Comparison

Sheet Music Scanner vs Henle Library

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

Head to head
About

Sheet Music Scanner

Instantly listen to scanned sheet music with this app. It recognizes musical notation and plays it back on your device with various instruments and adjustable speeds. Learn music by hearing it come alive from the page.

Highlights
  • Scan printed sheet music with camera
  • Playback from photo library or PDF
  • Tap to play specific measures
  • Recognizes melody, harmony, and rhythm symbols
  • Supports multiple instruments and voices
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Export as MIDI, MusicXML, and audio
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Scan sheet music and instantly listen with music with Sheet Music Scanner. Sheet Music Scanner makes it easy for you to scan or upload printed sheet music. Listen to the music printed on the page in a number of different formats and instruments, directly on your device. Ever wanted to know how that interesting-looking piece of sheet music actually sounds? Now you can know instantly. Just point your iPhone or iPad at the sheet and let it play the notes for you. Listen to the notes and help yourself learn along the way. Sheet Music Scanner lets you scan and playback from any part of the song, just tap the measure and listen to your sheet music. You can even choose the instrument, pick the speed and enjoy! Download Sheet Music Scanner and scan your sheet music today! 2 for 1 universal iOS app: iPhone / iPod touch and iPad - you get Sheet Music Scanner for all your iOS devices for the price of one. SHEET MUSIC SCANNER FEATURES - Scan the whole sheet instantly using your built-in camera - Scan and playback from any image in your Photo library or from a PDF * - Playback from anywhere in the song - simply tap the measure, the notes and symbols are highlighted as they're played - Reads and recognizes the following symbols of musical notation pertaining to melody, harmony, and rhythm: treble, bass, and alto (viola) clefs, notes, duration dots, rests, accidentals, note ties, triplets and other tuplets, repeat signs * - Support for voices played in tandem, e.g. both piano hands at the same time, or all the choir voices - Support for playing individual staffs separately, e.g. right or left piano hand - Support for multiple pages - Accommodates speeds between 50 and 330 beats per minute - Cloud synchronization. Access your music library on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac with iCloud Drive. * Some limitations apply - please see at the bottom of the page. EXPORT OPTIONS - Export as MIDI, MusicXML, audio (M4A / AAC, MP3, WAV), PDF to cloud storage, directly to other apps or via AirDrop - All major cloud storages supported: iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive, etc. Note that the appropriate cloud storage client app has to be installed for this to work. INSTRUMENTS - Accordion, Acoustic Bass, Alto Sax, Bagpipes, Banjo, Bass Guitar, Celeste, Cello, Choir, Clarinet, Double Bass, Flute, French Horn, Guitar - Classical, Clean, Distortion, Glockenspiel, Harp, Mandolin, Marimba, Oboe, Organ (Percussive, Pipe, Reed, Rock, Tonewheel), Piano, Recorder, Tenor Sax, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Vibraphone, Viola, Violin, Xylophone - Supports actual instrument pitch for transposing instruments - Change your pitch standard based on instrument, from standard 440Hz to 380-480 Hz SUBSCRIPTIONS - The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Limitations - Reads printed sheet music, not handwritten or mimicking handwriting, tablatures, etc. - Reads standard oval note heads only, no special symbols like shape notes. - The following symbols are not currently supported: codas, percussion notation, dynamics, double sharps, double flats, and grace notes. These are planned to come in the future updates. - Use high-quality printed sheet music and take photos under good enough light, when scanning from your camera, for optimal results. For scanning from a file, the recommended resolution is 300 DPI or 8-12 MPx per page. - Some older prints and unusual fonts may not be recognizable. If you experience any problems, please contact support at support@sheetmusicscanner.com Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Henle Library

Access high-quality digital Urtext editions of classical music scores on your tablet. Practice, rehearse, and perform with a range of interactive features designed for musicians of all levels. Enjoy annotations, metronome, playback, and more.

Highlights
  • Digital Urtext editions
  • Customizable score purchases
  • Print and export PDFs
  • Score modification and annotations
  • Metronome and recording
  • Part and score switching
  • Explanatory notes access
Features
Read full description

“With the Henle Library app a new era begins for classical musicians.” Daniel Hope An indispensable app for professional musicians, amateurs, students and teachers. The Henle Library app delivers G. Henle Publishers’ reliable Urtext editions straight to your tablet. You can practise, rehearse and make music – whenever and wherever you like. And you can enjoy the many unique features of Henle’s digital scores.  Features: - Filter Henle Urtext according to your individual needs and purchase as required (individual part, single movement, bundles etc.) - Free version available for music students (licences for music colleges) - Print, export PDFs, share - Modify the score to suit your needs - Superimpose alternative professional fingerings (or choose “No fingerings”) - Unlimited possibilities for your own annotations - Easily switch between the part and the score at exactly the same measure - Open explanatory notes (footnotes, Critical Report etc.) at the appropriate place in the score - Record and play back your own recordings - Use the integrated metronome - Navigate extremely rapidly - Create and use playlists Do you like our app? Please consider writing a review. Thank you!

