Comparison

Flare Scratch vs Ableton Note

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

Head to head
About

Flare Scratch

This app simulates a high-torque DJ turntable, allowing users to scratch music from their iPod library or pre-loaded beat loops. It offers various classic scratching techniques and features like zoom mode for precision and mirror mode for left-handed users.

Highlights
  • Scratch iPod Library tunes
  • High torque turntable simulation
  • Loop player
  • Zoom mode for precision
  • Classic scratch techniques
  • Mirror mode for left-handers
  • Preloaded beat loops
Features
Read full description

Scratch like a pro with Flare, the high torque DJ turntable. Either cut up the built-in records over a beatloop, or your own iPod Library tunes. Get this party started right with Flare, the undisputed Vinyl champion of the AppStore. "Pure Turntablism" --Vdrumpro999 Flare is a high torque turntable that fits in the palm of your hand, and features: • scratch your iPod Library tunes (!!!) • 1 high torque deck • 1 loop player • incredible vinyl sound • the ability to cut it up anywhere • zoom mode for precision scratching • transformer button capable of 11ms clicks • mirror mode for left handers • classic scratches: transformer, baby, tear, 1-click orbit • hamster switch • 5 preloaded beat loops produced by luke dubs, ready to cut over • 3 bundled battle records to get you started Coming soon: pitch control.

About

Ableton Note

Create musical ideas with curated sounds and effects. Build beats, melodies, and sample your surroundings. Seamlessly transfer your projects to Ableton Live for further development.

Highlights
  • Create beats and melodies
  • Sample sounds with phone microphone
  • MIDI Editor for sequencing
  • Transfer projects to Ableton Live
  • 76 Drum Sampler kits
  • 317 synth sounds
Read full description

Start new musical ideas with a curated selection of sounds and effects. Create beats and melodic parts, sample your world, and continue your tracks in Ableton Live. Note is a place to form ideas, explore new sounds and find direction. Get your ideas out or just experiment until inspiration hits, using a selection of Ableton Live’s drum kits, synths and melodic instruments. Create your own sound palette by sampling with your phone’s built-in microphone. And use Note’s built-in MIDI Editor to sequence notes, beats and chords or make tweaks as you listen back Follow your ideas wherever they lead by sending your projects to Live without leaving the app with the help of Ableton Cloud. Open projects from Live’s browser and keep working – you can edit all your MIDI notes, and all your samples and sounds from Note are exactly the same. Ableton Note users get a free license for Ableton Live Lite – simple, intuitive software used by musicians, producers and DJs around the world to write, record, and perform. For Ableton Move users, Note also offers the chance to keep working on a Set from your phone. Begin with a beat: • Choose from 76 Drum Sampler kits • Tap out a beat using the 16-pad grid, or sequence one with the MIDI Editor • Play each drum hit melodically using 16 Pitches mode • Quantize your beat or nudge notes to fix loose timing or mistakes • Add more layers of rhythm • Create beat repetitions with Note Repeat • Change parameters to shape your sound • Experiment with effects or apply swing for variations Start with a melody: • Choose from 317 synth sounds and 60 Melodic Sampler instruments • Play or program your melody or chord progression with the 25-pad grid, piano roll or MIDI Editor • Set a key and scale to get instantly harmonic results • Add more layers of harmony • Change parameters to shape your sound • Add effects to experiment with sound design Sample your environment: • Create your own kits by recording percussive sounds into Note’s Drum Sampler • Record tonal sounds to create your own Melodic Sampler instruments • Manipulate your samples by cutting, filtering or repitching them • Sequence samples into beats, melodies and chords using the MIDI Editor • Shape or transform your sounds with effects • Import your own samples or audio directly from videos Work with Audio • Add audio clips from the library • Warp tempo or adjust pitch of your clips • Record audio directly using your phone’s built-in microphone • Connect an audio interface to record external sources • Combine recorded and imported audio with your beats and melodies Capture improvisations: • Play something, then tap the Capture button to keep it • Play at a tempo that feels comfortable and Note will detect it • Note will recognize the length of the phrase and create a loop • Quantize it, add to it, or change the sound • Connect MIDI hardware to play keys and change the sound of your instruments Create variations: • Note features a grid-based Session View layout • Double your loops to create variation within clips • Duplicate your clips and create different versions of your ideas • Add, delete or adjust multiple notes at once with the MIDI Editor • Create eight tracks with up to eight clips on eight scenes • Try different clip combinations and song structures • Export your work as an audio file to listen and share

Screenshots

Flare Scratch3 screens
Ableton Note4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ableton Note at 4.2 against Flare Scratch's 3.5. Ableton Note also leads on ratings volume (701 vs 71) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). Flare Scratch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and price ($4.99 vs $6.99). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and device support 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

Flare Scratch costs $4.99 and Ableton Note $6.99 up front. Ableton Note sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Flare Scratch asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ableton Note holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ableton Note has 701 ratings behind it against 71, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Flare Scratch's written reviews are positive against 72% of Ableton Note's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Flare Scratch ships an update every 3 weeks, Ableton Note every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Flare Scratch versus Ableton Note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlare ScratchAbleton Note
Price$4.99 — better$6.99
Rating3.5 (71 ratings)4.2 (701 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.9% of reviews72.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings71701 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#7 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB1010 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAsyncAbleton AG

Customer experience

Flare Scratch

All ratings71 ratings
Positive60.6%
Neutral11.3%
Negative28.2%
Written reviews223 reviews
Positive65.9%
Neutral12.6%
Negative21.5%

Ableton Note

All ratings696 ratings
Positive78.4%
Neutral10.5%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews485 reviews
Positive72.2%
Neutral13.6%
Negative14.2%

User reviews

Flare Scratch

From 71 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Hardest working dev
  • 👍 Realistic scratching experience
  • 💡 Ability to use own music library
  • 🚀 Smooth and responsive

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashing issues
  • 🐛 Compatibility problems
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🔋 App not optimized for newer devices

Ableton Note

From 701 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Intuitive workflow
  • 🎨 Great sound quality
  • 🤝 Seamless Ableton Live integration
  • 💰 Affordable price
  • 🔥 Inspiring for creativity

Room to improve

  • 🔇 No audio track support
  • 🎹 Limited note editing capabilities
  • ⏱️ Bluetooth latency issues
  • 🔢 Restricted to 4/4 time signature
  • 🔧 Lacking some advanced features

Bugs and requests

Flare Scratch

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashing when adding music
  • Inability to change loop or turntable tracks
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Pitch control
  • Crab scratch button
  • More skins/customization options
  • Recording functionality
  • Ability to load own beats/loops

Ableton Note

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional loss of unsaved work
  • Freezing issues when editing clips

Requested features

6 requests
  • Audio track support
  • Expanded note editing tools
  • Midi controller support
  • More effects and synth options
  • Time signature flexibility
Show 1 more
  • Ability to import samples from Ableton Live

In-app purchases

None

Flare Scratch

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Ableton Note

One-time1
  • Drift In-App Purchase$3.99

Questions

Is Flare Scratch free?
Flare Scratch costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ableton Note free?
Ableton Note costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Flare Scratch or Ableton Note?
Ableton Note is rated higher. Flare Scratch averages 3.5 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while Ableton Note averages 4.2 from 701 ratings.
Do Flare Scratch or Ableton Note have ads?
Neither Flare Scratch nor Ableton Note shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Flare Scratch or Ableton Note?
Flare Scratch ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ableton Note every 5 weeks. Most recently, Flare Scratch was updated on November 10, 2026 and Ableton Note on November 12, 2026.

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