Comparison

Read Notes vs PianoDrill

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

Head to head
About

Read Notes

Learn to read sheet music for various instruments, including piano, guitar, and drums. Practice with interactive exercises, song arrangements, and receive timing feedback. An optional premium subscription offers more songs and an ad-free experience.

Highlights
  • Multi-instrument support (piano, guitar, ukulele, violin, drums)
  • Interactive sheet music reading
  • Ear training and chord practice
  • Timed challenges and leaderboards
  • Progress tracking and feedback
  • Learn through familiar song arrangements
Features
Read full description

Read sheet music one step at a time, on piano, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, violin or drums. Choose an instrument from Home to see its quests and song library. Compete on guitar, bass, ukulele, violin and drums with quick matches, daily challenges and leaderboards. Start free as a guest; groups are optional. Live players, recorded results and computer practice are clearly labeled. All instrument Quests are free. Finish each practice, earn up to three stars, and continue at your own pace. KEEP YOUR PIANO PRACTICE Continue your piano Quests, Drills, ear training and chord practice. Start piano Quests in treble clef, bass clef or both. Your existing piano progress and purchases are preserved. CONNECT NOTATION WITH YOUR INSTRUMENT • Guitar: connect staff notation and TAB with all six strings and fret positions. • Bass guitar: find notes on the fretboard and practice melodies in a lower register. • Ukulele: learn chord shapes and strumming on screen, then explore melodies. • Violin: connect notes with strings and the finger or position labels shown. • Drums: identify kick, snare and hi-hat on the score and select the matching pads. LEARN THROUGH FAMILIAR MUSIC Explore practice arrangements of existing pieces, with score sources and excerpts identified. Listen to an example, choose a range of measures and repeat it. Drum songs use educational accompaniments. After a one-bar count-in, tap the pads with the metronome and melody and get timing feedback on your screen taps. KNOW WHAT TO PRACTICE NEXT Use demonstrations and hints, then try independently. Review mistakes and follow each instrument’s progress. Screen exercises do not listen through a microphone or assess physical playing technique. Start with free practice. Optional Monthly Premium unlocks additional songs, removes ads while active. Existing lifetime purchases remain valid. Renews monthly until canceled. Manage or cancel in your store account. Subscribe and restore purchases with your App Store account. No app sign-in is required. Terms of Use (English / 한국어): https://readnotesgame.com/terms.html Privacy Policy (English / 한국어): https://readnotesgame.com/privacy.html

About

PianoDrill

Features
Read full description

PianoDrill is the fastest way to improve your piano sight-reading skills. The app listens to the notes you play on your piano or keyboard and gives you instant feedback, helping you learn to recognize notes quickly and accurately. Whether you are a beginner who wants to understand the basics of reading sheet music or an experienced pianist who wants to sharpen sight-reading speed, PianoDrill offers effective, focused practice sessions that fit into any daily routine. Designed with simplicity and clarity in mind, PianoDrill generates notes in both treble and bass clef and guides you through short learning drills that train your reaction, note recognition, and accuracy. Real-time microphone detection helps you understand mistakes immediately and progress faster. Features • Microphone-based note detection • Practice treble and bass clef • Correct/incorrect feedback in real time • Perfect for beginners and advanced players • Works with acoustic and digital pianos • No external equipment needed Why PianoDrill? Sight-reading is one of the most essential skills for pianists. With consistent, short practice sessions, you can build strong note recognition, improve confidence, and become a faster and more secure music reader. PianoDrill makes this process simple, fun, and highly effective. Premium Features Unlock unlimited practice with PianoDrill Premium: • Unlimited note drills per hour For All Skill Levels Beginners: Learn to recognize notes step by step with clear visuals and gentle progression. Intermediate players: Strengthen confidence and reduce hesitation when reading new pieces. Advanced musicians: Increase sight-reading speed, accuracy, and stability under real conditions. Start your daily sight-reading practice today Whether you play classical, pop, or modern piano — strong sight-reading skills make every piece easier to learn. Let PianoDrill guide you through focused training sessions and watch your accuracy and speed improve week by week. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Read Notes4 screens
PianoDrill3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PianoDrill at none against Read Notes's shown. PianoDrill also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 days) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Read Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and PianoDrill sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Read Notes ships an update every 5 days, PianoDrill every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Read Notes versus PianoDrill: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRead NotesPianoDrill
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB18 MB
Age rating12+4+
Developerminjae LeeWannemacher Software Service GmbH

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Read Notes

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Premium$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$7.99
3 purchases

PianoDrill

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Access for one month$1.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$12.99

Questions

Is Read Notes free?
Read Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PianoDrill free?
PianoDrill is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Read Notes or PianoDrill have ads?
Read Notes shows ads; PianoDrill does not.
Which is updated more often, Read Notes or PianoDrill?
Read Notes ships an update every 5 days, and PianoDrill every 3 days. Most recently, Read Notes was updated on November 14, 2026 and PianoDrill on November 9, 2026.

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