Comparison

NoteNames+ vs Music Theory 101

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

Head to head
About

NoteNames+

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
Read full description

NoteNames+ tackles one of the most serious roadblocks for young musicians: The ability to instantly recognize the names of notes. Instantaneous note recognition allows students to process other important information, such as dynamics, articulation, phrasing, fingerings, and so on. NoteNames+ was first developed nearly 20 years ago for the Macintosh, and now it lives on via iOS. Gone are the days of writing the names of notes above the music! Use NoteNames+ as a regular part of your curriculum. Features include: *Training for treble, bass AND alto clefs! *Enharmonic training *Major and minor key signature recognition *Scale spelling (major) *Key signature building (major and minor) *Google Docs implementation (free) Teachers can create their own unique school code in order to receive student scores and to set their own preference requirements *on a per-class basis* which is extremely powerful. Contact us to do this (it's free). NoteNames+ rewards speed *and* accuracy. Students will remain engaged rather than zoning out in a self-paced tutorial format.

About

Music Theory 101

An interactive music theory training app covering classical fundamentals. It features 19 units with audio, exercises, and definitions, mirroring AP Music Theory exam curriculum. Practice skills with over 90 exercise types.

Highlights
  • Interactive music theory course
  • 19 comprehensive units
  • Audio samples and key definitions
  • Skill practice exercises
  • AP Music Theory exam curriculum
  • Over 90 exercise types
  • Aural recognition and dictation
Features
Read full description

Welcome to a new, interactive music theory training app. We offer a comprehensive course presenting the fundamentals of classical music theory. Our course includes 19 interactive units with audio samples, interactive exercises, and key definitions. Alongside this, we offer a streamlined set of skill practice to test core knowledge. This app matches the curriculum of the AP Music Theory exam, which is designed to reflect a knowledge at the introductory college level. We're excited to help you learn. And if you’re a student… good luck with your upcoming exam! Lessons include: - Pitch and Rhythm - Scales, Meters, and Modes - Intervals, Triads, and Seventh Chords - Harmonic Progressions and Cadences - Four-Part Chorale Writing and Two-Part Counterpoint - Embelleshing Notes, Tonicization, and Melodic Techniques The app includes over 90 different exercise types, including aural recognition, melodic/harmonic dictation, and single, two-voice, and four-part composition. Our app is still new! Found something that needs to be fixed? Have an idea for what to add next? We'd love to hear from you as we build out the next features. There are buttons across the app for you to submit feedback or take a quick survey to share your thoughts.

Screenshots

NoteNames+2 screens
Music Theory 1013 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Music Theory 101 at 4.8 against NoteNames+'s 4.1. Music Theory 101 also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 67%) and ratings volume (71 vs 17). NoteNames+'s advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Music Theory 101 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 71 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of NoteNames+'s written reviews are positive against 83% of Music Theory 101's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NoteNames+ ships an update weekly, Music Theory 101 every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
NoteNames+ versus Music Theory 101: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNoteNames+Music Theory 101
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (17 ratings)4.8 (71 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews82.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1771 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB78 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrian WisPoesie Inc

Customer experience

NoteNames+

All ratings16 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative18.8%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Music Theory 101

All ratings64 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral4.7%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive82.9%
Neutral8.6%
Negative8.6%

In-app purchases

None

NoteNames+

No in-app purchases

None

Music Theory 101

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NoteNames+ free?
NoteNames+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Music Theory 101 free?
Music Theory 101 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NoteNames+ or Music Theory 101?
Music Theory 101 is rated higher. NoteNames+ averages 4.1 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Music Theory 101 averages 4.8 from 71 ratings.
Do NoteNames+ or Music Theory 101 have ads?
Neither NoteNames+ nor Music Theory 101 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NoteNames+ or Music Theory 101?
NoteNames+ ships an update weekly, and Music Theory 101 every 5 days. Most recently, NoteNames+ was updated on November 1, 2026 and Music Theory 101 on November 3, 2026.

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