# CalmusNotation vs Pianola

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pianola at 100% against CalmusNotation's 0%. Pianola also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). CalmusNotation's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

CalmusNotation is free to download; Pianola costs $0.99 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CalmusNotation has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of CalmusNotation's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pianola'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, Pianola fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CalmusNotation | Pianola |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calmusnotation/id993026661/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianola/id6758682682/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 294 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Erki-tonlist sf](https://appshunter.io/developer/929321904) | [Darrel Farris](https://appshunter.io/developer/956914208) |

## 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


### Pianola

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianola/id6758682682)

This app turns your MIDI-capable piano into an interactive music player. Connect wirelessly or via USB to play your MIDI files, control tempo and pitch, and organize your music library. It's designed for an intuitive and effortless musical experience.

**Highlights:** Wireless Bluetooth MIDI connection, USB MIDI support, Library and playlist management, Adjustable tempo and pitch, Background playback, Includes a starter MIDI library

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CalmusNotation free?

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

### Is Pianola free?

Pianola costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CalmusNotation or Pianola?

CalmusNotation is rated higher. CalmusNotation averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Pianola averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CalmusNotation or Pianola have ads?

Neither CalmusNotation nor Pianola shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CalmusNotation or Pianola?

CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, and Pianola fortnightly. Most recently, CalmusNotation was updated on November 1, 2026 and Pianola on November 5, 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.*