000 tunes, Nota ABC lets you pick and add tunes to your repertoire. If you know the name of a tune, you can probably find it in Nota ABC; most tunes are available with different settings and keys. The archive is available also offline. TUNE IDENTIFICATION WITH FOLKFRIEND INTEGRATION Fire up the Tune identifier, record some music at home or during a session, and you'll get a list of potential matches. Inspect each match in the archive to easily identify your tune. SETS AND BOOKS Group you tunes in Books for easy export. Use Sets for group of tunes usually played in sequence. EDIT YOUR TUNES Every tune can be edited: you can modify the ABC and adjust each tune to match your setting. Of course you can also add tunes from scratch, setting every ABC note and field to your liking. SCORE AND ABC PREVIEWS FOR A FAST REMINDER The tunes list can display a handy preview; choose a score if you're familiar with musical notation, or ABC if you're so inclined. The first few bars of the tune will be displayed, so you'll be able to identify tunes at a glance, without drilling into the detail view. AUDIO PREVIEW From the tunes list you can also play an audio preview; this is ideal for those who have a more aural-oriented memory. A FULL FEATURED AUDIO PLAYER Play your tunes at your chosen speed, modifying the player BPMs. For your audio playback, you can pick among a selection of traditional instruments. EASIER STUDY WITH DATES AND LEVELS Every time you add a tune a "learning date" is associated to it Use the Practice feature to track your learning, either automatically or manually. GROUP TUNES INTO BOOKS Group tunes into books for an easier access. TURN YOUR TUNE LIST INTO A FULL REPERTOIRE You can import your tune from a simple text list, and get their ABC content automatically. This was you can turn a simple text list into a full repertoire, with all melodies, keys and annotations. Of course you can also import ABC tune books or single tunes. There's also a CSV import option, for migrating easily from Excel or Numbers. AUTOMATIC SYNC Nota ABC uses iCloud to keep your data backed-up and synced. Use the iPhone or iPad interchangeably, see edits propagate almost in real time. YOUR DATA ARE SAFE, NO LOCK-INS Nota ABC makes it easier to browse you collection, but your data re always yours. A variety of always unlocked export options allow you to pull you data from Nota ABC. Every time you you edit a tune, Nota ABC generates a local backup copy that you can export. If you ever decide to stop using Nota ABC, you can download your backup straightaway, in a zipped file containing a full tune book, a simple list and a more granular export of each tune. CUSTOMIZE NOTA ABC You can tweak playback options, as well as the user interface: choose from an array of fonts and palettes. Hide the features you are not interested in. Info at https://notabc.app Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

TEFpad4 screens
Nota ABC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Nota ABC at Free against TEFpad's $5.99. Nota ABC also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). TEFpad's advantage is review sentiment (64% vs 38%) and ratings volume (46 vs 6). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Nota ABC is free to download; TEFpad costs $5.99 up front. TEFpad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Nota ABC sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for TEFpad against 4.2 for Nota ABC. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TEFpad has 46 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of TEFpad's written reviews are positive against 38% of Nota ABC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TEFpad ships an update every 5 months, Nota ABC weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
TEFpad versus Nota ABC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTEFpadNota ABC
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (46 ratings)4.2 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews64.4% of reviews — better38.5% of reviews
Number of ratings46 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB206 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTablEditDavide Benini

Customer experience

TEFpad

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

Nota ABC

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive38.5%
Neutral30.8%
Negative30.8%

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

Nota ABC

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

TEFpad

One-time1
  • TEFpad Pro$19.99
10 purchases

Nota ABC

Subscriptions8
  • 1 Month Subscription$0.991 Month
  • Base - 1 month - M$1.991 Month
  • 3 Months Subscription$2.493 Months
Show 5 more
  • 6 Months Subscription$3.996 Months
  • 3 Months Subscription$3.993 Months
  • 1 Year Subscription$5.991 Year
  • 6 Months Subscription$7.996 Months
  • 1 Year Subscription$10.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime subscription$14.99
  • Lifetime subscription$29.99

Questions

Is TEFpad free?
TEFpad costs $5.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Nota ABC free?
Nota ABC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, TEFpad or Nota ABC?
TEFpad and Nota ABC are both rated 4.2 out of 5 on the App Store, from 46 and 6 ratings respectively.
Do TEFpad or Nota ABC have ads?
Neither TEFpad nor Nota ABC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TEFpad or Nota ABC?
TEFpad ships an update every 5 months, and Nota ABC weekly. Most recently, TEFpad was updated on September 23, 2026 and Nota ABC on September 9, 2026.

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