Comparison

PianoGato vs Composer Pro

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

Head to head
About

PianoGato

Compose and play back your piano music with standard notation. This app offers basic composition tools for free, with an optional upgrade for advanced features. Share your creations and learn music symbols.

Highlights
  • Compose music using standard notation
  • Playback compositions
  • Adjust playback settings
  • Create playlists
  • Export as Lilypond source files
  • Share compositions
Read full description

Compose and play back piano compositions anywhere, anytime. Compose your songs using standard music notations on a score sheet, adjust playback settings and then listen to your compositions one at a time or together as part of a playlist. PianoGato composer is designed for: • Piano music lovers wishing to listen to their favorite songs for which they have score sheets; • Professional and amateur musicians to compose and listen to songs on-the-go; • Music students learning music composition and notations; • Pianists of all levels learning a new piece and wishing to listen to the whole song, or a section of the song; and • Learners of music symbols, and in particular, how they are played back on the piano. PianoGato composer is downloaded and installed as a Basic Version with simple composition options available by default. Upgrade from within the app to enable all composition options by purchasing the Composer Extras Package via an In-App Purchase. The Basic Version includes the following features: • Time Signature: 4/4; • Key Signature: C Major; • Tempo: Allegro (crotchet/quarter note) at 120 bpm; • Note durations from breve down to semi-quaver; • Accidentals: sharp, flat, natural, double sharp, double flat; • Up to four different parts/voices; • Rendering of compositions for playback; • Share rendered compositions with friends and colleagues; • Export compositions as Lilypond source files, which can then be compiled to generate pdf and midi files; • Management of playlists for the play back of compositions; and • Editing of composition meta data, such as composer name, version and song name. In addition to the features in the Basic Version, the PianoGato Composer Extras Package offers the full range of piano composition options, such as: • Configurable key and time signatures; • Note durations down to the hundred twenty-eighth (semihemidemisemiquaver) note; • Dotted notes; • Ties; • Slurs; • Pedals; • Dynamics; • Grace notes; • Articulations; • Ornaments; • Accidentals within ornaments; • Tuplets; • Arpeggios; • Glissandos; • Octave changes; • Tremolos; • Pickup measures; • Tempo specifications; • Changes in tempo; • Time and key signature changes; • Repeats; • Coda sections; • Adjustable playback dynamic velocities; and • Velocity balances between the different parts/voices. If you are looking to purchase the Composer Extras Package for multiple copies of PianoGato composer then please consider purchasing the separate PianoGato P2 app, which comes with the Composer Extras Package installed. You may purchase multiple copies of PianoGato P2 and take advantage of the benefits associated with the Volume Purchase Program, subject to eligibility. See Apple's Volume Purchase Program for details.

About

Composer Pro

Compose music scores with ease using a familiar keyboard layout. This app supports multiple parts, a wide range of instruments, and various musical symbols, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians.

Highlights
  • Keyboard-style note input
  • Support for up to 8 parts
  • Over 100 instruments
  • Variety of music symbols
  • Configurable parts and settings
  • Instrument transposition
  • Export without watermark
Features
Read full description

A handy sheet music writer app, make writing sheet music feels like typing notes. Tap on the keys with notation in a familiar keyboard layout. Provide a very easy way to compose music score. Support up to 8 parts, over 100 instruments, variety of music symbols and notations. It is very friendly for rookies while professional enough for experts. --------------------------------- UNLIMITED ACCESS SUBSCRIPTION - Support up to 8 parts - Config parts(add, delete, reorder) - Change key for each part - Change beat type and tempo - Config clef for each staff - Config sound for each part - No watermark image export - No Ads - Support 2nd voice part - Transpose instruments - Change keyboard size - Import data file - Unlock all 100+ instruments - The subscriptions are $9.99 monthly and $49.99 yearly with free trial - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that service, where applicable - Terms of use: https://service.notationpad.com/terms_service.html

Screenshots

PianoGato4 screens
Composer Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: PianoGato at free with in-app purchases against Composer Pro's subscription. PianoGato also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). Composer Pro's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (695 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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. PianoGato sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Composer Pro sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Composer Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Composer Pro has 695 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of PianoGato's written reviews are positive against 72% of Composer Pro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PianoGato ships an update every 5 weeks, Composer Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PianoGato versus Composer Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPianoGatoComposer Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)4.5 (695 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews71.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1695 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size78 MB161 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTanadium Pte. Ltd.嵩 张

Customer experience

PianoGato

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Composer Pro

All ratings685 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral5.5%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews260 reviews
Positive71.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative20.8%

Bugs and requests

PianoGato

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Composer Pro

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Notes sometimes placed incorrectly
  • Measures and compositions randomly deleted
  • Inability to restore deleted content

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more instruments beyond piano
  • Allow changing time signatures and key signatures without subscription
  • Improve note editing and placement
  • Add export options to save/share compositions
  • Provide more music notation tools and dynamics

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PianoGato

One-time1
  • PianoGato Composer Extras Package$4.99
4 purchases

Composer Pro

Subscriptions4
  • Unlimited Access$6.997 Days
  • Pro Access$9.991 Month
  • Pro Access$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Access7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is PianoGato free?
PianoGato is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Composer Pro free?
Composer Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PianoGato or Composer Pro?
Composer Pro is rated higher. PianoGato averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Composer Pro averages 4.5 from 695 ratings.
Do PianoGato or Composer Pro have ads?
Neither PianoGato nor Composer Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PianoGato or Composer Pro?
PianoGato ships an update every 5 weeks, and Composer Pro every 2 months. Most recently, PianoGato was updated on October 11, 2026 and Composer Pro on October 27, 2026.

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