Do I need the newest iPad?

No. A Face ID model helps gesture reliability in low light, but any current iPad reads and turns fine.

Portrait or landscape?

Landscape two-page view halves the number of turns, which is usually worth the smaller staves.

Can I try before paying?

Yes, the core features including gesture turning are free.

Sheet music readers & devices

Choosing a sheet music app for iPad

"Best" depends on whether you mostly practise, mostly perform, or mostly manage other people's music. These are the five things worth testing before you commit a whole library to one app.

Test the turn first

Load the piece with your fastest page break. If turning requires a reliable free hand or foot you do not have, no other feature compensates — this is where camera gestures change the calculation.

Test import with your worst scan

Crooked phone photos of old parts are the real benchmark. Auto-crop and edge straightening decide whether digitising your shelf takes an afternoon or a month.

Test the exit

Confirm you can get your annotated PDFs back out. StageMate keeps files as PDFs and syncs through your own iCloud, so nothing is locked in a proprietary box.

Try it on your own scores

Import PDF scores, add annotations, build setlists and turn pages hands-free. StageMate is available for Apple devices and Android. Features, cloud services and Pro purchases differ by platform; check the current plan before buying.

Download for Apple devices Download for Android

Questions people ask

Do I need the newest iPad?: No. A Face ID model helps gesture reliability in low light, but any current iPad reads and turns fine.
Portrait or landscape?: Landscape two-page view halves the number of turns, which is usually worth the smaller staves.
Can I try before paying?: Yes, the core features including gesture turning are free.