# CalmusNotation vs Notation Pad Pro

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Notation Pad Pro at 61% against CalmusNotation's 0%. Notation Pad Pro also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (159 vs 5). CalmusNotation's advantage is price (Free vs $149.00) and rating (4.4 vs 4.2). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

CalmusNotation is free to download; Notation Pad Pro costs $149.00 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CalmusNotation holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notation Pad Pro has 159 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of CalmusNotation's written reviews are positive against 61% of Notation Pad Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, Notation Pad Pro every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and August 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CalmusNotation | Notation Pad Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $149.00 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calmusnotation/id993026661/reviews)** | [4.2 (159 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-pro-sheet-music/id1163705635/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **159** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **61.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 294 MB | 165 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Erki-tonlist sf](https://appshunter.io/developer/929321904) | [嵩 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1091921941) |

## What reviewers say

### CalmusNotation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calmusnotation/id993026661)

Create and visualize musical compositions using AI-powered graphical notation. This app leverages advanced AI, inspired by NASA's Lisp programming, to generate original music based on user input and can display music from other compatible apps for live performance.

**Highlights:** AI-powered music composition, Graphical notation display, Real-time performance visualization, Lisp-based AI engine, User input-driven music creation, Integration with CalmusComposer and CalmusPlay

**In-app purchases:** none


### Notation Pad Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-pro-sheet-music/id1163705635)

Compose, edit, and playback musical scores with lyrics. This app allows users to create music compositions using touch gestures and supports a wide range of notation elements. It's suitable for both beginners learning music theory and experienced musicians for songbooks or complex scores.

**Highlights:** Compose and edit sheet music, Write and integrate lyrics, Playback scores with high-quality sound, Export to MusicXML, MIDI, PNG, and PDF, Support for up to 8 staves, Over 100 musical instruments, Multi-voice support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CalmusNotation free?

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

### Is Notation Pad Pro free?

Notation Pad Pro costs $149.00, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CalmusNotation or Notation Pad Pro?

CalmusNotation is rated higher. CalmusNotation averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Notation Pad Pro averages 4.2 from 159 ratings.

### Do CalmusNotation or Notation Pad Pro have ads?

Neither CalmusNotation nor Notation Pad Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CalmusNotation or Notation Pad Pro?

CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, and Notation Pad Pro every 3 weeks. Most recently, CalmusNotation was updated on June 5, 2026 and Notation Pad Pro on August 23, 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.*