# NotateMe vs Notation Pad

The clearest difference is price: Notation Pad at Free against NotateMe's $39.99. Notation Pad also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.6) and ratings volume (5.3K vs 26). NotateMe's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Notation Pad is free to download; NotateMe costs $39.99 up front. NotateMe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Notation Pad sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notation Pad holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notation Pad has 5.3K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of NotateMe's written reviews are positive against 56% of Notation Pad's.

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, Notation Pad monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NotateMe | Notation Pad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139/reviews) | **[4.3 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **5.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 44.5% of reviews | **55.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#192** | — |
| Size | 27 MB | 162 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Neuratron Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/699470142) | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) |

## What reviewers say

### NotateMe

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

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

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


### Notation Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942)

Create, edit, and play sheet music with this comprehensive notation editor. Compose original pieces, transcribe existing music, and even collaborate in real-time. Ideal for musicians of all levels, from beginners learning notes to experienced composers.

**Highlights:** Real-time collaborative editing, MusicXML, MIDI, PNG, and PDF export, High-quality playback sound, Support for up to 8 staves, Over 100 instrument sounds, Lyric editing, Multi-voice support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Access Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Guitar Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ensemble Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Brass Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Reed Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pipe Instrument Group | $0.99 | one-time |
| Strings Instrument Group | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Instruments Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Extras Package | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎼 Good for basic music notation
- 🎹 Helpful for piano/keyboard players

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Many features locked behind paywall
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable at times
- 📱 Limited functionality compared to desktop apps
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find features

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription popup that cannot be closed
- Instruments turning into drums unexpectedly
- Inability to delete or modify certain elements

**Requested features**

- Add more instrument options
- Improve editing capabilities
- Allow changing key signatures and time signatures without premium
- Provide better tutorials and documentation
- Fix issues with note placement and playback


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NotateMe free?

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

### Is Notation Pad free?

Notation Pad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NotateMe or Notation Pad?

Notation Pad is rated higher. NotateMe averages 2.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Notation Pad averages 4.3 from 5.3K ratings.

### Do NotateMe or Notation Pad have ads?

Neither NotateMe nor Notation Pad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NotateMe or Notation Pad?

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, and Notation Pad monthly. Most recently, NotateMe was updated on October 22, 2026 and Notation Pad on October 27, 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.*