# Tabla vs Drum Notation by Beat Note

The clearest difference is ads: Drum Notation by Beat Note at none against Tabla's shown. Drum Notation by Beat Note also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 63%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). Tabla's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 87). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tabla sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Drum Notation by Beat Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.69 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Drum Notation by Beat Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tabla has 1.2K ratings behind it against 87, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Tabla's written reviews are positive against 83% of Drum Notation by Beat Note's.

Tabla ships an update every 3 weeks, Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tabla | Drum Notation by Beat Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tabla-indias-drum-instrument/id703071767/reviews) | **[4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 87 |
| Positive reviews | 63.4% of reviews | **82.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 86 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KOLB SISTEMAS - EIRELI](https://appshunter.io/developer/550920932) | [Kick Snare Hat Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/945994325) |

## What reviewers say

### Tabla

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tabla-indias-drum-instrument/id703071767)

Learn and play Indian tabla drums on your smartphone or tablet. Access over 100 video lessons, a variety of percussion instruments, and loops to practice with. Enjoy studio-quality audio and share your performances.

**Highlights:** Over 100 video lessons, Realistic tabla set and percussion instruments, Variety of loops for playing along, Studio-quality audio, Export recordings to MP3, Share performances on social media, MIDI support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Version | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Version - 3 Days Free | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Version | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Version | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Version | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Version | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| half-yearly subscription | $9.99 | per 6 months |
| annual subscription | $12.99 | per year |
| Premium Version | $17.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very good and very nice
- 👍 This heavenly app changed my life
- 👍 Amazing product
- 👍 Very nice wonderful
- 👍 Tabla is so cool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Very weird and has no ghe that resonates
- 🐛 Don't want score in every 30 sec
- 🔋 ADs
- 🐛 too many spam you can not turn off
- 🐛 Very bad.. hung most of the time and need to restart

**Reported bugs**

- Very weird and has no ghe that resonates
- Very bad.. hung most of the time and need to restart
- No sound on iPhone 6S
- There is no sound
- Using latest IOS, no sound

**Requested features**

- Leers for certain known thekas / taals
- Option to control the speed of the loop while learning and practicing
- Harmonium app


### Drum Notation by Beat Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drum-notation-by-beat-note/id1539132475)

Create, practice, and share drum music notation with ease. This app transforms sequenced beats into professional sheet music, offering tools for composition, transcription, and interactive teaching. Enhance your drumming journey with customizable practice sessions and high-quality export options.

**Highlights:** Sequencer to notation conversion, Compose and transcribe drum beats, Customizable practice sessions, Interactive teaching tools, High-quality PDF and image export, Multiple notation voicing options

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Educator Tier Monthly (No Trial) | $6.69 | per month |
| Creator Tier Monthly (No Trial) | $13.49 | per month |
| Educator Tier Annual (No Trial) | $59.99 | per year |
| Educator Tier Annual + Free Trial | $59.99 | per year |
| Creator Tier Annual + Free Trial | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Quick and efficient notation
- 🎶 Great sound playback
- 💡 Excellent for teaching and learning
- ✍️ Simple to write exercises and ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 💸 High annual cost
- 🆓 Limited free version
- 🚫 No one-time purchase option
- 🤔 Subscription model makes little sense to some

**Reported bugs**

- Preview rarely matches notes on staff
- Sometimes doesn't play any notes
- Sounds not always appropriate for instrument voicing
- Editing measures is inconvenient
- Free trial charged immediately

**Requested features**

- 7/8 time signature support
- Syncing between devices
- Web version
- Native Mac/Windows apps
- Add text or notes to notations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tabla free?

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

### Is Drum Notation by Beat Note free?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Tabla or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

Drum Notation by Beat Note is rated higher. Tabla averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Drum Notation by Beat Note averages 4.6 from 87 ratings.

### Do Tabla or Drum Notation by Beat Note have ads?

Tabla shows ads; Drum Notation by Beat Note does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tabla or Drum Notation by Beat Note?

Tabla ships an update every 3 weeks, and Drum Notation by Beat Note every 9 days. Most recently, Tabla was updated on October 26, 2026 and Drum Notation by Beat Note 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.*