# NotateMe vs Ribn

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ribn at 91% against NotateMe's 45%. Ribn also leads on price ($3.99 vs $39.99) and rating (4.8 vs 2.6). NotateMe's advantage is iOS requirement (6.0 vs 10.0). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

NotateMe costs $39.99 and Ribn $3.99 up front. NotateMe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ribn asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ribn holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of NotateMe's written reviews are positive against 91% of Ribn's.

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, Ribn every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NotateMe | Ribn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **$3.99** |
| Rating | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139/reviews) | **[4.8 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ribn/id1413777040/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **30** |
| Positive reviews | 44.5% of reviews | **90.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 27 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 10.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Neuratron Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/699470142) | [Nebojsa Petrovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/639977744) |

## 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


### Ribn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ribn/id1413777040)

This app provides a unique MIDI controller experience with 8 assignable ribbons. It allows you to record and loop finger movements, adding organic modulation to synthesizers and effects. Control various MIDI-responsive gear, from hardware synths to software instruments.

**Highlights:** 8 MIDI CC ribbon pads, Record and loop finger movement, Configurable MIDI channel and CC# per ribbon, Turn off looping for regular slider functionality, Switch between 3 sets of configurations with presets, MIDI sending in background, iPad landscape mode

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NotateMe free?

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

### Is Ribn free?

Ribn costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

Ribn is rated higher. NotateMe averages 2.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Ribn averages 4.8 from 30 ratings.

### Do NotateMe or Ribn have ads?

Neither NotateMe nor Ribn shows ads.

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

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ribn every 3 days. Most recently, NotateMe was updated on October 17, 2026 and Ribn on October 16, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*