# NotateMe vs Sibelius

The clearest difference is price: Sibelius at Free against NotateMe's $39.99. Sibelius also leads on rating (4.2 vs 2.6) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 26). NotateMe's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Sibelius holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sibelius has 1.8K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 45% of NotateMe's written reviews are positive against 36% of Sibelius's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, Sibelius every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | NotateMe | Sibelius |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notateme/id699470139/reviews) | **[4.2 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **44.5% of reviews** | 35.7% 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 | **#192** | — |
| Size | 27 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 13.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Neuratron Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/699470142) | [Avid®](https://appshunter.io/developer/436394595) |

## 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


### Sibelius

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259)

Professional music notation software is now available on mobile devices. Create, edit, and hear your compositions anywhere with a full suite of tools optimized for touch and stylus input. Seamlessly sync across platforms and access different feature tiers to suit your needs.

**Highlights:** Professional music notation, Cross-platform synchronization, High-quality sample library, Apple Pencil and touch optimization, Innovative note entry, Command Search functionality, Scalable subscription tiers

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sibelius Artist for iOS | $5.99 | per month |
| Sibelius Ultimate for iOS | $12.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 🚀 Useful for composing on the go
- 💡 Good for making quick edits to existing scores
- 🎨 Stylish and professional-looking app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔒 Difficulty unlocking full version and accessing features
- 💰 Subscription service is very expensive
- 🔇 Limited sound library and poor playback quality
- 📁 Unreliable saving and file management

**Reported bugs**

- Scores disappearing or not saving properly
- Subscription issues and inability to log in
- Crashes when performing basic actions
- Compatibility problems with newer iPad OS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to enlarge chord symbols
- More time signature options
- Support for MIDI input
- Better Apple Pencil integration
- Autosave and improved file management


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NotateMe free?

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

### Is Sibelius free?

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

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

Sibelius is rated higher. NotateMe averages 2.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Sibelius averages 4.2 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do NotateMe or Sibelius have ads?

Neither NotateMe nor Sibelius shows ads.

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

NotateMe ships an update every 2 weeks, and Sibelius every 2 months. Most recently, NotateMe was updated on October 22, 2026 and Sibelius on October 22, 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.*