# NotateMe vs PlayScore 2

The clearest difference is price: PlayScore 2 at Free against NotateMe's $39.99. PlayScore 2 also leads on rating (4.2 vs 2.6) and ratings volume (4.5K vs 26). NotateMe's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 16). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

PlayScore 2 is free to download; NotateMe costs $39.99 up front. NotateMe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PlayScore 2 sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PlayScore 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlayScore 2 has 4.5K 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 50% of PlayScore 2's.

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, PlayScore 2 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NotateMe | PlayScore 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139/reviews) | **[4.2 (4.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playscore-2/id1449591118/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **4.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 44.5% of reviews | **50.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#143** |
| Size | 27 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 16 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Neuratron Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/699470142) | [Organum Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422471846) |

## 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


### PlayScore 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playscore-2/id1449591118)

**Currently charting:** #143 Top Grossing · Music, #200 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

Scan sheet music from photos or PDFs and have it played back. Adjust instruments, tempo, and transposition. Export your scores as MusicXML and MIDI for further editing.

**Highlights:** Scan music from photos and PDFs, Playback with scrolling notation, Adjust volume, instrument, and transposition, Smart metronome with time signature recognition, Export as MusicXML and MIDI, Create 'Playable Score' documents

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PlayScore Productivity | $5.99 | per month |
| PlayScore 2 Professional month | $6.99 | per month |
| PlayScore Productivity | $34.99 | per year |
| PlayScore 2 Professional year | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app for learning music
- 👍 User-friendly and easy to use
- 🎉 Impressive music recognition capabilities
- 💡 Helpful for practicing and isolating parts
- 🎨 Versatile playback options (tempo, instrument)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent note/rhythm recognition
- 🔢 Limitations on number of pages scanned
- 🔇 Issues with volume and audio quality
- 🤔 Struggles with complex or handwritten scores
- 💰 Subscription-based model

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes when scanning/importing
- Playback issues with timing and note accuracy
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Exporting to MIDI/MusicXML not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to import PDFs and multiple pages
- Improved support for transposition and clef changes
- Metronome functionality and count-in feature
- Annotation and score editing capabilities
- Organizational tools (folders, playlists)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NotateMe free?

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

### Is PlayScore 2 free?

PlayScore 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NotateMe or PlayScore 2?

PlayScore 2 is rated higher. NotateMe averages 2.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while PlayScore 2 averages 4.2 from 4.5K ratings.

### Do NotateMe or PlayScore 2 have ads?

Neither NotateMe nor PlayScore 2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NotateMe or PlayScore 2?

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, and PlayScore 2 every 2 months. Most recently, NotateMe was updated on October 17, 2026 and PlayScore 2 on October 19, 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.*