AirTurn vs PageFlip: Which Page Turner Pedal for iPad?
Choose an AirTurn pedal if you want a rechargeable battery, a light pedal and the option to program your own keys; the two-pedal AirTurn DUO 500 lists at $109 on AirTurn's store. Choose a PageFlip pedal if you would rather swap AA batteries than remember to charge; the two-pedal PageFlip Butterfly lists at $89.95 on PageFlip's store. Both brands sell silent switches and both work with nearly every iPad sheet music app.
How we compared: this page is based on AirTurn's and PageFlip's own product pages, forScore's help pages on page turners, and customer reviews on Thomann's US store, all checked on 13 October 2026. We did not run hands-on tests. Disclosure: we make Folio Stand, a sheet music reader in development, and we do not sell pedals or earn money from links on this page.
AirTurn vs PageFlip at a glance
| AirTurn (500 series) | PageFlip | |
|---|---|---|
| Two-pedal model | DUO 500, $109 | Butterfly, $89.95 |
| Power | Built-in rechargeable battery | Two AA batteries (Firefly and Dragonfly can also use an AC adapter) |
| Battery life (maker's figure) | 200+ hours per charge | 200 hours of continuous use |
| Silent switches | Yes, "completely silent" per AirTurn | Yes, "completely silent" per PageFlip |
| Modes | 7 built-in modes, custom keys in the free AirTurn Manager app | Butterfly: 3 fixed modes. Firefly and Dragonfly: 5 programmable modes |
| Wired option | Not listed | Firefly and Dragonfly, over USB-C |
| Lit pedals | Not listed | Firefly and Dragonfly |
| Warranty | 2 years with product registration, battery included | 1 year |
| Weight of the two-pedal model | 9 oz | 13.0 oz |
Prices are the makers' own US list prices on 13 October 2026. Retailers often differ: on the same day Thomann's US store listed the DUO 500 at $89 and the Butterfly at $102.
Which AirTurn and PageFlip models can you buy now?
Both brands have renamed and replaced models over the years, so older reviews often describe pedals you can no longer buy new.
| Model | Brand | Pedals or buttons | US list price | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIGIT 500 | AirTurn | Palm-sized hand remote; also takes up to 4 external switches | $69 | Rechargeable, 200+ hours |
| PED 500 | AirTurn | Slim foot switch for seated use | $89 | Rechargeable, 200+ hours |
| DUO 500 | AirTurn | 2 pedals | $109 | Rechargeable, 200+ hours |
| QUAD 500 | AirTurn | 4 pedals | $139 | Rechargeable, 200+ hours |
| Butterfly | PageFlip | 2 pedals, 3 mode buttons | $89.95 | 2 AA |
| Firefly | PageFlip | 2 lit pedals, 5 mode buttons | $109.95 | 2 AA or AC adapter, or USB-C |
| Dragonfly | PageFlip | 4 lit pedals, 5 mode buttons | $129.95 | 2 AA or AC adapter, or USB-C |
What about the AirTurn DUO 200, BT200S and PageFlip Cicada? None of them is listed for sale on its maker's store today. The Cicada was PageFlip's earlier pedal; forScore's blog notes the Butterfly replaced it in late 2016. If you already own a BT200-series AirTurn, AirTurn says Apple's iOS 26.4 update fixed a bug that had affected those pedals, so update your iPad first if one has started misbehaving.
PageFlip also sells the PageFlip Lite ($199), but that is an automatic turner for printed books, not a pedal for an iPad.
How do AirTurn and PageFlip pedals connect to an iPad?
Both connect over Bluetooth and act like a small keyboard. When you press a pedal, the iPad receives a key press such as an arrow key or Page Down, and your sheet music app turns the page. forScore's help pages say it turns pages on the arrow keys, space, return and Page Up or Page Down by default, which is why most pedals work without extra setup.
- AirTurn pedals have several modes. One of them, AirDirect, is meant for apps that support it and avoids the iPad treating the pedal as a keyboard. In keyboard mode, iPadOS hides the on-screen keyboard while the pedal is connected, which can surprise you when you try to type a title. If a pedal pairs but does nothing, switching modes is the usual fix.
- PageFlip Butterfly has three fixed modes you choose with a button: Page Up and Page Down, Up and Down arrows, or Left and Right arrows. The Firefly and Dragonfly let you reprogram their modes with PageFlip's free app, and can also be plugged in with a USB-C cable when you do not trust Bluetooth.
For step-by-step pairing and a list of common problems, see our page turner pedal guide.
Which is quieter on stage?
Both makers describe their switches as silent. AirTurn calls the DUO 500 "completely silent, gentle switch action, felt under foot", and the slimmer PED 500 uses silicone-covered switches. PageFlip describes "completely silent pedal action" on the Butterfly and Dragonfly. We have not measured either, and we found no review that complained about click noise on the current models. For recording sessions, chamber music or a quiet church service, either brand's current pedals should be fine.
Rechargeable battery or AA batteries: which is better?
This is the biggest practical difference.
