# NotateMe vs MIDISynth Control

The clearest difference is price: MIDISynth Control at Free against NotateMe's $39.99. MIDISynth Control also leads on rating (3.4 vs 2.6) and review sentiment (64% vs 45%). NotateMe's advantage is iOS requirement (6.0 vs 9.3). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

MIDISynth Control is free to download; NotateMe costs $39.99 up front. NotateMe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and MIDISynth Control sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MIDISynth Control holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of NotateMe's written reviews are positive against 64% of MIDISynth Control's.

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, MIDISynth Control every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NotateMe | MIDISynth Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139/reviews) | **[3.4 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midisynth-control/id1366849280/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **26** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 44.5% of reviews | **63.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 9.3 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Neuratron Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/699470142) | [Lee Huddleston](https://appshunter.io/developer/1230479795) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### MIDISynth Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midisynth-control/id1366849280)

Control multiple MIDI synthesizers and drum machines from one app. Offers in-depth editing for built-in synths and customizable control maps for external gear. Sync with Ableton Link and add advanced features via in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Centralized control for multiple MIDI synths, In-depth editing for popular built-in synths, Customizable control maps for external synths, Global layout creation for multiple devices, Patch storage, randomization, and morphing, Ableton Link support for syncing, Arpeggiator and drum repeat functionality

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Link+ | $5.99 | one-time |
| Keyboard/Drumpad+ | $6.99 | one-time |
| Control+ | $9.99 | one-time |
| Novation Circuit MonoStation | $10.99 | one-time |
| Rand/Morph/Performance | $12.99 | one-time |
| Novation LPX | $12.99 | one-time |
| Novation LCXL | $12.99 | one-time |
| Novation Circuit | $19.99 | one-time |
| Elektron Digitakt | $19.99 | one-time |
| Elektron Digitone | $19.99 | one-time |
| Novation Peak & Summit | $27.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NotateMe free?

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

### Is MIDISynth Control free?

MIDISynth Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NotateMe or MIDISynth Control?

MIDISynth Control is rated higher. NotateMe averages 2.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while MIDISynth Control averages 3.4 from 12 ratings.

### Do NotateMe or MIDISynth Control have ads?

Neither NotateMe nor MIDISynth Control shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NotateMe or MIDISynth Control?

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, and MIDISynth Control every 3 weeks. Most recently, NotateMe was updated on September 9, 2026 and MIDISynth Control on September 23, 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.*