# StaffWars vs NoteNames+

The clearest difference is price: NoteNames+ at Free against StaffWars's $1.99. NoteNames+ also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). StaffWars's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and chart position (#24 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

NoteNames+ is free to download; StaffWars costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

StaffWars holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StaffWars has 133 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of StaffWars's written reviews are positive against 67% of NoteNames+'s.

StaffWars ships an update every 4 months, NoteNames+ weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StaffWars | NoteNames+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staffwars/id810405576/reviews)** | [4.1 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notenames-plus/id931267859/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **133** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **74.1% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#24** | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TMI Media, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/810405579) | [Brian Wis](https://appshunter.io/developer/931267858) |

## What reviewers say

### StaffWars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staffwars/id810405576)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Master musical clefs with this interactive game. Practice note names on the grand staff, treble, alto, and bass clefs. Ideal for musicians of all levels looking to improve their sight-reading skills.

**Highlights:** Learn note names on grand staff, Practice treble clef, Master alto clef, Woodshed bass clef, Interactive musical game

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Highly effective for learning note reading
- 👨‍🏫 Excellent tool for music teachers and students
- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay mechanics
- ⚡ Increasing difficulty keeps users motivated
- 🎼 Supports multiple clefs (treble, alto, bass, tenor)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Double-click detection issues causing missed points
- ⚠️ Game pace too fast for beginners
- 🎯 Unresponsive tap detection at times
- ❌ Note location accuracy problems reported
- 😤 Frustrating difficulty curve for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Double-click registration causing unintended note selections
- Incorrect note location detection preventing proper learning
- App fails to close properly on iPhone X
- Unresponsive touch input
- Occasional app crashes reported

**Requested features**

- Extended note range for ledger lines (especially for cello and violin)
- Piano keyboard interface instead of letter buttons
- Microphone/instrument input feature for actual note playing
- Note names displayed in note heads
- Slow mode option for beginners


### NoteNames+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notenames-plus/id931267859)

This app helps young musicians instantly recognize note names across treble, bass, and alto clefs. It aids in learning key signatures, scales, and enharmonic notes, making music study more efficient and engaging.

**Highlights:** Treble, bass, and alto clef training, Enharmonic note recognition, Key signature training, Scale spelling, Key signature building, Teacher class codes for student scores

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StaffWars free?

StaffWars costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NoteNames+ free?

NoteNames+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, StaffWars or NoteNames+?

StaffWars is rated higher. StaffWars averages 4.3 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while NoteNames+ averages 4.1 from 16 ratings.

### Do StaffWars or NoteNames+ have ads?

Neither StaffWars nor NoteNames+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StaffWars or NoteNames+?

StaffWars ships an update every 4 months, and NoteNames+ weekly. Most recently, StaffWars was updated on October 13, 2026 and NoteNames+ on September 30, 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.*
