# ScoreCloud Express HD vs Dorico

The clearest difference is price: Dorico at Free against ScoreCloud Express HD's $2.99. Dorico also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.8) and review sentiment (55% vs 30%). ScoreCloud Express HD's advantage is iOS requirement (6.0 vs 17). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Dorico is free to download; ScoreCloud Express HD costs $2.99 up front. ScoreCloud Express HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Dorico holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dorico has 2.3K ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of ScoreCloud Express HD's written reviews are positive against 55% of Dorico's.

ScoreCloud Express HD ships an update every 3 months, Dorico every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScoreCloud Express HD | Dorico |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.8 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scorecloud-express-hd/id763658394/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 44 | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 29.5% of reviews | **55.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 975 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 17 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DoReMIR Music Research AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/566535241) | [Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/316698251) |

## What reviewers say

### ScoreCloud Express HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scorecloud-express-hd/id763658394)

Instantly transform melodies played, sung, or whistled into music notation. Edit your scores, change playback sounds, and share your creations. Synchronize with desktop software for further arrangement and editing.

**Highlights:** Monophonic melody to notation conversion, Intelligent audio interpretation, Score editing and sound changes, Cloud and in-app song storage, Cross-platform synchronization, Sharing via email and social media

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| month of PLUS | $4.99 | one-time |


### Dorico

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dorico-compose-music/id1556625090)

Create professional music notation and compositions with this powerful app. Easily input notes, edit performances, and share your work in various formats. It's suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

**Highlights:** Compose music notation, On-screen keyboard, drum pads, fretboard, MIDI editing tools, PDF, audio, MusicXML export, Print to AirPrint, Read mode with annotation, Automatic engraving

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dorico Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Dorico Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Dorico Lifetime Unlock | $119.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful and full-featured notation app on iPad
- 👍 Seamless integration with desktop version
- 🚀 Efficient workflow with keyboard shortcuts
- 👍 Impressive engraving and layout capabilities
- 🚀 Comprehensive feature set for composing and arranging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Subscription-only model, no option to purchase outright
- 🐛 Glitchy touch/scroll functionality
- 🐛 Inability to delete clefs or access certain settings
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance on older iPad models

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening or editing projects
- Corrupted/lost files after app crashes
- Unresponsive keyboard and note input issues
- Scrolling and UI glitches, especially in Engrave mode
- Incompatibility with certain iPad models and iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Support for Apple Pencil and handwriting input
- Improved file management and organization
- Expanded audio unit/plugin integration
- More customization options for layout and engraving
- Ability to export/import flows and projects between iPad and desktop


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScoreCloud Express HD free?

ScoreCloud Express HD costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Dorico free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ScoreCloud Express HD or Dorico?

Dorico is rated higher. ScoreCloud Express HD averages 1.8 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Dorico averages 4.6 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do ScoreCloud Express HD or Dorico have ads?

Neither ScoreCloud Express HD nor Dorico shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScoreCloud Express HD or Dorico?

ScoreCloud Express HD ships an update every 3 months, and Dorico every 3 weeks. Most recently, ScoreCloud Express HD was updated on November 1, 2026 and Dorico on November 8, 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.*