# Drillbook Next Reader vs Beam Music

The clearest difference is price: Beam Music at Free against Drillbook Next Reader's $2.99. Beam Music also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (283 vs 29). Drillbook Next Reader's advantage is review sentiment (54% vs 36%) and chart position (#198 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Beam Music is free to download; Drillbook Next Reader costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Beam Music holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beam Music has 283 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of Drillbook Next Reader's written reviews are positive against 36% of Beam Music's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drillbook Next Reader | Beam Music |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drillbook-next-reader/id795739546/reviews) | **[4.4 (283 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **283** |
| Positive reviews | **53.8% of reviews** | 36.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#198** | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 159 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scott Rundell](https://appshunter.io/developer/324469546) | [Ultimate Drill Book](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455826723) |

## What reviewers say

### Drillbook Next Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drillbook-next-reader/id795739546)

**Currently charting:** #198 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This app allows marching band members and instructors to visualize and follow marching show drills. It displays coordinates for each performer at every count, enabling users to understand their position and contribution to the overall show. Features include playback, zoom, and personalized set books for marchers.

**Highlights:** View coordinates for every set and count, Navigate show by counts and sets, Pinch and zoom functionality, Jump to any set or song, Play show with creator-entered tempos, Personalized set book for each marcher, Print set cards

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Beam Music

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909)

Easily import, organize, and annotate music files for ensembles. Share access and collaborate with section leaders. Live Mode synchronizes music across all devices instantly without internet.

**Highlights:** Import PDFs from cloud storage and local files, Edit and crop music pages, Annotate with pencil, highlighter, and text tools, Collaborative notes for section leaders, Real-time music synchronization via Live Mode, Organize music into collections and set lists, Backup music library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Centralized music library in one app
- 🎵 Convenient for marching band use
- ✍️ Annotation and note-taking features
- 📋 Setlist functionality for quick song switching
- 🔄 Live mode for synchronized performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- ⏱️ Severe lag and unresponsiveness
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain (40-90% per hour)
- 🌡️ Phone overheating during use
- 📝 Annotations randomly disappear or delete

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes constantly, especially when needed
- Lag makes page turning and note-taking difficult
- Annotations disappear after using live mode
- Zoom level resets when orientation changes
- Portrait mode activates unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Horizontal page lock (like FlipFolder)
- Ability to save zoom level with vertical scrolling
- Live session annotation capability
- Auto-select correct part for user
- Mass select parts instead of individual selection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Drillbook Next Reader free?

Drillbook Next Reader costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Beam Music free?

Beam Music is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Drillbook Next Reader or Beam Music?

Beam Music is rated higher. Drillbook Next Reader averages 4.1 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Beam Music averages 4.4 from 283 ratings.

### Do Drillbook Next Reader or Beam Music have ads?

Neither Drillbook Next Reader nor Beam Music shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Drillbook Next Reader or Beam Music?

Drillbook Next Reader ships an update every 3 weeks, and Beam Music every 3 weeks. Most recently, Drillbook Next Reader was updated on September 11, 2026 and Beam Music on September 9, 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.*