Comparison

Pyware 3D Viewer vs Beam Music

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

Head to head
About

Pyware 3D Viewer

View and animate your marching band drill designs anywhere. This app opens Pyware 3D files, allowing you to see formations, pathways, and instructions animate flawlessly. Access files from cloud storage and customize your viewing experience.

Highlights
  • Open Pyware 3D drill files (.3da)
  • Animate formations and pathways
  • Access files from cloud storage
  • Pinch zoom, rotate, and tilt views
  • Fluid or step-time animation
  • View production sheet and text box instructions
  • Search and spotlight individual performers
Features
Read full description

Pyware 3D Viewer allows you to take your Pyware 3D® drills anywhere! Designed for both instructors and performers, our Pyware 3D Viewer app eliminates the need to print anything. You’ll see your drills animate the way they were intended, because Pyware 3D Viewer actually opens Pyware 3D® files! Floats, Follow-The-Leaders, and curved pathways all animate flawlessly whether you’re watching the playback animation in fluid or step-time. Seamlessly retrieve file updates with the press of a button. View both Production Sheet and Text Box instruction information. Open drill files for any venue: football fields, gymnasiums, parade routes; if you can design it in Pyware 3D®, you can open it in Pyware 3D Viewer! Feature List -Open Pyware 3D® mobile drill files (.3da) -Files can be accessed from cloud storage services by entering a download link or scanning a QR code from within the app -Pinch zoom, rotate, tilt and shift to view the drill from any angle -Animation shows true pathways for all performers -Fluid or step-time animation -Up to 8x animation speed -Repeat and Play All animation controls -Count Track that allows you to stop and view any count of drill -View entire Production Sheet and Text Box instructions -Search for performers in the drill’s Cast List -Switch between ensemble view and performer view -See detailed performer coordinate instructions on any count of the drill -Spotlight an individual performer -Switch between 3D’s surfaces, flat color, and high contrast for the performance area -Loads grids for any performance area (fields, gyms, streets, stages, etc.) -Toggle step grid on/off -Easily refresh drill files to download the latest changes Compatible with Pyware 3D version 8 or greater.

About

Beam Music

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
Read full description

IMPORT AND ASSIGN FILES WITH EASE - Import PDFs from Dropbox, Google Drive, and Local Storage - Assign full files or single pages - Crop, cut, and edit parts - Give edit access to student leaders ANNOTATE YOUR MUSIC - Pencil tool: Draw on the music - Highlighter: Mark key areas - Text tool: Add important notes - Shared notes: Section leaders can add notes for the entire section STAY IN SYNC WITH LIVE MODE Activate Live Mode to automatically connect everyone in the ensemble to your device. When you select a piece of music, everyone’s individual parts for that song are instantly displayed on their personal device. All without the need for internet. ORGANIZE YOUR LIBRARY - Create a collection of songs - Add songs to a set list in a specific order - Add the duration of the song - Back up your library with Beam Backup

Screenshots

Pyware 3D Viewer1 screens
Beam Music4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Beam Music at Free against Pyware 3D Viewer's $2.99. Beam Music also leads on rating (4.4 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Beam Music is free to download; Pyware 3D Viewer costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Beam Music holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beam Music has 296 ratings behind it against 50, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Pyware 3D Viewer's written reviews are positive against 36% of Beam Music's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pyware 3D Viewer ships an update every 2 months, Beam Music every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Pyware 3D Viewer versus Beam Music: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPyware 3D ViewerBeam Music
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating2.9 (50 ratings)4.4 (296 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews36.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings50296 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size627 MB159 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPygraphics, Inc.Ultimate Drill Book

Customer experience

Pyware 3D Viewer

All ratings50 ratings
Positive46.0%
Neutral2.0%
Negative52.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative70.0%

Beam Music

All ratings283 ratings
Positive83.0%
Neutral3.5%
Negative13.4%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive36.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative54.0%

Bugs and requests

Pyware 3D Viewer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Beam Music

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • 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
Show 9 more
  • Notes from other songs appear randomly
  • Search feature fails to work reliably
  • Music fails to load when switching between pieces
  • Auto-download feature doesn't work
  • App becomes unresponsive with frozen screen
  • Battery drains excessively fast
  • Phone overheats during rehearsal
  • Annotations won't save, erase, or stick properly
  • Screenshot returns white page instead of music

Requested features

12 requests
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • Highlighter tool for dynamics
  • White pen/eraser for marking corrections
  • Screenshot capability for backup
  • Access to music files in Files app
  • Rotation lock that maintains landscape orientation
  • Better customization options
  • Improved search functionality

In-app purchases

None

Pyware 3D Viewer

No in-app purchases

None

Beam Music

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pyware 3D Viewer free?
Pyware 3D Viewer 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, Pyware 3D Viewer or Beam Music?
Beam Music is rated higher. Pyware 3D Viewer averages 2.9 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while Beam Music averages 4.4 from 296 ratings.
Do Pyware 3D Viewer or Beam Music have ads?
Neither Pyware 3D Viewer nor Beam Music shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pyware 3D Viewer or Beam Music?
Pyware 3D Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and Beam Music every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pyware 3D Viewer was updated on October 23, 2026 and Beam Music on October 24, 2026.

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