Screenshots

Sheet Music Scanner4 screens
Henle Library4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sheet Music Scanner at 4.5 against Henle Library's 2.9. Sheet Music Scanner also leads on review sentiment (61% vs 34%) and ratings volume (6.4K vs 91). Henle Library's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Sheet Music Scanner sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Henle Library sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sheet Music Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sheet Music Scanner has 6.4K ratings behind it against 91, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of Sheet Music Scanner's written reviews are positive against 34% of Henle Library's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sheet Music Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, Henle Library every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Sheet Music Scanner versus Henle Library: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSheet Music ScannerHenle Library
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (6.4K ratings) — better2.9 (91 ratings)
Positive reviews61.0% of reviews — better34.2% of reviews
Number of ratings6.4K — better91
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#133 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperApp Sub 1 LLCGuenter Henle Verlag

Customer experience

Sheet Music Scanner

All ratings6,365 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral4.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews531 reviews
Positive61.0%
Neutral8.7%
Negative30.3%

Henle Library

All ratings91 ratings
Positive38.5%
Neutral18.7%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews187 reviews
Positive34.2%
Neutral21.4%
Negative44.4%

User reviews

Sheet Music Scanner

From 6.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Game changing app
  • 👍 Helpful for learning music
  • 💡 Useful for singers and musicians
  • 🚀 Accurate scanning and playback
  • 👍 Great value for the price

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Misses notes, rhythms, and symbols
  • 🐛 Struggles with complex music
  • 🔒 Requires subscription to fully use
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance

Henle Library

From 91 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📚 High-quality Henle urtext editions
  • ✏️ Annotation and marking capabilities
  • 🎵 Beautiful score formatting and rendering
  • 🎚️ Customizable spacing and sizing options
  • 🎹 Multiple fingering/bowing variants available

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Annotations frequently disappear or get lost
  • ✏️ Eraser function unreliable and non-intuitive
  • 🖊️ Apple Pencil annotation tools difficult to use
  • 📖 Multi-movement scores split into individual pieces
  • 🖨️ Poor print quality with severe aliasing

Bugs and requests

Sheet Music Scanner

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Misses key signatures and accidentals
  • Struggles with handwritten or low-quality sheet music
  • Separates hands/voices incorrectly in multi-staff scores

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to manually edit scanned music
  • Improve support for repeats, codas, and complex rhythms
  • Allow selecting/isolating individual instrument/voice parts
  • Add count-in and metronome features
  • Improve export options (e.g. separate instrument tracks)

Henle Library

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Annotations deleted after app updates or restarts
  • Eraser function fails to remove marks consistently
  • Marks don't record when crossing between staff lines
  • App crashes when opening purchased scores
  • Purchased scores disappear from library
Show 15 more
  • Blank pages appear when turning pages
  • App freezes during export to PDF
  • Infinite loading screen in online store
  • Confirmation emails for credit purchases don't arrive
  • App takes 40+ seconds to start
  • Scores don't load immediately after purchase
  • Annotation dots appear randomly when lifting pen
  • Fingering annotations shrink in upper ledger lines
  • Score skips to random pages during performance
  • Export PDF quality is low resolution and fuzzy
  • Annotation layer prevents writing in certain areas
  • Zoom function jumps back to start of page
  • Eraser requires tapping far from annotation to delete
  • Palm rejection fails with Apple Pencil
  • Print layout produces single-line pages for multi-movement pieces

Requested features

20 requests
  • Undo/redo functionality for annotations
  • Ability to print entire multi-movement pieces together
  • Half-page turning option for performers
  • Playlist or collection grouping system
  • Individual score parts (not just full scores)
Show 15 more
  • Better annotation layer management
  • Improved Apple Pencil support and sensitivity
  • Customizable eraser behavior
  • Page turn animation or visual cues
  • Ability to hide specific staves or parts
  • Microphone-activated page turning commands
  • Difficulty ratings visible before purchase
  • Digital-physical score bundling/discounts
  • Better search and filtering in store
  • Support for foot pedal page turners
  • Ability to import scores from other sources
  • Multiple annotation layers with visibility toggle
  • Customizable metronome settings
  • Landscape orientation improvements
  • Persistent user settings and preferences

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Sheet Music Scanner

Subscriptions12
  • Notation Scanner$4.991 Month
  • Notation Scanner$9.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner$14.991 Year
Show 9 more
  • Notation Scanner$17.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner7 Days trial$22.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner1 Month trial$22.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner$22.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner14 Days trial$22.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner$24.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner2 variants$29.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner7 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • Notation Scanner7 Days trial$44.991 Year
8 purchases

Henle Library

One-time8
  • 10 Credits$0.99
  • 22 Credits$1.99
  • 55 Credits2 variants$5.99
Show 5 more
  • 100 Credits2 variants$9.99
  • 200 Credits2 variants$19.99
  • 300 Credits$29.99
  • 500 Credits$49.99
  • 1000 Credits$79.99

Questions

Is Sheet Music Scanner free?
Sheet Music Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Henle Library free?
Henle Library is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sheet Music Scanner or Henle Library?
Sheet Music Scanner is rated higher. Sheet Music Scanner averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.4K ratings, while Henle Library averages 2.9 from 91 ratings.
Do Sheet Music Scanner or Henle Library have ads?
Neither Sheet Music Scanner nor Henle Library shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sheet Music Scanner or Henle Library?
Sheet Music Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, and Henle Library every 2 months. Most recently, Sheet Music Scanner was updated on September 24, 2026 and Henle Library on September 21, 2026.

Other comparisons