Comparison

SmartScore NoteReader vs capella score reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SmartScore NoteReader

Transform sheet music into playable audio. This app recognizes printed music from images and PDFs, allowing you to hear it played back instantly. It supports multi-page scores and offers advanced playback controls with various instrumental sounds and drum tracks.

Highlights
  • Image and PDF sheet music recognition
  • Instant audio playback
  • Multi-page score processing
  • Adjustable instrumental sounds
  • Karaoke view with scrolling lyrics
  • Export to email and cloud (Premier version)
Features
Read full description

Click and play. Capture images of printed sheet music and hear the song play back in seconds. Processes multiple-page scores including PDF files and images saved to the device. NOTE: Recognition accuracy is directly releated to the quality of the captured image. For example, our tests indicate that accuracy is improved almost 30% with iPhone 6 images compared to those from the iPhone 5. All iPad users should note that their 5MP cameras are below NoteReader's recommended resolution of 8MP. Unlocked version (NoteReader Premier) allows SmartScore, MIDI, MusicXML and image files to be sent to any e-mail address or to the cloud. MusicXML or MIDI files can be imported to a host of compatible mobile and desktop music applications. Download the free SmartScore Player from www.musitek.com/smartscore-player.html then open SmartScore files from NoteReader. All recognized musical symbols including articulations, dynamics, lyrics, text, chord symbols, guitar fret diagrams and endings appear on-screen. Playback is fully-controllable. Select various instrumental sounds for each part and/or contrapuntal voice. Drum tracks can be added for more realism. There's even a Karaoke view with scrolling lyrics and bouncing ball. Owners of the unlocked version (NoteReader Premier) are also eligible to purchase any of the full editions of SmartScore X2 desktop editions at a significant discount.

About

capella score reader

This app allows musicians to read, listen to, and practice music scores on their mobile devices. It offers features like solo voice playback, voice muting, and tempo control for efficient practice and study.

Highlights
  • Read and listen to music scores
  • Practice individual parts
  • Mute specific voices
  • Extract single voices
  • Two-finger zoom for scores
  • One-finger page turning
  • Adjustable tempo control
Features
Read full description

capella score reader Read and listen to music scores anywhere at any time Open your scores and read, listen, practice, study, perform when and where you like. Practice your part for choir or orchestra. As choir director or conductor study scores. Use capella score reader as digital music stand. capella score reader is the most recent offshoot of the capella family. With many practicing musicians, capella is known to be THE notation software which has been around for more than 25 years. capella is available for Windows and for Mac. Several additional programs, for example for scanning sheet music, complement the capella family – and now it’s capella score reader. Solo - tutti Select the Solo button to listen to one single voice. Solo on/off – this can be done during playback at any position in the piece. This way you learn your part efficiently. Voice filter When you’re almost there: Mute one or several voices to sing or play along yourself. Voice extraction Select a voice extraction for one or several voices – all others are hidden. Two-finger zoom With two-finger scroll zoom single spots or get an overview of the entire page. Page turning with one finger Slide across the screen as if you would turn pages – the notes will follow. Change tempo Control the tempo according to your needs for rehearsal: Slower at the beginning, next time faster. Navigation Open your own files. The last used files will be displayed. Exchange of scores Receive scores from other musicians, for example via WhatsApp or eMail. Share your scores with other musicians as capella file or PDF. capella score reader reads these score formats: - capXML (capella format) - cap (older capella format) - MusicXML - MIDI Video introduction A short video introduction shows the most important features. It’s really simple! We are looking forward to your feedback. Please use the feedback button in the help menu for questions about the app or error reports.

Screenshots

SmartScore NoteReader3 screens
capella score reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SmartScore NoteReader at 2.5 against capella score reader's 2.0. SmartScore NoteReader also leads on review sentiment (20% vs 0%) and ratings volume (31 vs 6). capella score reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SmartScore NoteReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. capella score reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SmartScore NoteReader holds the better App Store score, 2.5 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartScore NoteReader has 31 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of SmartScore NoteReader's written reviews are positive against 0% of capella score reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmartScore NoteReader ships an update every 21 months, capella score reader every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SmartScore NoteReader versus capella score reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartScore NoteReadercapella score reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (31 ratings) — better2.0 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews19.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings31 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsEvery 18 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB59 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMusitekcapella-software AG

Customer experience

SmartScore NoteReader

All ratings30 ratings
Positive30.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative56.7%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive19.6%
Neutral15.2%
Negative65.2%

capella score reader

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral66.7%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SmartScore NoteReader

One-time1
  • SmartScore NoteReader Premier$9.99
None

capella score reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmartScore NoteReader free?
SmartScore NoteReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is capella score reader free?
capella score reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SmartScore NoteReader or capella score reader?
SmartScore NoteReader is rated higher. SmartScore NoteReader averages 2.5 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while capella score reader averages 2.0 from 6 ratings.
Do SmartScore NoteReader or capella score reader have ads?
Neither SmartScore NoteReader nor capella score reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmartScore NoteReader or capella score reader?
SmartScore NoteReader ships an update every 21 months, and capella score reader every 18 months. Most recently, SmartScore NoteReader was updated on October 23, 2026 and capella score reader on October 24, 2026.

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