- AirTurn pedals have a built-in rechargeable battery rated at 200+ hours per charge, and AirTurn's 2-year warranty covers the battery when you register the product. The catch: if it runs flat before a gig, you need a charger and time.
- PageFlip pedals take two AA batteries, rated at 200 hours of continuous use, which PageFlip says is about a year of normal use. A spare pair in your gig bag solves a flat battery in seconds. PageFlip's comparison page asks for alkaline AA batteries, not rechargeables.
If you forget to charge things, PageFlip is the safer habit. If you dislike buying batteries, AirTurn is simpler.
What do reviewers complain about?
We read the customer reviews visible on Thomann's US store on 13 October 2026. The samples are small, so treat this as a guide, not a survey.
| Pedal | Thomann rating | What reviewers mention |
|---|---|---|
| AirTurn DUO 500 | 4.7 out of 5 from 111 ratings | Two visible reviews found the status LED distracting in concerts. One found the flat design tiring on the foot. Others praised battery life and quiet operation |
| PageFlip Butterfly | 4.8 out of 5 from 68 ratings | No durability complaints in the visible reviews. One reviewer found it "a little clunky looking" and reported about nine months on the first batteries |
| PageFlip Firefly | 4.7 out of 5 from 230 ratings | Two older reviews (2015 and 2019) reported Bluetooth dropouts or stutter, and one mentioned an occasional double turn |
One Butterfly reviewer said they had moved away from an older AirTurn BT200 because pairing became unreliable after a few months. That was an earlier model, not the 500 series. Overall we did not find a pattern of either current two-pedal model breaking.
Which pedal should you buy?
| You are... | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A pianist or keyboard player who wants one dependable pedal | AirTurn DUO 500 or PageFlip Butterfly | Both are two-pedal, silent and widely used. Pick by battery preference |
| Someone who forgets to charge things | PageFlip Butterfly | Swap AA batteries in seconds |
| A player who sits and wants something small to carry | AirTurn PED 500 | Slim, 5.3 oz, made for seated use |
| A worship leader or gigging player who also runs lyrics, backing tracks or a looper | AirTurn QUAD 500 or PageFlip Dragonfly | Four pedals for more than page turns |
| Someone playing in dim light | PageFlip Firefly or Dragonfly | Lit pedals, plus a USB-C cable option |
| A player who wants a hand remote or an accessibility switch | AirTurn DIGIT 500 | Hand remote that also takes external switches |
Whichever you choose, pair it at home and practice with it for a week before the first performance.
Will these pedals work with my sheet music app?
Almost certainly. Most iPad sheet music readers, forScore included, respond to the arrow and page keys these pedals send. forScore notes that it cannot test every pedal on the market, and that some AirTurn models connect directly through its Devices settings while others pair in the iPad's Bluetooth settings. Check your app's page turner settings if a pedal pairs but does not turn pages.
Folio Stand, our app in development, is designed to recognize any pedal that acts like a keyboard, let you teach it any key, and filter out accidental double turns. See features. If you have not picked a tablet yet, read the best iPad for sheet music.
FAQ
Is AirTurn or PageFlip better for iPad? Neither is better for everyone. AirTurn is rechargeable, lighter and more programmable. PageFlip runs on AA batteries you can swap in seconds, and its Butterfly costs a little less at list price.
What is the difference between the AirTurn DUO 500 and the PED 500? AirTurn describes the DUO 500 as having a familiar two-pedal feel and the PED 500 as a slim, portable switch for seated use. The DUO 500 lists at $109 and the PED 500 at $89.
Are PageFlip pedals silent? PageFlip describes the Butterfly, Firefly and Dragonfly as having silent pedal action. AirTurn says the same about its current pedals.
Can I use rechargeable AA batteries in a PageFlip pedal? PageFlip's comparison page says to use alkaline AA batteries, not rechargeables. The Firefly and Dragonfly can also run from an AC adapter or a USB-C cable.
Is the AirTurn DUO 200 still sold? It is not listed on AirTurn's store as of 13 October 2026. The DUO 500 is the current two-pedal model. If you own a BT200-series pedal, AirTurn says iOS 26.4 fixed an Apple bug that affected those pedals.
Why does my iPad keyboard disappear when the pedal is on? In keyboard mode the iPad treats the pedal as a keyboard and hides the on-screen one. Turn the pedal off while you type, or use AirTurn's AirDirect mode in apps that support it.
Sources: airturn.com product pages for the DIGIT 500, PED 500, DUO 500 and QUAD 500 and AirTurn's iOS 26.4 notice; pageflip.com product pages for the Butterfly, Firefly, Dragonfly and Lite, and PageFlip's pedal comparison page; forscore.co help pages on page turners and on Donner and Moukey pedals; forScore blog on the Cicada and Butterfly; OnSong user manual on Bluetooth keyboards; Thomann US customer reviews of the AirTurn DUO 500, PageFlip Butterfly and PageFlip Firefly (all checked 13 October 2026).
About us: we are building Folio Stand, a sheet music reader for iPad and iPhone planned for October 2026 that will work with any keyboard-style pedal, learn any key and filter out double turns. See features. This comparison is meant to help you choose a pedal whichever app you use.