# Samplr vs NotateMe

The clearest difference is price: Samplr at $19.99 against NotateMe's $39.99. Samplr also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). NotateMe's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads there is nothing between them.

Samplr costs $19.99 and NotateMe $39.99 up front. NotateMe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Samplr asks for nothing beyond the download.

Samplr holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Samplr has 149 ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Samplr's written reviews are positive against 45% of NotateMe's.

Samplr ships an update every 3 months, NotateMe every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 25, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Samplr | NotateMe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$19.99** | $39.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (149 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samplr/id560756420/reviews)** | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **149** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | **79.5% of reviews** | 44.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 49 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **6.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marcos Alonso](https://appshunter.io/developer/560756423) | [Neuratron Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/699470142) |

## What reviewers say

### Samplr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samplr/id560756420)

This app offers a unique multitouch interface for exploring and manipulating audio samples. Create music through various play modes, record gestures for sequencing, and experiment with audio effects. It's designed for audio experimentation, composition, and live performance.

**Highlights:** 8 distinct play modes (Slicer, Looper, Granular, etc.), Gesture recorder for sequencing, Audio input recording and resampling, 6 sample slots with 16 voices each, 5 per-sample effects (Distortion, Reverb, etc.), Import audio from cloud storage and other apps

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and responsive interface
- 🎨 Powerful sample manipulation capabilities
- 🎶 Excellent for live performance and sound design
- 💰 Great value for the price
- 🎉 Inspiring and creative app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔌 Lack of audio import/export options
- 🔀 Difficulty with sample organization and management
- 🔇 Missing features like panning, MIDI support, and AUv3

**Reported bugs**

- Recording functionality not working as expected
- Dropbox integration causing crashes
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Implement Ableton Link for better sync
- Add support for more audio file formats
- Improve sample import/export workflow
- Introduce a more robust sequencing and automation system
- Provide multi-channel audio output


### NotateMe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139)

Compose and edit music notation using handwritten input. This app recognizes a wide range of musical symbols, allowing for creation of scores for various ensembles. Export your work in multiple formats or share it via email.

**Highlights:** Handwritten music recognition, Compose for solo instruments and ensembles, Edit and playback scores, Export as PDF, MusicXML, MIDI, Import MusicXML files, Dropbox synchronization, PhotoScore Add-In for printed music

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NotateMe PhotoScore IAP | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent handwriting recognition
- 🎼 Convenient for jotting down musical ideas
- 💾 Good integration with Dropbox and other apps
- 🎹 Useful for piano teachers and students
- 🎨 Creative tool for composers and arrangers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🤔 Steep learning curve and not very intuitive
- 🖋️ Struggles with complex notation and articulations
- 🔍 Inaccurate recognition of accidentals and ledger lines
- 💰 Expensive for the current feature set

**Reported bugs**

- Photoscore feature crashes frequently
- Notes and rests sometimes get misplaced or lost
- Inconsistent recognition of handwritten input

**Requested features**

- Ability to import and export MusicXML files
- More customization options for layout and formatting
- Support for additional articulations and notation symbols
- Improved palm rejection and stylus compatibility
- Transposition and chord symbol features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Samplr free?

Samplr costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NotateMe free?

NotateMe costs $39.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Samplr or NotateMe?

Samplr is rated higher. Samplr averages 4.7 out of 5 from 149 ratings, while NotateMe averages 2.6 from 26 ratings.

### Do Samplr or NotateMe have ads?

Neither Samplr nor NotateMe shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Samplr or NotateMe?

Samplr ships an update every 3 months, and NotateMe every 2 weeks. Most recently, Samplr was updated on July 25, 2026 and NotateMe on September 9, 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.*